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.
Acted in
Girl 27
2007
as Self (archive footage)
Complicated Women
2003
as Self (archive footage)
Bogart: The Untold Story
1997
as Self (archive footage)
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
1976
as Silent Film Villain
Love, American Style
1969
as Mr. Smith
The Spy in the Green Hat
1967
as Federico 'Feet' Stilletto
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
1966
Robin and the 7 Hoods
1964
as Tomatoes
For Those Who Think Young
1964
as Cronin's Business Associate
40 Pounds of Trouble
1962
as Nick the Greek
Perry Mason
1957
as Cafe Proprietor
The Millionaire
1955
as Cricket Rosselli
General Electric Theater
1953
as Nick Rocco
General Electric Theater
1953
as Ralphie Fargo
Ride the Man Down
1952
as Kennedy
For Heaven's Sake
1950
as Tony Clark
Lights Out
1949
as Narrator (voice)
No Orchids for Miss Blandish
1948
as Slim Grisson
Robin Hood of Monterey
1947
as Don Ricardo Gonzales
Bush Pilot
1947
as Paul Girard
My Favorite Brunette
1947
as Tony
Santa Fe Uprising
1946
as Bruce Jackson
In Old Sacramento
1946
as Laramie
Murder in the Music Hall
1946
as Bruce Wilton
Road to Utopia
1946
as LeBec
Dakota
1945
as Suade
Cornered
1945
as Diego, Hotel Valet
The Spanish Main
1945
as Lt. Escobar
Steppin' in Society
1945
as Bow Tie
Dangerous Passage
1944
as Mike
The Last Ride
1944
as Joe Genna
Leave It to the Irish
1944
as Rockwell
Machine Gun Mama
1944
as Jose
Follow the Leader
1944
as Larry
The Desert Song
1943
as Lt. Bertin
Smart Guy
1943
as Matt Taylor
The Sultan's Daughter
1943
as Rata
Pistol Packin' Mama
1943
as Johnny Rossi
Never a Dull Moment
1943
as Joey
A Scream in the Dark
1943
as Cross
The Girl from Monterrey
1943
as Al Johnson
The Law Rides Again
1943
as Duke Dillon
Secret Service In Darkest Africa
1943
as Hassan
You Can't Beat the Law
1943
as Cain
American Empire
1942
as Pierre - Beauchard Henchman
The Payoff
1942
as John Angus
X Marks the Spot
1942
as Marty Clark
Highways by Night
1942
as Johnny Lieber, Gangster
Pardon My Sarong
1942
as Tabor (uncredited)
A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen
1942
as Tommy Gould
Swamp Woman
1941
as Pierre Pertinax Pontineau Briand Broussicourt d'Olivier, aka Pete Oliver
Hard Guy
1941
as Vic Monroe
Gentleman from Dixie
1941
as Thad Terrill
Ringside Maisie
1941
as Ricky Du Prez
Gangs Inc.
1941
as Mickey Roman
Footsteps in the Dark
1941
as Ace Vernon
East of the River
1940
as Frank 'Frisco' Scarfi
Fugitive from a Prison Camp
1940
as Red Nelson
The Sea Hawk
1940
as Lt. Ortega
Enemy Agent
1940
as Alex
Forgotten Girls
1940
as Eddie Nolan
Charlie Chan in Panama
1940
as Emil Manolo
In Old Caliente
1939
as Manuel Delgardo / Sujarno
Big Town Czar
1939
as Mike Luger
The Gang's All Here
1939
as Alberni
Murder in Soho
1939
as Steve Marco
I Demand Payment
1938
as Smiles Badolio
Valley of the Giants
1938
as Ed Morrell
Under the Big Top
1938
as Ricardo Le Grande
Arson Racket Squad
1938
as Bud Morgan
That I May Live
1937
Trapped by G-Men
1937
as Fred Drake
Captains Courageous
1937
as Priest
Dangerous Holiday
1937
as Gollenger
Her Husband Lies
1937
as 'Trigger'
Mind Your Own Business
1936
as Cruger
Yellow Cargo
1936
as Al Perrelli
Ellis Island
1936
as Dude
Born to Fight
1936
as Smoothy Morgan
A Tenderfoot Goes West
1936
as James "Killer" Madden
It Couldn't Have Happened (But It Did)
1936
as Smiley Clark
Dancing Pirate
1936
as Lt. Chago (Baltazar's Aide)
The Bridge of Sighs
1936
as Packy Lacy
Strike Me Pink
1936
as Mr. Thrust
Remember Last Night?
1935
as Baptiste Bouclier
The Spanish Cape Mystery
1935
as Gardner
Waterfront Lady
1935
as Tom Braden
His Night Out
1935
as Joe Ferranza
Special Agent
1935
as Jake Andrews
Little Big Shot
1935
as Jack Doré
The Daring Young Man
1935
as Cubby
After the Dance
1935
as Mitch
Under the Pampas Moon
1935
as Bazan
The Headline Woman
1935
as Phil Zarias
Times Square Lady
1935
as Jack Kramer
Calling All Cars
1935
as Jerry Kennedy
Secret of the Chateau
1934
as Lucien Vonaire
No Ransom
1934
as Larry Romero
Straight Is the Way
1934
as Monk
Take the Stand
1934
as George Gaylord
The Fighting Rookie
1934
as Patrolman Jim Trent
Good Dame
1934
as Bluch Brown
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
1934
as Bert
The Kennel Murder Case
1933
as Eduardo Grassi
To the Last Man
1933
as Jim Daggs
Headline Shooter
1933
as Ricci
Gambling Ship
1933
as Pete Manning
The Girl in 419
1933
as Sammy
The Story of Temple Drake
1933
as Trigger
Terror Aboard
1933
as Gregory Cordoff
42nd Street
1933
as Thug (uncredited)
Christopher Strong
1933
as Carlo
The Woman Accused
1933
as Little Maxie
Lawyer Man
1932
as Spike Murphy (uncredited)
20,000 Years in Sing Sing
1932
as Prisoner at Check-In (uncredited)
A Farewell to Arms
1932
as Priest
Man Against Woman
1932
as Alberti
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
1932
as Ackerman (uncredited)
Three on a Match
1932
as Ace's Henchman (uncredited)
Virtue
1932
as Toots O'Neil
The All-American
1932
as Joe Fiore
Blessed Event
1932
as Louis De Marco
Radio Patrol
1932
as Slick (uncredited)
While Paris Sleeps
1932
as Julot
Night World
1932
as Henchman (uncredited)
The Mouthpiece
1932
as Joe Garland (Uncredited)
Follow the Leader
1930
as A Gangster
The House of Terror
1928
Fine Manners
1926
as New Year's Eve Celebrant
The King On Main Street
1925
as Member of King's Retinue in Paris Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
The Lucky Devil
1925
as Prizefight Attendant