Cast

Jack La Rue

Acting

Cast

Jack La Rue

Known for

Acting

Born

1902-05-03

From

New York City, New York, USA

Died

1984-01-11

Also known as Gaspere Biondolillo, Jack LaRue, The Latin Lover (nickname)

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.

Jack La Rue

Jack La Rue

Biography

Hard Guy

Robin and the 7 Hoods

Ringside Maisie

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

Swamp Woman

The Sea Hawk

Special Agent

Forgotten Girls

Hollywood on Parade No. B-10

Paesano

The Spy in the Green Hat

Dakota

For Those Who Think Young

Valley of the Giants

Highways by Night

The Spanish Main

My Favorite Brunette

The Kennel Murder Case

42nd Street

20,000 Years in Sing Sing

Secret of the Chateau

Captains Courageous

A Farewell to Arms

The Woman Accused

The Gang's All Here

Leave It to the Irish

In Old Sacramento

Times Square Lady

Charlie Chan in Panama

No Orchids for Miss Blandish

The All-American

The Story of Temple Drake

Ellis Island

Little Big Shot

Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

Three on a Match

Her Husband Lies

Gangs Inc.

The Payoff

American Empire

Cornered

Arson Racket Squad

Complicated Women

Road to Utopia

For Heaven's Sake

The Daring Young Man

Bogart: The Untold Story

Strike Me Pink

Virtue

Dancing Pirate

Radio Patrol

The King On Main Street

East of the River

The Desert Song

The Girl in 419

His Night Out

40 Pounds of Trouble

Calling All Cars

A Scream in the Dark

Lawyer Man

Footsteps in the Dark

Waterfront Lady

Robin Hood of Monterey

Christopher Strong

Men of the Hour

Remember Last Night?

While Paris Sleeps

Gambling Ship

Terror Aboard

Dangerous Passage

Santa Fe Uprising

In Old Caliente

Blessed Event

The Girl from Monterrey

Headline Shooter

Good Dame

Under the Big Top