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Jack La Rue
Actor
Born May 3, 1902Died January 11, 1984 (81 years)
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.
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.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Known For
Filmography
1976 | Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood · as Silent Film Villain |
1969 | Love, American Style (TV Series) · as Mr. Smith |
1967 | The Spy in the Green Hat · as Federico 'feet' Stilletto |
1966 | T.H.E. Cat (TV Series) · as Second Hood |
1966 | The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (TV Series) |
1964 | The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (TV Series) · as Federico 'feet' Stilletto |
1964 | For Those Who Think Young · as Cronin's Business Associate |
1964 | Robin and the 7 Hoods · as Tomatoes |
1962 | 40 Pounds of Trouble · as Nick The Greek |
1957 | Tombstone Territory (TV Series) · as Padre Miguel |
1957 | Perry Mason (TV Series) · as Cafe Proprietor |
1957 | Slaughter on 10th Avenue · as Father Paul |
1956 | Frontier Doctor (TV Series) · as Frank Newbold |
1955 | |
1955 | The Millionaire (TV Series) · as Cricket Rosselli |
1953 | General Electric Theater (TV Series) · as Nick Rocco |
1952 | Ride the Man Down · as Kennedy |
1952 | The Unexpected (TV Series) · as Cast |
1950 | Racket Squad (TV Series) · as Lou Christy |
1950 | For Heaven's Sake · as Tony Clark |
1948 | The Ed Sullivan Show (TV Series) · as Audience Bow |
1948 | No Orchids for Miss Blandish · as Slim Grisson |
1947 | Robin Hood of Monterey · as Don Ricardo Gonzales |
1947 | Bush Pilot · as Paul Girard |
1947 | My Favorite Brunette · as Tony |
1946 | Santa Fe Uprising · as Bruce Jackson |
1946 | Lights Out (TV Series) · as Narrator (voice) |
1946 | In Old Sacramento · as Laramie |
1946 | Murder in the Music Hall · as Bruce Wilton |
1945 | Dakota · as Suade |
1945 | Cornered · as Diego, Hotel Valet |
1945 | Road to Utopia · as Lebec |
1945 | The Spanish Main · as Lt. Escobar |
1944 | Dangerous Passage · as Mike |
1944 | The Last Ride · as Joe Genna |
1944 | Leave It to the Irish · as Rockwell |
1944 | Machine Gun Mama · as Jose |
1944 | Follow the Leader · as Larry |
1943 | The Desert Song · as Lt. Bertin |
1943 | Smart Guy · as Matt Taylor |
1943 | The Sultan's Daughter · as Rata |
1943 | Pistol Packin' Mama · as Johnny Rossi |
1943 | Never a Dull Moment · as Joey |
1943 | A Scream in the Dark · as Cross |
1943 | The Girl from Monterrey · as Al Johnson |
1943 | The Law Rides Again · as Duke Dillon |
1943 | Secret Service in Darkest Africa · as Hassan |
1943 | You Can't Beat the Law · as Cain |
1942 | American Empire · as Pierre - Beauchard Henchman |
1942 | The Pay Off · as John Angus |
1942 | X Marks the Spot · as Marty Clark |
1942 | Highways by Night · as Johnny Lieber, Gangster |
1942 | Pardon My Sarong · as Tabor (uncredited) |
1942 | A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen · as Tommy Gould |
1941 | Swamp Woman · as Pierre Pertinax Pontineau Briand Broussicourt D'olivier, Aka Pete Oliver |
1941 | Hard Guy · as Vic Monroe |
1941 | Ringside Maisie · as Ricky Du Prez |
1941 | Paper Bullets · as Mickey Roman |
1941 | Footsteps in the Dark · as Ace Vernon |
1940 | East of the River · as Frank 'frisco' Scarfi |
1940 | The Sea Hawk · as Lt. Ortega |
1940 | Enemy Agent · as Alex |
1940 | Forgotten Girls · as Eddie Nolan |
1940 | Charlie Chan in Panama · as Emil Manolo |
1939 | In Old Caliente · as Manuel Delgardo / Sujarno |
1939 | The Amazing Mr. Forrest · as Alberni |
1939 | Murder in the Night · as Steve Marco |
1938 | I Demand Payment · as Smiles Badolio |
1938 | Valley of the Giants · as Ed Morrell |
1938 | Under the Big Top · as Ricardo Le Grande |
1937 | Captains Courageous · as Priest |
1937 | Dangerous Holiday · as Gollenger |
1936 | Go West Young Man · as Rico In 'drifting Lady' |
1936 | Yellow Cargo · as Al Perrelli |
1936 | Ellis Island · as Dude |
1936 | Born to Fight · as Smoothy Morgan |
1936 | It Couldn't Have Happened (But It Did) · as Smiley Clark |
1936 | Dancing Pirate · as Lt. Chago (baltazar's Aide) |
1936 | The Bridge of Sighs · as Packy Lacy |
1936 | Strike Me Pink · as Mr. Thrust |
1935 | Remember Last Night? · as Baptiste Bouclier |
1935 | The Spanish Cape Mystery · as Gardner |
1935 | Waterfront Lady · as Tom Braden |
1935 | Special Agent · as Jake Andrews |
1935 | Little Big Shot · as Jack Doré |
1935 | After the Dance · as Mitch |
1935 | The Daring Young Man · as Cubby |
1935 | Under the Pampas Moon · as Bazan |
1935 | The Headline Woman · as Phil Zarias |
1935 | Times Square Lady · as Jack Kramer |
1935 | Calling All Cars · as Jerry Kennedy |
1934 | Secret of the Chateau · as Lucien Vonaire |
1934 | Take the Stand · as George Gaylord |
1934 | Straight Is the Way · as Monk |
1934 | Good Dame · as Bluch Brown |
1934 | Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen · as Bert |
1933 | The Kennel Murder Case · as Eduardo Grassi |
1933 | To the Last Man · as Jim Daggs |
1933 | Headline Shooter · as Ricci |
1933 | Gambling Ship · as Pete Manning |
1933 | The Girl in 419 · as Sammy |
1933 | The Story of Temple Drake · as Trigger |
1933 | Terror Aboard · as Gregory Cordoff |
1933 | Christopher Strong · as Carlo |
1933 | 42nd Street · as Thug (uncredited) |
1933 | The Woman Accused · as Little Maxie |
1932 | 20,000 Years in Sing Sing · as Prisoner At Check-In (uncredited) |
1932 | Lawyer Man · as Spike Murphy (uncredited) |
1932 | A Farewell to Arms · as Priest |
1932 | I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang · as Ackerman (uncredited) |
1932 | Three on a Match · as Ace's Henchman (uncredited) |
1932 | Virtue · as Toots O'neil |
1932 | The All-American · as Joe Fiore |
1932 | Blessed Event · as Louis De Marco |
1932 | Radio Patrol · as Slick (uncredited) |
1932 | While Paris Sleeps · as Julot |
1932 | The Mouthpiece · as Joe Garland (uncredited) |
1932 | Night World · as Henchman (uncredited) |
1930 | Follow the Leader · as A Gangster |
1927 | East Side, West Side · as Speakeasy Customer |
1926 | Fine Manners · as New Year's Eve Celebrant |
1925 | The King on Main Street · as Member Of King's Retinue In Paris Hotel Lobby (uncredited) |
1925 | The Lucky Devil · as Prizefight Attendant |