Birth Day: 1902-05-03
Place of birth: New 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.
Credits
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As Self (archive footage) -
As Self (archive footage) -
As Silent Film Villain -
As Federico 'Feet' Stilletto -
As Tomatoes -
As Cronin's Business Associate -
As Nick the Greek -
As Kennedy -
As Tony Clark -
As Slim Grisson -
As Don Ricardo Gonzales -
As Tony -
As Paul Girard -
As Laramie -
As Bruce Wilton -
As Bruce Jackson -
As LeBec -
As Bow Tie -
As Lt. Escobar -
As Diego, Hotel Valet -
As Suade -
As Mike -
As Jose -
As Rockwell
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As Joe Genna -
As Larry -
As Rata -
As Cross -
As Joey -
As Duke Dillon -
As Hassan -
As Johnny Rossi -
As Matt Taylor -
As Cain -
As Lt. Bertin -
As Al Johnson -
As Johnny Lieber, Gangster -
As Marty Clark -
As Tabor (uncredited) -
As Tommy Gould -
As Pierre - Beauchard Henchman -
As John Angus -
As Pierre Pertinax Pontineau Briand Broussicourt d'Olivier, aka Pete Oliver -
As Vic Monroe -
As Ricky Du Prez -
As Ace Vernon -
As Mickey Roman -
As Thad Terrill -
As Alex -
As Lt. Ortega -
As Frank 'Frisco' Scarfi -
As Emil Manolo -
As Eddie Nolan -
As Red Nelson -
As Manuel Delgardo / Sujarno -
As Mike Luger -
As Alberni -
As Steve Marco -
As Ricardo Le Grande -
As Bud Morgan -
As Ed Morrell -
As Smiles Badolio -
As Fred Drake -
As 'Trigger' -
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As Priest -
As Gollenger -
As James "Killer" Madden -
As Packy Lacy -
As Cruger -
As Dude
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As Smiley Clark -
As Smoothy Morgan -
As Al Perrelli -
As Lt. Chago (Baltazar's Aide) -
As Mr. Thrust -
As Mitch -
As Jack Kramer -
As Cubby -
As Tom Braden -
As Phil Zarias -
As Nick Thomas -
As Jerry Kennedy -
As Bazan -
As Gardner -
As Jake Andrews -
As Baptiste Bouclier -
As Jack Doré -
As Joe Ferranza -
As Patrolman Jim Trent -
As Lucien Vonaire -
As Bert -
As George Gaylord -
As Monk -
As Bluch Brown -
As Larry Romero
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As Pete Manning -
As Eduardo Grassi -
As Carlo -
As Gregory Cordoff -
As Thug (uncredited) -
As Sammy -
As Little Maxie -
As Jim Daggs -
As Ricci -
As Trigger -
As Joe Fiore -
As Ace's Henchman (uncredited) -
As Louis De Marco -
As Prisoner at Check-In (uncredited) -
As Alberti -
As Priest -
As Spike Murphy (uncredited) -
As Henchman (uncredited) -
As Julot -
As Joe Garland (Uncredited) -
As Ackerman (uncredited) -
As Slick (uncredited) -
As Toots O'Neil -
As Gangster (uncredited) -
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As New Year's Eve Celebrant -
As Member of King's Retinue in Paris Hotel Lobby (uncredited) -
As Prizefight Attendant