Jack La Rue

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

131

Gender

Male

Birthday

1902-05-03

Day of death

1984-01-11 (81 years old)

Place of Birth

New York City, New York, USA

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

    Perry Mason

  • Love, American Style

    Love, American Style

  • The Spanish Main

    The Spanish Main

  • Lights Out

    Lights Out

  • The Millionaire

    The Millionaire

  • The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

    The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

  • The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.

    The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.

  • Robin and the 7 Hoods

    Robin and the 7 Hoods

  • The House of Terror

    The House of Terror

  • East of the River

    East of the River

  • The Woman Accused

    The Woman Accused

  • I Demand Payment

    I Demand Payment

  • I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

    I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

  • American Empire

    American Empire

  • Bogart: The Untold Story

    Bogart: The Untold Story

  • The Kennel Murder Case

    The Kennel Murder Case

  • Dangerous Holiday

    Dangerous Holiday

  • Under the Pampas Moon

    Under the Pampas Moon

  • Yellow Cargo

    Yellow Cargo

  • Fugitive from a Prison Camp

    Fugitive from a Prison Camp

  • No Ransom

    No Ransom

  • Strike Me Pink

    Strike Me Pink

  • The Daring Young Man

    The Daring Young Man

  • Secret Service In Darkest Africa

    Secret Service In Darkest Africa

  • The Mouthpiece

    The Mouthpiece

  • Little Big Shot

    Little Big Shot

  • No Orchids for Miss Blandish

    No Orchids for Miss Blandish

  • Night World

    Night World

  • The Sea Hawk

    The Sea Hawk

  • The Story of Temple Drake

    The Story of Temple Drake

  • In Old Caliente

    In Old Caliente

  • Dangerous Passage

    Dangerous Passage

  • Santa Fe Uprising

    Santa Fe Uprising

  • To the Last Man

    To the Last Man

  • Steppin' in Society

    Steppin' in Society

  • A Farewell to Arms

    A Farewell to Arms

  • After the Dance

    After the Dance

  • X Marks the Spot

    X Marks the Spot

  • Dancing Pirate

    Dancing Pirate

  • Mind Your Own Business

    Mind Your Own Business

  • Terror Aboard

    Terror Aboard

  • 42nd Street

    42nd Street

  • While Paris Sleeps

    While Paris Sleeps

  • 40 Pounds of Trouble

    40 Pounds of Trouble

  • Murder in Soho

    Murder in Soho

  • Gentleman from Dixie

    Gentleman from Dixie

  • Captains Courageous

    Captains Courageous

  • The Desert Song

    The Desert Song

  • Cornered

    Cornered

  • Road to Utopia

    Road to Utopia

  • In Old Sacramento

    In Old Sacramento

  • The Sultan's Daughter

    The Sultan's Daughter

  • Radio Patrol

    Radio Patrol

  • Fine Manners

    Fine Manners

  • Dakota

    Dakota

  • Leave It to the Irish

    Leave It to the Irish

  • The Spy in the Green Hat

    The Spy in the Green Hat

  • Secret of the Chateau

    Secret of the Chateau

  • Headline Shooter

    Headline Shooter

  • Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen

    Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen

  • Christopher Strong

    Christopher Strong

  • The Fighting Rookie

    The Fighting Rookie

  • Pardon My Sarong

    Pardon My Sarong

  • A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen

    A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen

  • The Girl from Monterrey

    The Girl from Monterrey

  • General Electric Theater

    General Electric Theater

  • General Electric Theater

    General Electric Theater

  • Valley of the Giants

    Valley of the Giants

  • The Girl in 419

    The Girl in 419

  • His Night Out

    His Night Out

  • Straight Is the Way

    Straight Is the Way

  • Good Dame

    Good Dame

  • The Last Ride

    The Last Ride

  • The Bridge of Sighs

    The Bridge of Sighs

  • The Lucky Devil

    The Lucky Devil

  • Virtue

    Virtue

  • Blessed Event

    Blessed Event

  • Murder in the Music Hall

    Murder in the Music Hall

  • Ride the Man Down

    Ride the Man Down

  • Three on a Match

    Three on a Match

  • Man Against Woman

    Man Against Woman

  • That I May Live

    That I May Live

  • Take the Stand

    Take the Stand

  • Bush Pilot

    Bush Pilot

  • Remember Last Night?

    Remember Last Night?

  • Follow the Leader

    Follow the Leader

  • The Spanish Cape Mystery

    The Spanish Cape Mystery

  • The All-American

    The All-American

  • Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

    Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

  • The Payoff

    The Payoff

  • Hard Guy

    Hard Guy

  • My Favorite Brunette

    My Favorite Brunette

  • Charlie Chan in Panama

    Charlie Chan in Panama

  • 20,000 Years in Sing Sing

    20,000 Years in Sing Sing

  • A Scream in the Dark

    A Scream in the Dark

  • Swamp Woman

    Swamp Woman

  • For Heaven's Sake

    For Heaven's Sake

  • Lawyer Man

    Lawyer Man

  • Smart Guy

    Smart Guy

  • Forgotten Girls

    Forgotten Girls

  • Under the Big Top

    Under the Big Top

  • Gambling Ship

    Gambling Ship

  • The Gang's All Here

    The Gang's All Here

  • A Tenderfoot Goes West

    A Tenderfoot Goes West

  • The Headline Woman

    The Headline Woman

  • Her Husband Lies

    Her Husband Lies

  • You Can't Beat the Law

    You Can't Beat the Law

  • Waterfront Lady

    Waterfront Lady

  • It Couldn't Have Happened (But It Did)

    It Couldn't Have Happened (But It Did)

  • Special Agent

    Special Agent

  • Times Square Lady

    Times Square Lady

  • For Those Who Think Young

    For Those Who Think Young

  • Machine Gun Mama

    Machine Gun Mama

  • Gangs Inc.

    Gangs Inc.

  • The Law Rides Again

    The Law Rides Again

  • Ellis Island

    Ellis Island

  • Ringside Maisie

    Ringside Maisie

  • Enemy Agent

    Enemy Agent

  • Trapped by G-Men

    Trapped by G-Men

  • Follow the Leader

    Follow the Leader

  • Arson Racket Squad

    Arson Racket Squad

  • Footsteps in the Dark

    Footsteps in the Dark

  • Complicated Women

    Complicated Women

  • Born to Fight

    Born to Fight

  • Highways by Night

    Highways by Night

  • Big Town Czar

    Big Town Czar

  • Calling All Cars

    Calling All Cars

  • The King On Main Street

    The King On Main Street

  • Robin Hood of Monterey

    Robin Hood of Monterey

  • Pistol Packin' Mama

    Pistol Packin' Mama

  • Never a Dull Moment

    Never a Dull Moment