Jack La Rue
- Acting
- May 3, 1902 · New York City, New York, USA
- January 11, 1984
Biography
Jack La Rue (born Gaspere Biondolillo) was an American stage, screen, and television actor. La Rue went from high school to his first acting job, in Otis Skinner's road company production of Blood and Sand. He performed in Broadway plays from around 1923 to 1931. According to La Rue, while appearing in Mae West's play Diamond Lil, he was spotted by Howard Hawks, who offered him a part in the film Scarface, starring Paul Muni. He moved to Hollywood, where he appeared in numerous films. However, Scarface was not one of them. La Rue stated in a newspaper article that, after four days, Hawks had to replace him with George Raft because La Rue was taller than Muni and had a more powerful voice. Later, however, Raft turned down the role of the despicable villain in The Story of Temple Drake, fearing it would damage his screen image, so the part went to La Rue. Sometimes mistaken for Humphrey Bogart, he played thugs and gangsters for the most part. However, director Frank Borzage atypically cast him as a priest in the 1932 version of A Farewell to Arms simply because, according to newspaper columnist Hubbard Keavy, he was "tired of seeing conventional characters". La Rue stated he turned down a role in The Godfather and many parts in the television series The Untouchables because of the way they portrayed Italian-Americans. La Rue died of a heart attack at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California, at the age of 81. He was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California.
Known for
Filmography
- Complicated Women · Self
- Bogart: The Untold Story · Self
- Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood · Silent Film Villain
- Paesano · Bartender
- Love, American Style · Mr. Smith
- The Spy in the Green Hat · Federico 'Feet' Stilletto
- The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. · Cassie
- The Man from U.N.C.L.E. · Federico 'Feet' Stilletto
- Robin and the 7 Hoods · Tomatoes
- For Those Who Think Young · Cronin's Business Associate
- 40 Pounds of Trouble · Nick the Greek (uncredited)
- Tombstone Territory · Padre Miguel
- Perry Mason · Cafe Proprietor
- MGM Parade · Self
- The Millionaire · Cricket Rosselli
- General Electric Theater · Nick Rocco, Ralphie Fargo
- Ride the Man Down · Kennedy
- For Heaven's Sake · Tony Clark
- Lights Out · Narrator (Voice)
- No Orchids for Miss Blandish · Slim Grisson
- Robin Hood of Monterey · Don Ricardo Gonzales
- Bush Pilot · Paul Girard
- My Favorite Brunette · Tony
- Santa Fe Uprising · Bruce Jackson
- In Old Sacramento · Laramie
- Murder in the Music Hall · Bruce Wilton
- Road to Utopia · LeBec
- Dakota · Suade
- Cornered · Diego, Hotel Valet
- The Spanish Main · Lt. Escobar
- Steppin' in Society · Bow Tie
- Dangerous Passage · Mike
- The Last Ride · Joe Genna
- Leave It to the Irish · Rockwell
- Machine Gun Mama · Jose
- Follow the Leader · Larry
- The Desert Song · Lt. Bertin
- Smart Guy · Matt Taylor
- The Sultan's Daughter · Rata
- Pistol Packin' Mama · Johnny Rossi
- Never a Dull Moment · Joey
- A Scream in the Dark · Cross
- The Girl from Monterrey · Al Johnson
- The Law Rides Again · Duke Dillon
- Secret Service In Darkest Africa · Hassan
- You Can't Beat the Law · Cain
- American Empire · Pierre - Beauchard Henchman
- The Payoff · John Angus
- X Marks the Spot · Marty Clark
- Highways by Night · Johnny Lieber, Gangster
- Pardon My Sarong · Tabor (uncredited)
- A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen · Tommy Gould
- Swamp Woman · Pierre Pertinax Pontineau Briand Broussicourt d'Olivier, aka Pete Oliver
- Hard Guy · Vic Monroe
- Gentleman from Dixie · Thad Terrill
- Ringside Maisie · Ricky Du Prez
- Gangs Inc. · Mickey Roman
- Footsteps in the Dark · Ace Vernon
- East of the River · Frank 'Frisco' Scarfi
- Fugitive from a Prison Camp · Red Nelson
- The Sea Hawk · Lt. Ortega
- Enemy Agent · Alex
- Forgotten Girls · Eddie Nolan
- Charlie Chan in Panama · Emil Manolo
- In Old Caliente · Manuel Delgardo / Sujarno
- Big Town Czar · Mike Luger
- The Gang's All Here · Alberni
- Murder in Soho · Steve Marco
- I Demand Payment · Smiles Badolio
- Valley of the Giants · Ed Morrell
- Under the Big Top · Ricardo Le Grande
- Arson Racket Squad · Bud Morgan
- That I May Live
- Trapped by G-Men · Fred Drake
- Captains Courageous · Priest
- Dangerous Holiday · Gollenger
- Her Husband Lies · 'Trigger'
- Mind Your Own Business · Cruger
- Yellow Cargo · Al Perrelli
- Ellis Island · Dude