Acting
Jack La Rue
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
Film · 2003
Bogart: The Untold Story
Film · 1997
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Film · 1976
Paesano
Film · 1975
Love, American Style
Series · 1969
The Spy in the Green Hat
Film · 1967
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
Series · 1966
Robin and the 7 Hoods
Film · 1964
For Those Who Think Young
Film · 1964
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Series · 1964
40 Pounds of Trouble
Film · 1962
Perry Mason
Series · 1957
Tombstone Territory
Series · 1957
The Millionaire
Series · 1955
MGM Parade
Series · 1955
General Electric Theater
Series · 1953
General Electric Theater
Series · 1953
Ride the Man Down
Film · 1952
For Heaven's Sake
Film · 1950
Lights Out
Series · 1949
No Orchids for Miss Blandish
Film · 1948
My Favorite Brunette
Film · 1947
Robin Hood of Monterey
Film · 1947
Bush Pilot
Film · 1947
Road to Utopia
Film · 1946
Murder in the Music Hall
Film · 1946
Santa Fe Uprising
Film · 1946
In Old Sacramento
Film · 1946
Cornered
Film · 1945
The Spanish Main
Film · 1945
Steppin' in Society
Film · 1945
Dakota
Film · 1945
Dangerous Passage
Film · 1944
Machine Gun Mama
Film · 1944
The Desert Song
Film · 1944
Follow the Leader
Film · 1944
The Last Ride
Film · 1944
Leave It to the Irish
Film · 1944
The Girl from Monterrey
Film · 1943
A Scream in the Dark
Film · 1943
You Can't Beat the Law
Film · 1943
The Law Rides Again
Film · 1943
The Sultan's Daughter
Film · 1943
Pistol Packin' Mama
Film · 1943
Never a Dull Moment
Film · 1943
Smart Guy
Film · 1943
Secret Service In Darkest Africa
Film · 1943
American Empire
Film · 1942
A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen
Film · 1942
Highways by Night
Film · 1942
The Payoff
Film · 1942
X Marks the Spot
Film · 1942
Pardon My Sarong
Film · 1942
Footsteps in the Dark
Film · 1941
Gangs Inc.
Film · 1941
Hard Guy
Film · 1941
Swamp Woman
Film · 1941
Ringside Maisie
Film · 1941
Gentleman from Dixie
Film · 1941
Fugitive from a Prison Camp
Film · 1940
Charlie Chan in Panama
Film · 1940
Forgotten Girls
Film · 1940
East of the River
Film · 1940
Enemy Agent
Film · 1940
The Sea Hawk
Film · 1940
The Gang's All Here
Film · 1939
Murder in Soho
Film · 1939
In Old Caliente
Film · 1939
Big Town Czar
Film · 1939
Valley of the Giants
Film · 1938
Under the Big Top
Film · 1938
Arson Racket Squad
Film · 1938
I Demand Payment
Film · 1938
Captains Courageous
Film · 1937
Trapped by G-Men
Film · 1937
That I May Live
Film · 1937
Dangerous Holiday
Film · 1937
Her Husband Lies
Film · 1937
Dancing Pirate
Film · 1936
Yellow Cargo
Film · 1936
Born to Fight
Film · 1936
The Bridge of Sighs
Film · 1936
It Couldn't Have Happened (But It Did)
Film · 1936
Ellis Island
Film · 1936
Mind Your Own Business
Film · 1936
Strike Me Pink
Film · 1936
A Tenderfoot Goes West
Film · 1936
The Spanish Cape Mystery
Film · 1935
Special Agent
Film · 1935
Remember Last Night?
Film · 1935
Little Big Shot
Film · 1935
Under the Pampas Moon
Film · 1935
His Night Out
Film · 1935
Calling All Cars
Film · 1935
Times Square Lady
Film · 1935
After the Dance
Film · 1935
The Daring Young Man
Film · 1935
Waterfront Lady
Film · 1935
The Headline Woman
Film · 1935
Men of the Hour
Film · 1935
Secret of the Chateau
Film · 1934
Good Dame
Film · 1934
Straight Is the Way
Film · 1934
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
Film · 1934
The Fighting Rookie
Film · 1934
Take the Stand
Film · 1934
No Ransom
Film · 1934
Hollywood on Parade No. B-10
Film · 1934
42nd Street
Film · 1933
The Story of Temple Drake
Film · 1933
Gambling Ship
Film · 1933
The Kennel Murder Case
Film · 1933
Terror Aboard
Film · 1933
The Girl in 419
Film · 1933
To the Last Man
Film · 1933
Headline Shooter
Film · 1933
Christopher Strong
Film · 1933
The Woman Accused
Film · 1933
Radio Patrol
Film · 1932
A Farewell to Arms
Film · 1932
Man Against Woman
Film · 1932
Three on a Match
Film · 1932
Blessed Event
Film · 1932
Night World
Film · 1932
Virtue
Film · 1932
The Mouthpiece
Film · 1932
Lawyer Man
Film · 1932
While Paris Sleeps
Film · 1932
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
Film · 1932
The All-American
Film · 1932
20,000 Years in Sing Sing
Film · 1932
Follow the Leader
Film · 1930
The House of Terror
Film · 1928
Fine Manners
Film · 1926
The King On Main Street
Film · 1925
The Lucky Devil
Film · 1925