
Jack La Rue
Acting
🎂 1902-05-03
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.
Cast credits(131)

Mr. Smith
1969

Cafe Proprietor
1957

Cricket Rosselli
1955

1966

Narrator (voice)
1949

Nick Rocco
1953

Ralphie Fargo
1953

Pierre - Beauchard Henchman
1942

Lt. Ortega
1940

Lt. Chago (Baltazar's Aide)
1936

Priest
1937

Priest
1932

Lt. Escobar
1945

Thug (uncredited)
1933

Tomatoes
1964

Silent Film Villain
1976

Ackerman (uncredited)
1932

Suade
1945

Eduardo Grassi
1933

Kennedy
1952

Toots O'Neil
1932

Federico 'Feet' Stilletto
1967

Prisoner at Check-In (uncredited)
1932

Spike Murphy (uncredited)
1932

John Angus
1942

Diego, Hotel Valet
1945

Nick the Greek
1962

Ace's Henchman (uncredited)
1932

Tony
1947

Packy Lacy
1936

LeBec
1946

Jim Daggs
1933

Mike
1944

Self (archive footage)
2003

Cronin's Business Associate
1964

Mr. Thrust
1936

Manuel Delgardo / Sujarno
1939

Larry
1944

Jack Doré
1935

Carlo
1933

Joe Garland (Uncredited)
1932

Mickey Roman
1941

Mike Luger
1939

Jake Andrews
1935

Little Maxie
1933

Bazan
1935

Cruger
1936

Laramie
1946

Emil Manolo
1940

Lt. Bertin
1943

'Trigger'
1937

Cubby
1935

Duke Dillon
1943

Gardner
1935

Johnny Lieber, Gangster
1942

Smiley Clark
1936

James "Killer" Madden
1936

Pete Manning
1933

Trigger
1933

Tabor (uncredited)
1942

Marty Clark
1942

Self (archive footage)
1997

Matt Taylor
1943

Tommy Gould
1942

Slim Grisson
1948

Member of King's Retinue in Paris Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
1925

Self (archive footage)
2007

Joe Fiore
1932

Ace Vernon
1941

Ed Morrell
1938

Bruce Jackson
1946

Frank 'Frisco' Scarfi
1940

Tom Braden
1935

Red Nelson
1940

Sammy
1933

Ricky Du Prez
1941

Louis De Marco
1932

Alberti
1932
Larry Romero
1934

Bruce Wilton
1946

Gangster (uncredited)
1930

Henchman (uncredited)
1932

Tony Clark
1950

Bert
1934

Smiles Badolio
1938
Dude
1936

Joey
1943

Ricardo Le Grande
1938

Mitch
1935

Gregory Cordoff
1933

Thad Terrill
1941

Rata
1943

Steve Marco
1939

Cross
1943

Don Ricardo Gonzales
1947

Monk
1934
Rockwell
1944

Alberni
1939

Jack Kramer
1935

Prizefight Attendant
1925

Eddie Nolan
1940

New Year's Eve Celebrant
1926

Gollenger
1937

Smoothy Morgan
1936

Fred Drake
1937

Joe Genna
1944

Hassan
1943

Phil Zarias
1935

Bluch Brown
1934

Al Johnson
1943

Bow Tie
1945

Vic Monroe
1941

Bud Morgan
1938

Cain
1943

Alex
1940

George Gaylord
1934

Jose
1944

Ricci
1933

Julot
1932

Slick (uncredited)
1932

Pierre Pertinax Pontineau Briand Broussicourt d'Olivier, aka Pete Oliver
1941

Al Perrelli
1936

1928

Baptiste Bouclier
1935

Johnny Rossi
1943

Patrolman Jim Trent
1934

Jerry Kennedy
1935

Paul Girard
1947

1937

Lucien Vonaire
1934

Joe Ferranza
1935