Jack La Rue

Known for ActingBorn 1902-05-03Died 1984-01-11New 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.Read more

Movies & web series

Born to Fight

Mind Your Own Business

The Daring Young Man

Radio Patrol

MGM Parade

Fugitive from a Prison Camp

The Girl from Monterrey

Gentleman from Dixie

Arson Racket Squad

The Bridge of Sighs

Men of the Hour

No Ransom

Perry Mason

Fine Manners

Ride the Man Down

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

Complicated Women

The Gang's All Here

Captains Courageous

Highways by Night

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

That I May Live

Little Big Shot

The Sea Hawk

The King On Main Street

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

For Heaven's Sake

Santa Fe Uprising

The Lucky Devil

Pistol Packin' Mama

Never a Dull Moment

Smart Guy

Secret Service In Darkest Africa

Footsteps in the Dark

Big Town Czar

Trapped by G-Men

Her Husband Lies

Tombstone Territory

General Electric Theater

His Night Out

Times Square Lady

Good Dame

The House of Terror

Charlie Chan in Panama

The Spy in the Green Hat

42nd Street

The Law Rides Again

In Old Sacramento