Known For
Acting
Born
May 03, 1902
Died
Jan 11, 1984
Place of Birth
New York City, New York, USA
Credits
135 titles
Jack La Rue
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 (archive footage)
Bogart: The Untold Story
Self (archive footage)
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
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