Jack La Rue
Acting
Born May 3, 1902 ยท 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.
Films (125)
Complicated Women
2003
Bogart: The Untold Story
1997
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
1976
The Spy in the Green Hat
1967
Robin and the 7 Hoods
1964
For Those Who Think Young
1964
40 Pounds of Trouble
1962
Ride the Man Down
1952
For Heaven's Sake
1950
No Orchids for Miss Blandish
1948
Robin Hood of Monterey
1947
Bush Pilot
1947
My Favorite Brunette
1947
Santa Fe Uprising
1946
In Old Sacramento
1946
Murder in the Music Hall
1946
Road to Utopia
1946
Dakota
1945
Cornered
1945
The Spanish Main
1945
Steppin' in Society
1945
Dangerous Passage
1944
The Last Ride
1944
Leave It to the Irish
1944
Machine Gun Mama
1944
Follow the Leader
1944
The Desert Song
1943
Smart Guy
1943
The Sultan's Daughter
1943
Pistol Packin' Mama
1943
Never a Dull Moment
1943
A Scream in the Dark
1943
The Girl from Monterrey
1943
The Law Rides Again
1943
Secret Service In Darkest Africa
1943
You Can't Beat the Law
1943
American Empire
1942
The Payoff
1942
X Marks the Spot
1942
Highways by Night
1942
Pardon My Sarong
1942
A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen
1942
Swamp Woman
1941
Hard Guy
1941
Gentleman from Dixie
1941
Ringside Maisie
1941
Gangs Inc.
1941
Footsteps in the Dark
1941
East of the River
1940
Fugitive from a Prison Camp
1940
The Sea Hawk
1940
Enemy Agent
1940
Forgotten Girls
1940
Charlie Chan in Panama
1940
In Old Caliente
1939
Big Town Czar
1939
The Gang's All Here
1939
Murder in Soho
1939
I Demand Payment
1938
Valley of the Giants
1938
Under the Big Top
1938
Arson Racket Squad
1938
That I May Live
1937
Trapped by G-Men
1937
Captains Courageous
1937
Dangerous Holiday
1937
Her Husband Lies
1937
Mind Your Own Business
1936
Yellow Cargo
1936
Ellis Island
1936
Born to Fight
1936
A Tenderfoot Goes West
1936
It Couldn't Have Happened (But It Did)
1936
Dancing Pirate
1936
The Bridge of Sighs
1936
Strike Me Pink
1936
Remember Last Night?
1935
The Spanish Cape Mystery
1935
Waterfront Lady
1935
His Night Out
1935
Special Agent
1935
Little Big Shot
1935
The Daring Young Man
1935
After the Dance
1935
Under the Pampas Moon
1935
The Headline Woman
1935
Men of the Hour
1935
Times Square Lady
1935
Calling All Cars
1935
Secret of the Chateau
1934
No Ransom
1934
Straight Is the Way
1934
Take the Stand
1934
The Fighting Rookie
1934
Hollywood on Parade No. B-10
1934
Good Dame
1934
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
1934
The Kennel Murder Case
1933
To the Last Man
1933
Headline Shooter
1933
Gambling Ship
1933
The Girl in 419
1933
The Story of Temple Drake
1933
Terror Aboard
1933
42nd Street
1933
Christopher Strong
1933
The Woman Accused
1933
Lawyer Man
1932
20,000 Years in Sing Sing
1932
A Farewell to Arms
1932
Man Against Woman
1932
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
1932
Three on a Match
1932
Virtue
1932
The All-American
1932
Blessed Event
1932
Radio Patrol
1932
While Paris Sleeps
1932
Night World
1932
The Mouthpiece
1932
Follow the Leader
1930
The House of Terror
1928
Fine Manners
1926
The King On Main Street
1925
The Lucky Devil
1925