Jack La Rue

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

134

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

  • Radio Patrol

    Radio Patrol

  • 42nd Street

    42nd Street

  • The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

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

  • Bush Pilot

    Bush Pilot

  • The Millionaire

    The Millionaire

  • Lights Out

    Lights Out

  • Tombstone Territory

    Tombstone Territory

  • Ringside Maisie

    Ringside Maisie

  • Swamp Woman

    Swamp Woman

  • Cornered

    Cornered

  • Smart Guy

    Smart Guy

  • Three on a Match

    Three on a Match

  • Waterfront Lady

    Waterfront Lady

  • Special Agent

    Special Agent

  • Robin and the 7 Hoods

    Robin and the 7 Hoods

  • Virtue

    Virtue

  • Lawyer Man

    Lawyer Man

  • The Gang's All Here

    The Gang's All Here

  • Gambling Ship

    Gambling Ship

  • Hard Guy

    Hard Guy

  • Leave It to the Irish

    Leave It to the Irish

  • Secret of the Chateau

    Secret of the Chateau

  • His Night Out

    His Night Out

  • Her Husband Lies

    Her Husband Lies

  • Strike Me Pink

    Strike Me Pink

  • MGM Parade

    MGM Parade

  • The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.

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

  • The All-American

    The All-American

  • Remember Last Night?

    Remember Last Night?

  • In Old Sacramento

    In Old Sacramento

  • In Old Caliente

    In Old Caliente

  • Forgotten Girls

    Forgotten Girls

  • Ellis Island

    Ellis Island

  • Christopher Strong

    Christopher Strong

  • Valley of the Giants

    Valley of the Giants

  • The House of Terror

    The House of Terror

  • Times Square Lady

    Times Square Lady

  • For Heaven's Sake

    For Heaven's Sake

  • A Farewell to Arms

    A Farewell to Arms

  • Charlie Chan in Panama

    Charlie Chan in Panama

  • Captains Courageous

    Captains Courageous

  • Highways by Night

    Highways by Night

  • My Favorite Brunette

    My Favorite Brunette

  • The Sea Hawk

    The Sea Hawk

  • I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

    I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

  • Yellow Cargo

    Yellow Cargo

  • That I May Live

    That I May Live

  • The Spanish Main

    The Spanish Main

  • General Electric Theater

    General Electric Theater

  • General Electric Theater

    General Electric Theater

  • Dakota

    Dakota

  • Santa Fe Uprising

    Santa Fe Uprising

  • Blessed Event

    Blessed Event

  • Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

    Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

  • For Those Who Think Young

    For Those Who Think Young

  • Night World

    Night World

  • The Spy in the Green Hat

    The Spy in the Green Hat

  • 20,000 Years in Sing Sing

    20,000 Years in Sing Sing

  • American Empire

    American Empire

  • The Kennel Murder Case

    The Kennel Murder Case

  • No Orchids for Miss Blandish

    No Orchids for Miss Blandish

  • The Woman Accused

    The Woman Accused

  • Calling All Cars

    Calling All Cars

  • The Daring Young Man

    The Daring Young Man

  • Bogart: The Untold Story

    Bogart: The Untold Story

  • Gangs Inc.

    Gangs Inc.

  • The Story of Temple Drake

    The Story of Temple Drake

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

    It Couldn't Have Happened (But It Did)

  • Road to Utopia

    Road to Utopia

  • Little Big Shot

    Little Big Shot

  • Ride the Man Down

    Ride the Man Down

  • Murder in the Music Hall

    Murder in the Music Hall

  • The Desert Song

    The Desert Song

  • Complicated Women

    Complicated Women

  • Terror Aboard

    Terror Aboard

  • Good Dame

    Good Dame

  • 40 Pounds of Trouble

    40 Pounds of Trouble

  • Pardon My Sarong

    Pardon My Sarong

  • The Mouthpiece

    The Mouthpiece

  • Under the Big Top

    Under the Big Top

  • Follow the Leader

    Follow the Leader

  • The Girl in 419

    The Girl in 419

  • The Bridge of Sighs

    The Bridge of Sighs

  • The Spanish Cape Mystery

    The Spanish Cape Mystery

  • Footsteps in the Dark

    Footsteps in the Dark

  • The Payoff

    The Payoff

  • I Demand Payment

    I Demand Payment

  • Born to Fight

    Born to Fight

  • A Scream in the Dark

    A Scream in the Dark

  • X Marks the Spot

    X Marks the Spot

  • Arson Racket Squad

    Arson Racket Squad

  • Fugitive from a Prison Camp

    Fugitive from a Prison Camp

  • Dancing Pirate

    Dancing Pirate

  • Trapped by G-Men

    Trapped by G-Men

  • The Law Rides Again

    The Law Rides Again

  • Pistol Packin' Mama

    Pistol Packin' Mama

  • Big Town Czar

    Big Town Czar

  • No Ransom

    No Ransom

  • To the Last Man

    To the Last Man

  • Under the Pampas Moon

    Under the Pampas Moon

  • Headline Shooter

    Headline Shooter

  • Take the Stand

    Take the Stand

  • A Tenderfoot Goes West

    A Tenderfoot Goes West

  • Dangerous Holiday

    Dangerous Holiday

  • Steppin' in Society

    Steppin' in Society

  • Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen

    Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen

  • Straight Is the Way

    Straight Is the Way

  • Fine Manners

    Fine Manners

  • Murder in Soho

    Murder in Soho

  • The Lucky Devil

    The Lucky Devil

  • The King On Main Street

    The King On Main Street

  • After the Dance

    After the Dance

  • A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen

    A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen

  • East of the River

    East of the River

  • While Paris Sleeps

    While Paris Sleeps

  • Mind Your Own Business

    Mind Your Own Business

  • The Girl from Monterrey

    The Girl from Monterrey

  • You Can't Beat the Law

    You Can't Beat the Law

  • Dangerous Passage

    Dangerous Passage

  • Robin Hood of Monterey

    Robin Hood of Monterey

  • Gentleman from Dixie

    Gentleman from Dixie

  • Man Against Woman

    Man Against Woman

  • The Headline Woman

    The Headline Woman

  • The Last Ride

    The Last Ride

  • Secret Service In Darkest Africa

    Secret Service In Darkest Africa

  • Follow the Leader

    Follow the Leader

  • Machine Gun Mama

    Machine Gun Mama

  • The Fighting Rookie

    The Fighting Rookie

  • Enemy Agent

    Enemy Agent

  • Never a Dull Moment

    Never a Dull Moment

  • Men of the Hour

    Men of the Hour

  • The Sultan's Daughter

    The Sultan's Daughter