Jack La Rue
Acting
- Born:
- 1902-05-03
- Died:
- 1984-01-11
- Place of birth:
- New York City, New York, USA
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.
Known For
Filmography
Complicated Women
Bogart: The Untold Story
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Paesano
Love, American Style
The Spy in the Green Hat
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Robin and the 7 Hoods
For Those Who Think Young
40 Pounds of Trouble
Tombstone Territory
Perry Mason
MGM Parade
The Millionaire
General Electric Theater
Ride the Man Down
For Heaven's Sake
Lights Out
No Orchids for Miss Blandish
Robin Hood of Monterey
Bush Pilot
My Favorite Brunette
Santa Fe Uprising
In Old Sacramento
Murder in the Music Hall
Road to Utopia
Dakota
Cornered
The Spanish Main
Steppin' in Society
Dangerous Passage
The Last Ride
Leave It to the Irish
Machine Gun Mama
Follow the Leader
The Desert Song
Smart Guy
The Sultan's Daughter
Pistol Packin' Mama
Never a Dull Moment
A Scream in the Dark
The Girl from Monterrey
The Law Rides Again
Secret Service In Darkest Africa
You Can't Beat the Law
American Empire
The Payoff
X Marks the Spot
Highways by Night
Pardon My Sarong
A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen
Swamp Woman
Hard Guy
Gentleman from Dixie
Ringside Maisie
Gangs Inc.
Footsteps in the Dark
East of the River
Fugitive from a Prison Camp
The Sea Hawk
Enemy Agent
Forgotten Girls
Charlie Chan in Panama
In Old Caliente
Big Town Czar
The Gang's All Here
Murder in Soho
I Demand Payment
Valley of the Giants
Under the Big Top
Arson Racket Squad
That I May Live
Trapped by G-Men
Captains Courageous
Dangerous Holiday
Her Husband Lies
Mind Your Own Business
Yellow Cargo
Ellis Island
Born to Fight
A Tenderfoot Goes West
It Couldn't Have Happened (But It Did)
Dancing Pirate
The Bridge of Sighs
Strike Me Pink
Remember Last Night?
The Spanish Cape Mystery
Waterfront Lady
His Night Out
Special Agent
Little Big Shot
The Daring Young Man
After the Dance
Under the Pampas Moon
The Headline Woman
Men of the Hour
Times Square Lady
Calling All Cars
Secret of the Chateau
No Ransom
Straight Is the Way
Take the Stand
The Fighting Rookie
Hollywood on Parade No. B-10
Good Dame
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
The Kennel Murder Case
To the Last Man
Headline Shooter
Gambling Ship
The Girl in 419
The Story of Temple Drake
Terror Aboard
42nd Street
Christopher Strong
The Woman Accused
Lawyer Man
20,000 Years in Sing Sing
A Farewell to Arms
Man Against Woman
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
Three on a Match
Virtue
The All-American
Blessed Event
Radio Patrol
While Paris Sleeps
Night World
The Mouthpiece
Follow the Leader
The House of Terror
Fine Manners
The King On Main Street
The Lucky Devil