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Jack La Rue

Jack La Rue

Acting

Born: May 3, 1902New 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.

Known For
Filmography
Complicated Women

Complicated Women

Self (archive footage)

2003
Bogart: The Untold Story

Bogart: The Untold Story

Self (archive footage)

1997
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

Silent Film Villain

1976
The Spy in the Green Hat

The Spy in the Green Hat

Federico 'Feet' Stilletto

1967
Robin and the 7 Hoods

Robin and the 7 Hoods

Tomatoes

1964
For Those Who Think Young

For Those Who Think Young

Cronin's Business Associate

1964
40 Pounds of Trouble

40 Pounds of Trouble

Nick the Greek (uncredited)

1962
Ride the Man Down

Ride the Man Down

Kennedy

1952
For Heaven's Sake

For Heaven's Sake

Tony Clark

1950
No Orchids for Miss Blandish

No Orchids for Miss Blandish

Slim Grisson

1948
Robin Hood of Monterey

Robin Hood of Monterey

Don Ricardo Gonzales

1947
Bush Pilot

Bush Pilot

Paul Girard

1947
My Favorite Brunette

My Favorite Brunette

Tony

1947
Santa Fe Uprising

Santa Fe Uprising

Bruce Jackson

1946
In Old Sacramento

In Old Sacramento

Laramie

1946
Murder in the Music Hall

Murder in the Music Hall

Bruce Wilton

1946
Road to Utopia

Road to Utopia

LeBec

1946
Dakota

Dakota

Suade

1945
Cornered

Cornered

Diego, Hotel Valet

1945
The Spanish Main

The Spanish Main

Lt. Escobar

1945
Steppin' in Society

Steppin' in Society

Bow Tie

1945
Dangerous Passage

Dangerous Passage

Mike

1944
The Last Ride

The Last Ride

Joe Genna

1944
Leave It to the Irish

Leave It to the Irish

Rockwell

1944
Machine Gun Mama

Machine Gun Mama

Jose

1944
Follow the Leader

Follow the Leader

Larry

1944
Smart Guy

Smart Guy

Matt Taylor

1943
The Desert Song

The Desert Song

Lt. Bertin

1943
The Sultan's Daughter

The Sultan's Daughter

Rata

1943
Pistol Packin' Mama

Pistol Packin' Mama

Johnny Rossi

1943
Never a Dull Moment

Never a Dull Moment

Joey

1943
A Scream in the Dark

A Scream in the Dark

Cross

1943
The Girl from Monterrey

The Girl from Monterrey

Al Johnson

1943
The Law Rides Again

The Law Rides Again

Duke Dillon

1943
Secret Service In Darkest Africa

Secret Service In Darkest Africa

Hassan

1943
You Can't Beat the Law

You Can't Beat the Law

Cain

1943
American Empire

American Empire

Pierre - Beauchard Henchman

1942
The Payoff

The Payoff

John Angus

1942
X Marks the Spot

X Marks the Spot

Marty Clark

1942
Highways by Night

Highways by Night

Johnny Lieber, Gangster

1942
Pardon My Sarong

Pardon My Sarong

Tabor (uncredited)

1942
A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen

A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen

Tommy Gould

1942
Swamp Woman

Swamp Woman

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

1941
Hard Guy

Hard Guy

Vic Monroe

1941
Gentleman from Dixie

Gentleman from Dixie

Thad Terrill

1941
Ringside Maisie

Ringside Maisie

Ricky Du Prez

1941
Gangs Inc.

Gangs Inc.

Mickey Roman

1941
Footsteps in the Dark

Footsteps in the Dark

Ace Vernon

1941
East of the River

East of the River

Frank 'Frisco' Scarfi

1940
Fugitive from a Prison Camp

Fugitive from a Prison Camp

Red Nelson

1940
The Sea Hawk

The Sea Hawk

Lt. Ortega

1940
Enemy Agent

Enemy Agent

Alex

1940
Forgotten Girls

Forgotten Girls

Eddie Nolan

1940
Charlie Chan in Panama

Charlie Chan in Panama

Emil Manolo

1940
In Old Caliente

In Old Caliente

Manuel Delgardo / Sujarno

1939
Big Town Czar

Big Town Czar

Mike Luger

1939
The Gang's All Here

The Gang's All Here

Alberni

1939
Murder in Soho

Murder in Soho

Steve Marco

1939
I Demand Payment

I Demand Payment

Smiles Badolio

1938
Valley of the Giants

Valley of the Giants

Ed Morrell

1938
Under the Big Top

Under the Big Top

Ricardo Le Grande

1938
Arson Racket Squad

Arson Racket Squad

Bud Morgan

1938
That I May Live

That I May Live

1937
Trapped by G-Men

Trapped by G-Men

Fred Drake

1937
Captains Courageous

Captains Courageous

Priest

1937
Dangerous Holiday

Dangerous Holiday

Gollenger

1937
Her Husband Lies

Her Husband Lies

'Trigger'

