Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Birthdate
1902-05-03
Day of Death
1984-01-11
Place of Birth
New York City, New York, USA
Jack La Rue
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.
Filmography (126)
Complicated Women
2003
Bogart: The Untold Story
1997
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
1976
Paesano
1975
The Spy in the Green Hat
1967
Robin and the 7 Hoods
1964
For Those Who Think Young
1964
40 Pounds of Trouble
1962
Ride the Man Down
1952
For Heaven's Sake
1950
No Orchids for Miss Blandish
1948
Robin Hood of Monterey
1947
Bush Pilot
1947
My Favorite Brunette
1947
