Jack La Rue
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.
135 acting credits
Acting · 135
Perry Mason
1957
Love, American Style
1969
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
1964
The Millionaire
1955
Lights Out
1949
Tombstone Territory
1957
MGM Parade
1955
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
1966
General Electric Theater
1953
Robin and the 7 Hoods
1964
Dakota
1945
Captains Courageous
1937
The Sea Hawk
1940
A Farewell to Arms
1932
20,000 Years in Sing Sing
1932
42nd Street
1933
The Woman Accused
1933
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
1932
The Story of Temple Drake
1933
Three on a Match
1932
Ride the Man Down
1952
Robin Hood of Monterey
1947
Lawyer Man
1932
Complicated Women
2003
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
1976
Road to Utopia
1946
Valley of the Giants
1938
The Spanish Main
1945
40 Pounds of Trouble
1962
Special Agent
1935
The Kennel Murder Case
1933
Pardon My Sarong
1942
Gangs Inc.
1941
American Empire
1942
To the Last Man
1933
Footsteps in the Dark
1941
Straight Is the Way
1934
Dancing Pirate
1936
Cornered
1945
The Spy in the Green Hat
1967
Remember Last Night?
1935
Charlie Chan in Panama
1940
A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen
1942
For Those Who Think Young
1964
No Orchids for Miss Blandish
1948
The Payoff
1942
The Daring Young Man
1935
Enemy Agent
1940
Blessed Event
1932
My Favorite Brunette
1947
Bogart: The Untold Story
1997
Night World
1932
No Ransom
1934
Gambling Ship
1933
The All-American
1932
Take the Stand
1934
Waterfront Lady
1935
Little Big Shot
1935
Virtue
1932
Radio Patrol
1932
The Law Rides Again
1943
The Spanish Cape Mystery
1935
The Mouthpiece
1932
Christopher Strong
1933
In Old Caliente
1939
The Gang's All Here
1939
Ellis Island
1936
Calling All Cars
1935
Swamp Woman
1941
In Old Sacramento
1946
Big Town Czar
1939
Yellow Cargo
1936
Murder in the Music Hall
1946
The Headline Woman
1935
For Heaven's Sake
1950
His Night Out
1935
Ringside Maisie
1941
Her Husband Lies
1937
Born to Fight
1936
East of the River
1940
The Lucky Devil
1925
Under the Pampas Moon
1935
The Girl in 419
1933
Dangerous Passage
1944
Murder in Soho
1939
Bush Pilot
1947
Secret Service In Darkest Africa
1943
Good Dame
1934
After the Dance
1935
The Bridge of Sighs
1936
While Paris Sleeps
1932
It Couldn't Have Happened (But It Did)
1936
Follow the Leader
1930
Terror Aboard
1933
Headline Shooter
1933
Mind Your Own Business
1936
Fine Manners
1926
Steppin' in Society
1945
Man Against Woman
1932
Smart Guy
1943
Santa Fe Uprising
1946
The King On Main Street
1925
A Tenderfoot Goes West
1936
Hollywood on Parade No. B-10
1934
Fugitive from a Prison Camp
1940
The Last Ride
1944
Follow the Leader
1944
X Marks the Spot
1942
Arson Racket Squad
1938
Gentleman from Dixie
1941
The Girl from Monterrey
1943
The Desert Song
1943
A Scream in the Dark
1943
Men of the Hour
1935
Highways by Night
1942
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
1934
Secret of the Chateau
1934
Dangerous Holiday
1937
Forgotten Girls
1940
You Can't Beat the Law
1943
Under the Big Top
1938
Pistol Packin' Mama
1943
Strike Me Pink
1936
The Fighting Rookie
1934
The House of Terror
1928
That I May Live
1937
Times Square Lady
1935
Never a Dull Moment
1943
Trapped by G-Men
1937
Machine Gun Mama
1944
I Demand Payment
1938
The Sultan's Daughter
1943
Leave It to the Irish
1944
Hard Guy
1941
Paesano
1975