1937
Mind Your Own Business

Mind Your Own Business

Cruger

1936
Yellow Cargo

Yellow Cargo

Al Perrelli

1936

Ellis Island

Dude

1936
Born to Fight

Born to Fight

Smoothy Morgan

1936
A Tenderfoot Goes West

A Tenderfoot Goes West

James "Killer" Madden

1936
It Couldn't Have Happened (But It Did)

It Couldn't Have Happened (But It Did)

Smiley Clark

1936
Dancing Pirate

Dancing Pirate

Lt. Chago (Baltazar's Aide)

1936
The Bridge of Sighs

The Bridge of Sighs

Packy Lacy

1936
Strike Me Pink

Strike Me Pink

Mr. Thrust

1936
Remember Last Night?

Remember Last Night?

Baptiste Bouclier

1935
The Spanish Cape Mystery

The Spanish Cape Mystery

Gardner

1935
Waterfront Lady

Waterfront Lady

Tom Braden

1935
His Night Out

His Night Out

Joe Ferranza

1935
Special Agent

Special Agent

Jake Andrews

1935
Little Big Shot

Little Big Shot

Jack Doré

1935
The Daring Young Man

The Daring Young Man

Cubby

1935
After the Dance

After the Dance

Mitch

1935
Under the Pampas Moon

Under the Pampas Moon

Bazan

1935
The Headline Woman

The Headline Woman

Phil Zarias

1935
Men of the Hour

Men of the Hour

Nick Thomas

1935
Times Square Lady

Times Square Lady

Jack Kramer

1935
Calling All Cars

Calling All Cars

Jerry Kennedy

1935
Secret of the Chateau

Secret of the Chateau

Lucien Vonaire

1934

No Ransom

Larry Romero

1934
Straight Is the Way

Straight Is the Way

Monk

1934
Take the Stand

Take the Stand

George Gaylord

1934
The Fighting Rookie

The Fighting Rookie

Patrolman Jim Trent

1934
Hollywood on Parade No. B-10

Hollywood on Parade No. B-10

Self

1934
Good Dame

Good Dame

Bluch Brown

1934
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen

Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen

Bert

1934
The Kennel Murder Case

The Kennel Murder Case

Eduardo Grassi

1933
To the Last Man

To the Last Man

Jim Daggs

1933
Headline Shooter

Headline Shooter

Ricci

1933
Gambling Ship

Gambling Ship

Pete Manning

1933
The Girl in 419

The Girl in 419

Sammy

1933
The Story of Temple Drake

The Story of Temple Drake

Trigger

1933
Terror Aboard

Terror Aboard

Gregory Cordoff

1933
42nd Street

42nd Street

Thug (uncredited)

1933
Christopher Strong

Christopher Strong

Carlo

1933
The Woman Accused

The Woman Accused

Little Maxie

1933
20,000 Years in Sing Sing

20,000 Years in Sing Sing

Prisoner at Check-In (uncredited)

1932
Lawyer Man

Lawyer Man

Spike Murphy (uncredited)

1932
A Farewell to Arms

A Farewell to Arms

Priest

1932
Man Against Woman

Man Against Woman

Alberti

1932
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

Ackerman (uncredited)

1932
Three on a Match

Three on a Match

Ace's Henchman (uncredited)

1932
Virtue

Virtue

Toots O'Neil

1932
The All-American

The All-American

Joe Fiore

1932
Blessed Event

Blessed Event

Louis De Marco

1932
Radio Patrol

Radio Patrol

Slick (uncredited)

1932
While Paris Sleeps

While Paris Sleeps

Julot

1932
Night World

Night World

Henchman (uncredited)

1932
The Mouthpiece

The Mouthpiece

Joe Garland (Uncredited)

1932
Follow the Leader

Follow the Leader

Gangster (uncredited)

1930
The House of Terror

The House of Terror

1928
Fine Manners

Fine Manners

New Year's Eve Celebrant

1926
The King On Main Street

The King On Main Street

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

1925
The Lucky Devil

The Lucky Devil

Prizefight Attendant

1925