Jack La Rue
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
Perry Mason
1957
Love, American Style
1969
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
1964
The Millionaire
1955
Lights Out
1949
Tombstone Territory
1957
MGM Parade
1955
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
1966
General Electric Theater
1953
General Electric Theater
1953
A Farewell to Arms
1932
The Sea Hawk
1940
Filmography
Perry Mason
as Cafe Proprietor · 1957
Love, American Style
as Mr. Smith · 1969
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
as Federico 'Feet' Stilletto · 1964
The Millionaire
as Cricket Rosselli · 1955
Lights Out
as Narrator (voice) · 1949
Tombstone Territory
as Padre Miguel · 1957
MGM Parade
as self · 1955
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
as Cassie · 1966
General Electric Theater
as Nick Rocco · 1953
General Electric Theater
as Ralphie Fargo · 1953
A Farewell to Arms
as Priest · 1932
The Sea Hawk
as Lt. Ortega · 1940
Robin and the 7 Hoods
as Tomatoes · 1964
42nd Street
as Mug with Murphy (uncredited) · 1933
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
as Ackerman (uncredited) · 1932
Captains Courageous
as Priest · 1937
Hollywood on Parade No. B-10
as Self · 1934
20,000 Years in Sing Sing
as Prisoner at Check-In (uncredited) · 1932
The Story of Temple Drake
as Trigger · 1933
40 Pounds of Trouble
as Nick the Greek (uncredited) · 1962
Three on a Match
as Ace's Henchman (uncredited) · 1932
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
as Silent Film Villain · 1976
Pardon My Sarong
as Tabor (uncredited) · 1942
The Spanish Main
as Lt. Escobar · 1945
The Spy in the Green Hat
as Federico 'Feet' Stilletto · 1967
Hard Guy
as Vic Monroe · 1941
No Orchids for Miss Blandish
as Slim Grisson · 1948
East of the River
as Frank 'Frisco' Scarfi · 1940
The Kennel Murder Case
as Eduardo Grassi · 1933
The Desert Song
as Lt. Bertin · 1944
For Heaven's Sake
as Tony Clark · 1950
For Those Who Think Young
as Cronin's Business Associate · 1964
My Favorite Brunette
as Tony · 1947
Leave It to the Irish
as Rockwell · 1944
Bogart: The Untold Story
as Self (archive footage) · 1997
Forgotten Girls
as Eddie Nolan · 1940
Ringside Maisie
as Ricky Du Prez · 1941
Ride the Man Down
as Kennedy · 1952
Murder in the Music Hall
as Bruce Wilton · 1946
Road to Utopia
as LeBec · 1946
Robin Hood of Monterey
as Don Ricardo Gonzales · 1947
Dakota
as Suade · 1945
Charlie Chan in Panama
as Emil Manolo · 1940
To the Last Man
as Jim Daggs · 1933
Special Agent
as Jake Andrews · 1935
Ellis Island
as Dude · 1936
The King On Main Street
as Member of King's Retinue (uncredited) · 1925
Complicated Women
as Self (archive footage) · 2003
The All-American
as Joe Fiore · 1932
Valley of the Giants
as Ed Morrell · 1938
Swamp Woman
as Pierre Pertinax Pontineau Briand Broussicourt d'Olivier, aka Pete Oliver · 1941
The Daring Young Man
as Cubby · 1935
Men of the Hour
as Nick Thomas · 1935
The Girl in 419
as Sammy · 1933
Christopher Strong
as Carlo · 1933
The Bridge of Sighs
as Packy Lacy · 1936
The Law Rides Again
as Duke Dillon · 1943
Never a Dull Moment
as Joey · 1943
Trapped by G-Men
as Fred Drake · 1937
Cornered
as Diego, Hotel Valet · 1945
Remember Last Night?
