Jack La Rue
Acting • Born 1902-05-03 – Died 1984-01-11
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.
Filmography
135 credits
42nd Street
Movie • 1933
Thug (uncredited)
Radio Patrol
Movie • 1932
Slick (uncredited)
American Empire
Movie • 1942
Pierre - Beauchard Henchman
A Farewell to Arms
Movie • 1932
Priest
Fugitive from a Prison Camp
Movie • 1940
Red Nelson
Man Against Woman
Movie • 1932
Alberti
The Story of Temple Drake
Movie • 1933
Trigger
Cornered
Movie • 1945
Diego, Hotel Valet
Road to Utopia
Movie • 1946
LeBec
No Orchids for Miss Blandish
Movie • 1948
Slim Grisson
Three on a Match
Movie • 1932
Ace's Henchman (uncredited)
Blessed Event
Movie • 1932
Louis De Marco
Footsteps in the Dark
Movie • 1941
Ace Vernon
Charlie Chan in Panama
Movie • 1940
Emil Manolo
The King On Main Street
Movie • 1925
Member of King's Retinue in Paris Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
Captains Courageous
Movie • 1937
Priest
Robin and the 7 Hoods
Movie • 1964
Tomatoes
My Favorite Brunette
Movie • 1947
Tony
Gangs Inc.
Movie • 1941
Mickey Roman
A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen
Movie • 1942
Tommy Gould
The Spanish Cape Mystery
Movie • 1935
Gardner
The Gang's All Here
Movie • 1939
Alberni
Special Agent
Movie • 1935
Jake Andrews
Gambling Ship
Movie • 1933
Pete Manning
The Kennel Murder Case
Movie • 1933
Eduardo Grassi
Night World
Movie • 1932
Henchman (uncredited)
Remember Last Night?
Movie • 1935
Baptiste Bouclier
Virtue
Movie • 1932
Toots O'Neil
The Spanish Main
Movie • 1945
Lt. Escobar
For Heaven's Sake
Movie • 1950
Tony Clark
Terror Aboard
Movie • 1933
Gregory Cordoff
Hard Guy
Movie • 1941
Vic Monroe
Highways by Night
Movie • 1942
Johnny Lieber, Gangster
The Payoff
Movie • 1942
John Angus
Little Big Shot
Movie • 1935
Jack Doré
For Those Who Think Young
Movie • 1964
Cronin's Business Associate
Murder in the Music Hall
Movie • 1946
Bruce Wilton
The Mouthpiece
Movie • 1932
Joe Garland (Uncredited)
Secret of the Chateau
Movie • 1934
Lucien Vonaire
Forgotten Girls
Movie • 1940
Eddie Nolan
Trapped by G-Men
Movie • 1937
Fred Drake
The Girl in 419
Movie • 1933
Sammy
East of the River
Movie • 1940
Frank 'Frisco' Scarfi
Murder in Soho
Movie • 1939
Steve Marco
The Girl from Monterrey
Movie • 1943
Al Johnson
A Scream in the Dark
Movie • 1943
Cross
To the Last Man
Movie • 1933
Jim Daggs
That I May Live
Movie • 1937
Headline Shooter
Movie • 1933
Ricci
Dangerous Passage
Movie • 1944
Mike
Good Dame
Movie • 1934
Bluch Brown
Machine Gun Mama
Movie • 1944
Jose
Under the Pampas Moon
Movie • 1935
Bazan
X Marks the Spot
Movie • 1942
Marty Clark
Straight Is the Way
Movie • 1934
Monk
The Desert Song
Movie • 1943
Lt. Bertin
Dancing Pirate
Movie • 1936
Lt. Chago (Baltazar's Aide)
Valley of the Giants
Movie • 1938
Ed Morrell
Follow the Leader
Movie • 1944
Larry
The Last Ride
Movie • 1944
Joe Genna
Yellow Cargo
Movie • 1936
Al Perrelli
Born to Fight
Movie • 1936
Smoothy Morgan
The Bridge of Sighs
Movie • 1936
Packy Lacy
It Couldn't Have Happened (But It Did)
Movie • 1936
Smiley Clark
Ellis Island
Movie • 1936
Dude
Mind Your Own Business
Movie • 1936
Cruger
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
Movie • 1934
Bert
Dangerous Holiday
