Jack La Rue
Acting
1902-05-03 · New York City, New York, USA
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.
Filmography
Complicated Women
2003 · Movie
Bogart: The Untold Story
1997 · Movie
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
1976 · Movie
Paesano
1975 · Movie
Love, American Style
1969 · Series
The Spy in the Green Hat
1967 · Movie
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
1966 · Series
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
1964 · Series
Robin and the 7 Hoods
1964 · Movie
For Those Who Think Young
1964 · Movie
40 Pounds of Trouble
1962 · Movie
Tombstone Territory
1957 · Series
Perry Mason
1957 · Series
MGM Parade
1955 · Series
The Millionaire
1955 · Series
General Electric Theater
1953 · Series
Ride the Man Down
1952 · Movie
For Heaven's Sake
1950 · Movie
Lights Out
1949 · Series
No Orchids for Miss Blandish
1948 · Movie
Robin Hood of Monterey
1947 · Movie
Bush Pilot
1947 · Movie
My Favorite Brunette
1947 · Movie
Santa Fe Uprising
1946 · Movie
In Old Sacramento
1946 · Movie
Murder in the Music Hall
1946 · Movie
Road to Utopia
1946 · Movie
Dakota
1945 · Movie
Cornered
1945 · Movie
The Spanish Main
1945 · Movie
Steppin' in Society
1945 · Movie
Dangerous Passage
1944 · Movie
The Last Ride
1944 · Movie
Leave It to the Irish
1944 · Movie
Machine Gun Mama
1944 · Movie
Follow the Leader
1944 · Movie
The Desert Song
1943 · Movie
Smart Guy
1943 · Movie
The Sultan's Daughter
1943 · Movie
Pistol Packin' Mama
1943 · Movie
Never a Dull Moment
1943 · Movie
A Scream in the Dark
1943 · Movie
The Girl from Monterrey
1943 · Movie
The Law Rides Again
1943 · Movie
Secret Service In Darkest Africa
1943 · Movie
You Can't Beat the Law
1943 · Movie
American Empire
1942 · Movie
The Payoff
1942 · Movie
X Marks the Spot
1942 · Movie
Highways by Night
1942 · Movie
Pardon My Sarong
1942 · Movie
A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen
1942 · Movie
Swamp Woman
1941 · Movie
Hard Guy
1941 · Movie
Gentleman from Dixie
1941 · Movie
Ringside Maisie
1941 · Movie
Gangs Inc.
1941 · Movie
Footsteps in the Dark
1941 · Movie
East of the River
1940 · Movie
Fugitive from a Prison Camp
1940 · Movie
The Sea Hawk
1940 · Movie
Enemy Agent
1940 · Movie
Forgotten Girls
1940 · Movie
Charlie Chan in Panama
1940 · Movie
In Old Caliente
1939 · Movie
Big Town Czar
1939 · Movie
The Gang's All Here
1939 · Movie
Murder in Soho
1939 · Movie
I Demand Payment
1938 · Movie
Valley of the Giants
1938 · Movie
Under the Big Top
1938 · Movie
Arson Racket Squad
1938 · Movie
That I May Live
1937 · Movie
Trapped by G-Men
1937 · Movie
Captains Courageous
1937 · Movie
Dangerous Holiday
1937 · Movie
Her Husband Lies
1937 · Movie
Mind Your Own Business
1936 · Movie
Yellow Cargo
1936 · Movie
Ellis Island
1936 · Movie
Born to Fight
1936 · Movie
A Tenderfoot Goes West
1936 · Movie
It Couldn't Have Happened (But It Did)
1936 · Movie
Dancing Pirate
1936 · Movie
The Bridge of Sighs
1936 · Movie
Strike Me Pink
1936 · Movie
Remember Last Night?
1935 · Movie
The Spanish Cape Mystery
1935 · Movie
Waterfront Lady
1935 · Movie
His Night Out
1935 · Movie
Special Agent
1935 · Movie
Little Big Shot
1935 · Movie
The Daring Young Man
1935 · Movie
After the Dance
1935 · Movie
Under the Pampas Moon
1935 · Movie
The Headline Woman
1935 · Movie
Men of the Hour
1935 · Movie
Times Square Lady
1935 · Movie
Calling All Cars
1935 · Movie
Secret of the Chateau
1934 · Movie
No Ransom
1934 · Movie
Straight Is the Way
1934 · Movie
Take the Stand
1934 · Movie
The Fighting Rookie
1934 · Movie
Hollywood on Parade No. B-10
1934 · Movie
Good Dame
1934 · Movie
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
1934 · Movie
The Kennel Murder Case
1933 · Movie
To the Last Man
1933 · Movie
Headline Shooter
1933 · Movie
Gambling Ship
1933 · Movie
The Girl in 419
1933 · Movie
The Story of Temple Drake
1933 · Movie
Terror Aboard
1933 · Movie
42nd Street
1933 · Movie
Christopher Strong
1933 · Movie
The Woman Accused
1933 · Movie
20,000 Years in Sing Sing
1932 · Movie
Lawyer Man
1932 · Movie
A Farewell to Arms
1932 · Movie
Man Against Woman
1932 · Movie
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
1932 · Movie
Three on a Match
1932 · Movie
Virtue
1932 · Movie
The All-American
1932 · Movie
Blessed Event
1932 · Movie
Radio Patrol
1932 · Movie
While Paris Sleeps
1932 · Movie
Night World
1932 · Movie
The Mouthpiece
1932 · Movie
Follow the Leader
1930 · Movie
The House of Terror
1928 · Movie
Fine Manners
1926 · Movie
The King On Main Street
1925 · Movie
The Lucky Devil
1925 · Movie