Jack La Rue
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- May 3, 1902
- Died
- January 11, 1984
- Birthplace
- New York City, New York, USA
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.
Filmography
Complicated Women 2003
as Self (archive footage)
Bogart: The Untold Story 1997
as Self (archive footage)
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood 1976
as Silent Film Villain
Paesano 1975
as Bartender
The Spy in the Green Hat 1967
as Federico 'Feet' Stilletto
Robin and the 7 Hoods 1964
as Tomatoes
For Those Who Think Young 1964
as Cronin's Business Associate
40 Pounds of Trouble 1962
as Nick the Greek (uncredited)
Ride the Man Down 1952
as Kennedy
For Heaven's Sake 1950
as Tony Clark
No Orchids for Miss Blandish 1948
as Slim Grisson
Robin Hood of Monterey 1947
as Don Ricardo Gonzales
Bush Pilot 1947
as Paul Girard
My Favorite Brunette 1947
as Tony
Santa Fe Uprising 1946
as Bruce Jackson
In Old Sacramento 1946
as Laramie
Murder in the Music Hall 1946
as Bruce Wilton
Road to Utopia 1946
as LeBec
Dakota 1945
as Suade
Cornered 1945
as Diego, Hotel Valet
The Spanish Main 1945
as Lt. Escobar
Steppin' in Society 1945
as Bow Tie
Dangerous Passage 1944
as Mike
The Last Ride 1944
as Joe Genna
Leave It to the Irish 1944
as Rockwell
Machine Gun Mama 1944
as Jose
Follow the Leader 1944
as Larry
The Desert Song 1944
as Lt. Bertin
Smart Guy 1943
as Matt Taylor
The Sultan's Daughter 1943
as Rata
Pistol Packin' Mama 1943
as Johnny Rossi
Never a Dull Moment 1943
as Joey
A Scream in the Dark 1943
as Cross
The Girl from Monterrey 1943
as Al Johnson
The Law Rides Again 1943
as Duke Dillon
Secret Service In Darkest Africa 1943
as Hassan
You Can't Beat the Law 1943
as Cain
American Empire 1942
as Pierre - Beauchard Henchman
The Payoff 1942
as John Angus
X Marks the Spot 1942
as Marty Clark
Highways by Night 1942
as Johnny Lieber, Gangster
Pardon My Sarong 1942
as Tabor (uncredited)
A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen 1942
as Tommy Gould
Swamp Woman 1941
as Pierre Pertinax Pontineau Briand Broussicourt d'Olivier, aka Pete Oliver
Hard Guy 1941
as Vic Monroe
Gentleman from Dixie 1941
as Thad Terrill
Ringside Maisie 1941
as Ricky Du Prez
Gangs Inc. 1941
as Mickey Roman
Footsteps in the Dark 1941
as Ace Vernon
East of the River 1940
as Frank 'Frisco' Scarfi
Fugitive from a Prison Camp 1940
as Red Nelson
The Sea Hawk 1940
as Lt. Ortega
Enemy Agent 1940
as Alex
Forgotten Girls 1940
as Eddie Nolan
Charlie Chan in Panama 1940
as Emil Manolo
In Old Caliente 1939
as Manuel Delgardo / Sujarno
Big Town Czar 1939
as Mike Luger
The Gang's All Here 1939
as Alberni
Murder in Soho 1939
as Steve Marco
I Demand Payment 1938
as Smiles Badolio
Valley of the Giants 1938
as Ed Morrell
Under the Big Top 1938
as Ricardo Le Grande
Arson Racket Squad 1938
as Bud Morgan
That I May Live 1937
Actor
Trapped by G-Men 1937
as Fred Drake
Captains Courageous 1937
as Priest
Dangerous Holiday 1937
as Gollenger
Her Husband Lies 1937
as 'Trigger'
Mind Your Own Business 1936
as Cruger
Yellow Cargo 1936
as Al Perrelli
- Ellis Island
Ellis Island 1936
as Dude
Born to Fight 1936
as Smoothy Morgan
A Tenderfoot Goes West 1936
as James "Killer" Madden
It Couldn't Have Happened (But It Did) 1936
as Smiley Clark
Dancing Pirate 1936
as Lt. Chago (Baltazar's Aide)
The Bridge of Sighs 1936
as Packy Lacy
Strike Me Pink 1936
as Mr. Thrust
Remember Last Night? 1935
as Baptiste Bouclier
The Spanish Cape Mystery 1935
as Gardner
Waterfront Lady 1935
as Tom Braden
His Night Out 1935
as Joe Ferranza
Special Agent 1935
as Jake Andrews
Little Big Shot 1935
as Jack Doré
The Daring Young Man 1935
as Cubby
After the Dance 1935
as Mitch
Under the Pampas Moon 1935
as Bazan
The Headline Woman 1935
as Phil Zarias
Men of the Hour 1935
as Nick Thomas
Times Square Lady 1935
as Jack Kramer
Calling All Cars 1935
as Jerry Kennedy
Secret of the Chateau 1934
as Lucien Vonaire
- No Ransom
No Ransom 1934
as Larry Romero
Straight Is the Way 1934
as Monk
Take the Stand 1934
as George Gaylord
The Fighting Rookie 1934
as Patrolman Jim Trent
Hollywood on Parade No. B-10 1934
as Self
Good Dame 1934
as Bluch Brown
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen 1934
as Bert
The Kennel Murder Case 1933
as Eduardo Grassi
To the Last Man 1933
as Jim Daggs
Headline Shooter 1933
as Ricci
Gambling Ship 1933
as Pete Manning
The Girl in 419 1933
as Sammy
The Story of Temple Drake 1933
as Trigger
Terror Aboard 1933
as Gregory Cordoff
42nd Street 1933
as Mug with Murphy (uncredited)
Christopher Strong 1933
as Carlo
The Woman Accused 1933
as Little Maxie
20,000 Years in Sing Sing 1932
as Prisoner at Check-In (uncredited)
Lawyer Man 1932
as Spike Murphy (uncredited)
A Farewell to Arms 1932
as Priest
Man Against Woman 1932
as Alberti
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang 1932
as Ackerman (uncredited)
Three on a Match 1932
as Ace's Henchman (uncredited)
Virtue 1932
as Toots O'Neil
The All-American 1932
as Joe Fiore
Blessed Event 1932
as Louis De Marco
Radio Patrol 1932
as Slick (uncredited)
While Paris Sleeps 1932
as Julot
Night World 1932
as Henchman (uncredited)
The Mouthpiece 1932
as Joe Garland (Uncredited)
Follow the Leader 1930
as Gangster (uncredited)
The House of Terror 1928
Actor
Fine Manners 1926
as New Year's Eve Celebrant
The King On Main Street 1925
as Member of King's Retinue (uncredited)
The Lucky Devil 1925
as Prizefight Attendant
Credits from TMDB.