Movie • 1937
Gollenger
Her Husband Lies
Movie • 1937
'Trigger'
Robin Hood of Monterey
Movie • 1947
Don Ricardo Gonzales
Under the Big Top
Movie • 1938
Ricardo Le Grande
Leave It to the Irish
Movie • 1944
Rockwell
Lawyer Man
Movie • 1932
Spike Murphy (uncredited)
Follow the Leader
Movie • 1930
Gangster (uncredited)
You Can't Beat the Law
Movie • 1943
Cain
His Night Out
Movie • 1935
Joe Ferranza
The Fighting Rookie
Movie • 1934
Patrolman Jim Trent
The Spy in the Green Hat
Movie • 1967
Federico 'Feet' Stilletto
Fine Manners
Movie • 1926
New Year's Eve Celebrant
The Law Rides Again
Movie • 1943
Duke Dillon
Strike Me Pink
Movie • 1936
Mr. Thrust
Santa Fe Uprising
Movie • 1946
Bruce Jackson
Calling All Cars
Movie • 1935
Jerry Kennedy
While Paris Sleeps
Movie • 1932
Julot
Bush Pilot
Movie • 1947
Paul Girard
Times Square Lady
Movie • 1935
Jack Kramer
After the Dance
Movie • 1935
Mitch
40 Pounds of Trouble
Movie • 1962
Nick the Greek (uncredited)
A Tenderfoot Goes West
Movie • 1936
James "Killer" Madden
Christopher Strong
Movie • 1933
Carlo
Ride the Man Down
Movie • 1952
Kennedy
In Old Caliente
Movie • 1939
Manuel Delgardo / Sujarno
Take the Stand
Movie • 1934
George Gaylord
Steppin' in Society
Movie • 1945
Bow Tie
The Sultan's Daughter
Movie • 1943
Rata
Dakota
Movie • 1945
Suade
The Daring Young Man
Movie • 1935
Cubby
Arson Racket Squad
Movie • 1938
Bud Morgan
The Woman Accused
Movie • 1933
Little Maxie
Pistol Packin' Mama
Movie • 1943
Johnny Rossi
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
Movie • 1932
Ackerman (uncredited)
Never a Dull Moment
Movie • 1943
Joey
Enemy Agent
Movie • 1940
Alex
Swamp Woman
Movie • 1941
Pierre Pertinax Pontineau Briand Broussicourt d'Olivier, aka Pete Oliver
Smart Guy
Movie • 1943
Matt Taylor
No Ransom
Movie • 1934
Larry Romero
In Old Sacramento
Movie • 1946
Laramie
Waterfront Lady
Movie • 1935
Tom Braden
The Sea Hawk
Movie • 1940
Lt. Ortega
Ringside Maisie
Movie • 1941
Ricky Du Prez
Gentleman from Dixie
Movie • 1941
Thad Terrill
Big Town Czar
Movie • 1939
Mike Luger
Complicated Women
Movie • 2003
Self (archive footage)
Bogart: The Untold Story
Movie • 1997
Self (archive footage)
The All-American
Movie • 1932
Joe Fiore
20,000 Years in Sing Sing
Movie • 1932
Prisoner at Check-In (uncredited)
I Demand Payment
Movie • 1938
Smiles Badolio
Pardon My Sarong
Movie • 1942
Tabor (uncredited)
The Lucky Devil
Movie • 1925
Prizefight Attendant
Secret Service In Darkest Africa
Movie • 1943
Hassan
The House of Terror
Movie • 1928
The Headline Woman
Movie • 1935
Phil Zarias
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Movie • 1976
Silent Film Villain
Men of the Hour
Movie • 1935
Nick Thomas
Hollywood on Parade No. B-10
Movie • 1934
Self
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
TV • 1966
Cassie
Perry Mason
TV • 1957
Cafe Proprietor
General Electric Theater
TV • 1953
Nick Rocco
The Millionaire
TV • 1955
Cricket Rosselli
Lights Out
TV • 1949
Narrator (voice)
General Electric Theater
TV • 1953
Ralphie Fargo
Love, American Style
TV • 1969
Mr. Smith
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
TV • 1964
Federico 'Feet' Stilletto
Tombstone Territory
TV • 1957
Padre Miguel
MGM Parade
TV • 1955
self