Jack La Rue
Known For
Acting
Born
1902-05-03 in New York City, New York, USA
Died
1984-01-11
Biography
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.
Most Known For
Perry Mason
as Cafe Proprietor
Love, American Style
as Mr. Smith
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
as Federico 'Feet' Stilletto
The Millionaire
as Cricket Rosselli
Tombstone Territory
as Padre Miguel
MGM Parade
as self
Lights Out
as Narrator (voice)
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
as Cassie
Gambling Ship
as Pete Manning
Ringside Maisie
as Ricky Du Prez
Hard Guy
as Vic Monroe
Ellis Island
as Dude
Special Agent
as Jake Andrews
Forgotten Girls
as Eddie Nolan
A Farewell to Arms
as Priest
Waterfront Lady
as Tom Braden
Swamp Woman
as Pierre Pertinax Pontineau Briand Broussicourt d'Olivier, aka Pete Oliver
Captains Courageous
as Priest
The Sea Hawk
as Lt. Ortega
Highways by Night
as Johnny Lieber, Gangster