as Baptiste Bouclier · 1935
American Empire
as Pierre - Beauchard Henchman · 1942
The Gang's All Here
as Alberni · 1939
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
as Bert · 1934
Strike Me Pink
as Mr. Thrust · 1936
A Scream in the Dark
as Cross · 1943
Under the Pampas Moon
as Bazan · 1935
X Marks the Spot
as Marty Clark · 1942
Waterfront Lady
as Tom Braden · 1935
Footsteps in the Dark
as Ace Vernon · 1941
Secret Service In Darkest Africa
as Hassan · 1943
Arson Racket Squad
as Bud Morgan · 1938
Under the Big Top
as Ricardo Le Grande · 1938
It Couldn't Have Happened (But It Did)
as Smiley Clark · 1936
Straight Is the Way
as Monk · 1934
Dancing Pirate
as Lt. Chago (Baltazar's Aide) · 1936
Gambling Ship
as Pete Manning · 1933
Secret of the Chateau
as Lucien Vonaire · 1934
The Payoff
as John Angus · 1942
The Woman Accused
as Little Maxie · 1933
In Old Sacramento
as Laramie · 1946
You Can't Beat the Law
as Cain · 1943
Fugitive from a Prison Camp
as Red Nelson · 1940
Paesano
as Bartender · 1975
The Girl from Monterrey
as Al Johnson · 1943
Murder in Soho
as Steve Marco · 1939
Highways by Night
as Johnny Lieber, Gangster · 1942
Mind Your Own Business
as Cruger · 1936
The House of Terror
· 1928
A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen
as Tommy Gould · 1942
That I May Live
· 1937
Night World
as Henchman (uncredited) · 1932
His Night Out
as Joe Ferranza · 1935
Headline Shooter
as Ricci · 1933
A Tenderfoot Goes West
as James "Killer" Madden · 1936
The Sultan's Daughter
as Rata · 1943
I Demand Payment
as Smiles Badolio · 1938
Lawyer Man
as Spike Murphy (uncredited) · 1932
Gangs Inc.
as Mickey Roman · 1941
Times Square Lady
as Jack Kramer · 1935
After the Dance
as Mitch · 1935
Follow the Leader
as Gangster (uncredited) · 1930
Little Big Shot
as Jack Doré · 1935
Her Husband Lies
as 'Trigger' · 1937
Take the Stand
as George Gaylord · 1934
The Mouthpiece
as Joe Garland (Uncredited) · 1932
Radio Patrol
as Slick (uncredited) · 1932
The Headline Woman
as Phil Zarias · 1935
Calling All Cars
as Jerry Kennedy · 1935
Virtue
as Toots O'Neil · 1932
Terror Aboard
as Gregory Cordoff · 1933
The Last Ride
as Joe Genna · 1944
Dangerous Passage
as Mike · 1944
Blessed Event
as Louis De Marco · 1932
Enemy Agent
as Alex · 1940
Fine Manners
as New Year's Eve Celebrant · 1926
Born to Fight
as Smoothy Morgan · 1936
Big Town Czar
as Mike Luger · 1939
In Old Caliente
as Manuel Delgardo / Sujarno · 1939
No Ransom
as Larry Romero · 1934
The Spanish Cape Mystery
as Gardner · 1935
Dangerous Holiday
as Gollenger · 1937
Good Dame
as Bluch Brown · 1934
Yellow Cargo
as Al Perrelli · 1936
Man Against Woman
as Alberti · 1932
Gentleman from Dixie
as Thad Terrill · 1941
The Lucky Devil
as Prizefight Attendant · 1925
Santa Fe Uprising
as Bruce Jackson · 1946
Machine Gun Mama
as Jose · 1944
While Paris Sleeps
as Julot · 1932
Smart Guy
as Matt Taylor · 1943
Follow the Leader
as Larry · 1944
The Fighting Rookie
as Patrolman Jim Trent · 1934
Bush Pilot
as Paul Girard · 1947
Steppin' in Society
as Bow Tie · 1945
Pistol Packin' Mama
as Johnny Rossi · 1943