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Jack La Rue
Actor

Jack La Rue

3 May 1902Born
11 Jan 1984Died
81Age at death
131Credits

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.

Read the full biography

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

The 80 most recent of 131 credits.

  1. 1976Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved HollywoodFilm: Silent Film Villain
  2. 1975PaesanoFilm: Bartender
  3. 1969Love, American StyleSeries: Mr. Smith (1 episode)
  4. 1967The Spy in the Green HatFilm: Federico 'Feet' Stilletto
  5. 1966The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.Series: Cassie (1 episode)
  6. 1964The Man from U.N.C.L.E.Series: Federico 'Feet' Stilletto (2 episodes)
  7. 1964Robin and the 7 HoodsFilm: Tomatoes
  8. 1964For Those Who Think YoungFilm: Cronin's Business Associate
  9. 196240 Pounds of TroubleFilm: Nick the Greek (uncredited)
  10. 1957Tombstone TerritorySeries: Padre Miguel (1 episode)
  11. 1957Perry MasonSeries: Cafe Proprietor (1 episode)
  12. 1955The MillionaireSeries: Cricket Rosselli (1 episode)
  13. 1953General Electric TheaterSeries: Nick Rocco, Ralphie Fargo (1 episode)
  14. 1952Ride the Man DownFilm: Kennedy
  15. 1950For Heaven's SakeFilm: Tony Clark
  16. 1949Lights OutSeries: Narrator (voice) (157 episodes)
  17. 1948No Orchids for Miss BlandishFilm: Slim Grisson
  18. 1947Robin Hood of MontereyFilm: Don Ricardo Gonzales
  19. 1947Bush PilotFilm: Paul Girard
  20. 1947My Favorite BrunetteFilm: Tony
  21. 1946Santa Fe UprisingFilm: Bruce Jackson
  22. 1946In Old SacramentoFilm: Laramie
  23. 1946Murder in the Music HallFilm: Bruce Wilton
  24. 1946Road to UtopiaFilm: LeBec
  25. 1945DakotaFilm: Suade
  26. 1945CorneredFilm: Diego, Hotel Valet
  27. 1945The Spanish MainFilm: Lt. Escobar
  28. 1945Steppin' in SocietyFilm: Bow Tie
  29. 1944Dangerous PassageFilm: Mike
  30. 1944The Last RideFilm: Joe Genna
  31. 1944Leave It to the IrishFilm: Rockwell
  32. 1944Machine Gun MamaFilm: Jose
  33. 1944Follow the LeaderFilm: Larry
  34. 1944The Desert SongFilm: Lt. Bertin
  35. 1943Smart GuyFilm: Matt Taylor
  36. 1943The Sultan's DaughterFilm: Rata
  37. 1943Pistol Packin' MamaFilm: Johnny Rossi
  38. 1943Never a Dull MomentFilm: Joey
  39. 1943A Scream in the DarkFilm: Cross
  40. 1943The Girl from MonterreyFilm: Al Johnson
  41. 1943The Law Rides AgainFilm: Duke Dillon
  42. 1943Secret Service In Darkest AfricaFilm: Hassan
  43. 1943You Can't Beat the LawFilm: Cain
  44. 1942American EmpireFilm: Pierre - Beauchard Henchman
  45. 1942The PayoffFilm: John Angus
  46. 1942X Marks the SpotFilm: Marty Clark
  47. 1942Highways by NightFilm: Johnny Lieber, Gangster
  48. 1942Pardon My SarongFilm: Tabor (uncredited)
  49. 1942A Desperate Chance for Ellery QueenFilm: Tommy Gould
  50. 1941Swamp WomanFilm: Pierre Pertinax Pontineau Briand Broussicourt d'Olivier, aka Pete Oliver
  51. 1941Hard GuyFilm: Vic Monroe
  52. 1941Gentleman from DixieFilm: Thad Terrill
  53. 1941Ringside MaisieFilm: Ricky Du Prez
  54. 1941Gangs Inc.Film: Mickey Roman
  55. 1941Footsteps in the DarkFilm: Ace Vernon
  56. 1940East of the RiverFilm: Frank 'Frisco' Scarfi
  57. 1940Fugitive from a Prison CampFilm: Red Nelson
  58. 1940The Sea HawkFilm: Lt. Ortega
  59. 1940Enemy AgentFilm: Alex
  60. 1940Forgotten GirlsFilm: Eddie Nolan
  61. 1940Charlie Chan in PanamaFilm: Emil Manolo
  62. 1939In Old CalienteFilm: Manuel Delgardo / Sujarno
  63. 1939Big Town CzarFilm: Mike Luger
  64. 1939The Gang's All HereFilm: Alberni
  65. 1939Murder in SohoFilm: Steve Marco
  66. 1938I Demand PaymentFilm: Smiles Badolio
  67. 1938Valley of the GiantsFilm: Ed Morrell
  68. 1938Under the Big TopFilm: Ricardo Le Grande
  69. 1938Arson Racket SquadFilm: Bud Morgan
  70. 1937That I May LiveFilm
  71. 1937Trapped by G-MenFilm: Fred Drake
  72. 1937Captains CourageousFilm: Priest
  73. 1937Dangerous HolidayFilm: Gollenger
  74. 1937Her Husband LiesFilm: 'Trigger'
  75. 1936Mind Your Own BusinessFilm: Cruger
  76. 1936Yellow CargoFilm: Al Perrelli
  77. 1936Ellis IslandFilm: Dude
  78. 1936Born to FightFilm: Smoothy Morgan
  79. 1936A Tenderfoot Goes WestFilm: James "Killer" Madden
  80. 1936It Couldn't Have Happened (But It Did)Film: Smiley Clark

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.