Jack La Rue
Acting
🎂 1902-05-03
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.
Cast credits(132)
Cafe Proprietor
1957
Mr. Smith
1969
Cricket Rosselli
1955
Narrator (voice)
1949
Federico 'Feet' Stilletto
1964
Cassie
1966
Priest
1937
Federico 'Feet' Stilletto
1967
Tomatoes
1964
Joey
1943
Cronin's Business Associate
1964
Lt. Ortega
1940
Self (archive footage)
1997
Suade
1945
Priest
1932
Diego, Hotel Valet
1945
Self (archive footage)
2003
Nick Rocco
1953
Ralphie Fargo
1953
Bow Tie
1945
Lt. Bertin
1943
Trigger
1933
Ackerman (uncredited)
1932
Eduardo Grassi
1933
Steve Marco
1939
Jack Doré
1935
Thug (uncredited)
1933
Jim Daggs
1933
Kennedy
1952
New Year's Eve Celebrant
1926
Red Nelson
1940
Silent Film Villain
1976
Little Maxie
1933
Lt. Escobar
1945
Carlo
1933
Cruger
1936
Tabor (uncredited)
1942
Eddie Nolan
1940
Cross
1943
Mickey Roman
1941
Johnny Rossi
1943
Ricky Du Prez
1941
Johnny Lieber, Gangster
1942
Emil Manolo
1940
Packy Lacy
1936
Bruce Wilton
1946
Ace's Henchman (uncredited)
1932
Monk
1934
Louis De Marco
1932
Tony
1947
Ed Morrell
1938
Jack Kramer
1935
Mike Luger
1939
Mike
1944
Pierre Pertinax Pontineau Briand Broussicourt d'Olivier, aka Pete Oliver
1941
Bazan
1935
Lucien Vonaire
1934
Prisoner at Check-In (uncredited)
1932
Joe Ferranza
1935
Bud Morgan
1938
Marty Clark
1942
LeBec
1946
Tommy Gould
1942
Toots O'Neil
1932
Phil Zarias
1935
Mr. Thrust
1936
Ricci
1933
Joe Garland (Uncredited)
1932
Smiley Clark
1936
John Angus
1942
Gregory Cordoff
1933
Bruce Jackson
1946
Henchman (uncredited)
1932
Bert
1934
Nick the Greek
1962
Paul Girard
1947
Hassan
1943
Laramie
1946
Manuel Delgardo / Sujarno
1939
Lt. Chago (Baltazar's Aide)
1936
Don Ricardo Gonzales
1947
Tom Braden
1935
Alberni
1939
Pierre - Beauchard Henchman
1942
Smoothy Morgan
1936
Sammy
1933
Fred Drake
1937
Jose
1944
Larry Romero
1934
Frank 'Frisco' Scarfi
1940
Jake Andrews
1935
Slim Grisson
1948
Cubby
1935
Ace Vernon
1941
Gollenger
1937
Bluch Brown
1934
Julot
1932
Al Perrelli
1936
Mitch
1935
Rata
1943
Pete Manning
1933
Matt Taylor
1943
Patrolman Jim Trent
1934
Spike Murphy (uncredited)
1932
Ricardo Le Grande
1938
Slick (uncredited)
1932
George Gaylord
1934
Alex
1940
1937
Gangster (uncredited)
1930
Prizefight Attendant
1925
Tony Clark
1950
Cain
1943
Larry
1944
Self (archive footage)
2007
Rockwell
1944
Thad Terrill
1941
Dude
1936
Baptiste Bouclier
1935
Joe Fiore
1932
Joe Genna
1944
Al Johnson
1943
'Trigger'
1937
Jerry Kennedy
1935
Member of King's Retinue in Paris Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
1925
Smiles Badolio
1938
Duke Dillon
1943
Alberti
1932
Gardner
1935
1928
James "Killer" Madden
1936
Vic Monroe
1941