Jack La Rue
Born
May 3, 1902
Died
January 11, 1984 (81 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
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.
Known For
Girl 27
Self (archive footage)
2007
Complicated Women
Self (archive footage)
2003
Bogart: The Untold Story
Self (archive footage)
1997
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Silent Film Villain
1976
Love, American Style
Mr. Smith · (1 episode)
1969
The Spy in the Green Hat
Federico 'Feet' Stilletto
1967
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
(1 episode)
1966
Robin and the 7 Hoods
Tomatoes
1964
For Those Who Think Young
Cronin's Business Associate
1964
40 Pounds of Trouble
Nick the Greek
1962
Perry Mason
Cafe Proprietor · (1 episode)
1957
The Millionaire
Cricket Rosselli · (1 episode)
1955
General Electric Theater
Nick Rocco · (1 episode)
1953
General Electric Theater
Ralphie Fargo · (1 episode)
1953
Ride the Man Down
Kennedy
1952
For Heaven's Sake
Tony Clark
1950
Lights Out
Narrator (voice) · (157 episodes)
1949
No Orchids for Miss Blandish
Slim Grisson
1948
Robin Hood of Monterey
Don Ricardo Gonzales
1947
Bush Pilot
Paul Girard
1947
My Favorite Brunette
Tony
1947
Santa Fe Uprising
Bruce Jackson
1946
In Old Sacramento
Laramie
1946
Murder in the Music Hall
Bruce Wilton
1946
Road to Utopia
LeBec
1946
Dakota
Suade
1945
Cornered
Diego, Hotel Valet
1945
The Spanish Main
Lt. Escobar
1945
Steppin' in Society
Bow Tie
1945
Dangerous Passage
Mike
1944
The Last Ride
Joe Genna
1944
Leave It to the Irish
Rockwell
1944
Machine Gun Mama
Jose
1944
Follow the Leader
Larry
1944
The Desert Song
Lt. Bertin
1943
Smart Guy
Matt Taylor
1943
The Sultan's Daughter
Rata
1943
Pistol Packin' Mama
Johnny Rossi
1943
Never a Dull Moment
Joey
1943
A Scream in the Dark
Cross
1943
The Girl from Monterrey
Al Johnson
1943
The Law Rides Again
Duke Dillon
1943
Secret Service In Darkest Africa
Hassan
1943
You Can't Beat the Law
Cain
1943
American Empire
Pierre - Beauchard Henchman
1942
The Payoff
John Angus
1942
X Marks the Spot
Marty Clark
1942
Highways by Night
Johnny Lieber, Gangster
1942
Pardon My Sarong
Tabor (uncredited)
1942
A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen
Tommy Gould
1942
Swamp Woman
Pierre Pertinax Pontineau Briand Broussicourt d'Olivier, aka Pete Oliver
1941
Hard Guy
Vic Monroe
1941
Gentleman from Dixie
Thad Terrill
1941
Ringside Maisie
Ricky Du Prez
1941
Gangs Inc.
Mickey Roman
1941
Footsteps in the Dark
Ace Vernon
1941
East of the River
Frank 'Frisco' Scarfi
1940
Fugitive from a Prison Camp
Red Nelson
1940
The Sea Hawk
Lt. Ortega
1940
Enemy Agent
Alex
1940
Forgotten Girls
Eddie Nolan
1940
Charlie Chan in Panama
Emil Manolo
1940
In Old Caliente
Manuel Delgardo / Sujarno
1939
Big Town Czar
Mike Luger
1939
The Gang's All Here
Alberni
1939
Murder in Soho
Steve Marco
1939
I Demand Payment
Smiles Badolio
1938
Valley of the Giants
Ed Morrell
1938
Under the Big Top
Ricardo Le Grande
1938
Arson Racket Squad
Bud Morgan
1938
That I May Live
1937
Trapped by G-Men
Fred Drake
1937
Captains Courageous
Priest
1937
Dangerous Holiday
Gollenger
1937
Her Husband Lies
'Trigger'
1937
Mind Your Own Business
Cruger
1936
Yellow Cargo
Al Perrelli
1936
Ellis Island
Dude
1936
Born to Fight
Smoothy Morgan
1936
A Tenderfoot Goes West
James "Killer" Madden
1936
It Couldn't Have Happened (But It Did)
Smiley Clark
1936
Dancing Pirate
Lt. Chago (Baltazar's Aide)
1936
The Bridge of Sighs
Packy Lacy
1936
Strike Me Pink
Mr. Thrust
1936
Remember Last Night?
Baptiste Bouclier
1935
The Spanish Cape Mystery
Gardner
1935
Waterfront Lady
Tom Braden
1935
His Night Out
Joe Ferranza
1935
Special Agent
Jake Andrews
1935
Little Big Shot
Jack Doré
1935
The Daring Young Man
Cubby
1935
After the Dance
Mitch
1935
Under the Pampas Moon
Bazan
1935
The Headline Woman
Phil Zarias
1935
Times Square Lady
Jack Kramer
1935
Calling All Cars
Jerry Kennedy
1935
Secret of the Chateau
Lucien Vonaire
1934
No Ransom
Larry Romero
1934
Straight Is the Way
Monk
1934
Take the Stand
George Gaylord
1934
The Fighting Rookie
Patrolman Jim Trent
1934
Good Dame
Bluch Brown
1934
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
Bert
1934
The Kennel Murder Case
Eduardo Grassi
1933
To the Last Man
Jim Daggs
1933
Headline Shooter
Ricci
1933
Gambling Ship
Pete Manning
1933
The Girl in 419
Sammy
1933
The Story of Temple Drake
Trigger
1933
Terror Aboard
Gregory Cordoff
1933
42nd Street
Thug (uncredited)
1933
Christopher Strong
Carlo
1933
The Woman Accused
Little Maxie
1933
Lawyer Man
Spike Murphy (uncredited)
1932
20,000 Years in Sing Sing
Prisoner at Check-In (uncredited)
1932
A Farewell to Arms
Priest
1932
Man Against Woman
Alberti
1932
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
Ackerman (uncredited)
1932
Three on a Match
Ace's Henchman (uncredited)
1932
Virtue
Toots O'Neil
1932
The All-American
Joe Fiore
1932
Blessed Event
Louis De Marco
1932
Radio Patrol
Slick (uncredited)
1932
While Paris Sleeps
Julot
1932
Night World
Henchman (uncredited)
1932
The Mouthpiece
Joe Garland (Uncredited)
1932
Follow the Leader
Gangster (uncredited)
1930
The House of Terror
1928
Fine Manners
New Year's Eve Celebrant
1926
The King On Main Street
Member of King's Retinue in Paris Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
1925
The Lucky Devil
Prizefight Attendant
1925