Jack La Rue

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.

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