Jack La Rue
Known for: Acting
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
Series
Perry Mason
Cafe Proprietor
1957
Series
Love, American Style
Mr. Smith
1969
Series
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Federico 'Feet' Stilletto
1964
Series
Tombstone Territory
Padre Miguel
1957
Series
The Millionaire
Cricket Rosselli
1955
Series
MGM Parade
self
1955
Series
Lights Out
Narrator (voice)
1949
Series
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
Cassie
1966
Film
A Farewell to Arms
Priest
1932
Film
Robin and the 7 Hoods
Tomatoes
1964
Film
The Sea Hawk
Lt. Ortega
1940
Film
Captains Courageous
Priest
1937
Film
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
Ackerman (uncredited)
1932
Film
42nd Street
Mug with Murphy (uncredited)
1933
Film
Special Agent
Jake Andrews
1935
Series
General Electric Theater
Nick Rocco
1953
Series
General Electric Theater
Ralphie Fargo
1953
Film
Complicated Women
Self (archive footage)
2003
Film
My Favorite Brunette
Tony
1947
Film
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Silent Film Villain
1976
Film
Hard Guy
Vic Monroe
1941
Film
20,000 Years in Sing Sing
Prisoner at Check-In (uncredited)
1932
Film
The Story of Temple Drake
Trigger
1933
Film
Hollywood on Parade No. B-10
Self
1934
Film
Ringside Maisie
Ricky Du Prez
1941
Film
Dakota
Suade
1945
Film
The Spy in the Green Hat
Federico 'Feet' Stilletto
1967
Film
40 Pounds of Trouble
Nick the Greek (uncredited)
1962
Film
The Spanish Main
Lt. Escobar
1945
Film
The Gang's All Here
Alberni
1939
Film
For Those Who Think Young
Cronin's Business Associate
1964
Film
Pardon My Sarong
Tabor (uncredited)
1942
Film
Cornered
Diego, Hotel Valet
1945
Film
Road to Utopia
LeBec
1946
Film
Swamp Woman
Pierre Pertinax Pontineau Briand Broussicourt d'Olivier, aka Pete Oliver
1941
Film
Times Square Lady
Jack Kramer
1935
Film
Valley of the Giants
Ed Morrell
1938
Film
Three on a Match
Ace's Henchman (uncredited)
1932
Film
American Empire
Pierre - Beauchard Henchman
1942
Film
The Payoff
John Angus
1942
Film
The Mouthpiece
Joe Garland (Uncredited)
1932
Film
Dancing Pirate
Lt. Chago (Baltazar's Aide)
1936
Film
Charlie Chan in Panama
Emil Manolo
1940
Film
No Orchids for Miss Blandish
Slim Grisson
1948
Film
Paesano
Bartender
1975
Film
His Night Out
Joe Ferranza
1935
Film
Gambling Ship
Pete Manning
1933
Film
The All-American
Joe Fiore
1932
Film
Her Husband Lies
'Trigger'
1937
Film
Christopher Strong
Carlo
1933
Film
Highways by Night
Johnny Lieber, Gangster
1942
Film
Footsteps in the Dark
Ace Vernon
1941
Film
The Kennel Murder Case
Eduardo Grassi
1933
Film
Murder in the Music Hall
Bruce Wilton
1946
Film
In Old Sacramento
Laramie
1946
Film
The Girl in 419
Sammy
1933
Film
Robin Hood of Monterey
Don Ricardo Gonzales
1947
Film
Little Big Shot
Jack Doré
1935
Film
Strike Me Pink
Mr. Thrust
1936
Film
The Woman Accused
Little Maxie
1933
Film
Ride the Man Down
Kennedy
1952
Film
The King On Main Street
Member of King's Retinue (uncredited)
1925
Film
Men of the Hour
Nick Thomas
1935
Film
East of the River
Frank 'Frisco' Scarfi
1940
Film
Forgotten Girls
Eddie Nolan
1940
Film
Calling All Cars
Jerry Kennedy
1935
Film
Virtue
Toots O'Neil
1932
Film
Enemy Agent
Alex
1940
Film
Blessed Event
Louis De Marco
1932
Film
Leave It to the Irish
Rockwell
1944
Film
Secret Service In Darkest Africa
Hassan
1943
Film
Born to Fight
Smoothy Morgan
1936
Ellis Island
Dude
1936
Film
Night World
Henchman (uncredited)
1932
Film
Arson Racket Squad
Bud Morgan
1938
Film
Lawyer Man
Spike Murphy (uncredited)
1932
Film
Waterfront Lady
Tom Braden
1935
Film
Bogart: The Untold Story
Self (archive footage)
1997
Film
Murder in Soho
Steve Marco
1939
Film
The Desert Song
Lt. Bertin
1943
Film
For Heaven's Sake
Tony Clark
1950
Film
You Can't Beat the Law
Cain
1943
Film
Follow the Leader
Gangster (uncredited)
1930
Film
Terror Aboard
Gregory Cordoff
1933
Film
Straight Is the Way
Monk
1934
Film
Dangerous Passage
Mike
1944
Film
The Daring Young Man
Cubby
1935
Film
Remember Last Night?
Baptiste Bouclier
1935
Film
In Old Caliente
Manuel Delgardo / Sujarno
1939
Film
The Last Ride
Joe Genna
1944
Film
Big Town Czar
Mike Luger
1939
Film
X Marks the Spot
Marty Clark
1942
Film
A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen
Tommy Gould
1942
Film
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
Bert
1934
Film
Gangs Inc.
Mickey Roman
1941
Film
Dangerous Holiday
Gollenger
1937
Film
After the Dance
Mitch
1935
Film
The Headline Woman
Phil Zarias
1935
No Ransom
Larry Romero
1934
Film
I Demand Payment
Smiles Badolio
1938
Film
Yellow Cargo
Al Perrelli
1936
Film
Under the Pampas Moon
Bazan
1935
Film
Gentleman from Dixie
Thad Terrill
1941
Film
To the Last Man
Jim Daggs
1933
Film
A Scream in the Dark
Cross
1943
Film
The Sultan's Daughter
Rata
1943
Film
Trapped by G-Men
Fred Drake
1937
Film
Never a Dull Moment
Joey
1943
Film
Fugitive from a Prison Camp
Red Nelson
1940
Film
A Tenderfoot Goes West
James "Killer" Madden
1936
Film
Santa Fe Uprising
Bruce Jackson
1946
Film
The Bridge of Sighs
Packy Lacy
1936
Film
It Couldn't Have Happened (But It Did)
Smiley Clark
1936
Film
Machine Gun Mama
Jose
1944
Film
The Girl from Monterrey
Al Johnson
1943
Film
The House of Terror
1928
Film
Secret of the Chateau
Lucien Vonaire
1934
Film
Headline Shooter
Ricci
1933
Film
Good Dame
Bluch Brown
1934
Film
Pistol Packin' Mama
Johnny Rossi
1943
Film
The Spanish Cape Mystery
Gardner
1935
Film
Steppin' in Society
Bow Tie
1945
Film
The Law Rides Again
Duke Dillon
1943
Film
Take the Stand
George Gaylord
1934
Film
Radio Patrol
Slick (uncredited)
1932
Film
Fine Manners
New Year's Eve Celebrant
1926
Film
Mind Your Own Business
Cruger
1936
Film
Smart Guy
Matt Taylor
1943
Film
While Paris Sleeps
Julot
1932
Film
Under the Big Top
Ricardo Le Grande
1938
Film
Bush Pilot
Paul Girard
1947
Film
Follow the Leader
Larry
1944
Film
The Lucky Devil
Prizefight Attendant
1925
Film
Man Against Woman
Alberti
1932
Film
That I May Live
1937
Film
The Fighting Rookie
Patrolman Jim Trent
1934