Jack La Rue
Known for Acting · 135 credits
- Born
- 1902-05-03
- Died
- 1984-01-11
- Place of birth
- New York City, New York, USA
- Also known as
- Gaspere Biondolillo · Jack LaRue · The Latin Lover (nickname) · Gaspare Biondolillo
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.
Known For
TV Shows (9)
Perry Mason
1957
as Cafe Proprietor
Love, American Style
1969
as Mr. Smith
Lights Out
1949
as Narrator (voice)
The Millionaire
1955
as Cricket Rosselli
Tombstone Territory
1957
as Padre Miguel
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
1964
as Federico 'Feet' Stilletto
MGM Parade
1955
as self
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
1966
as Cassie
General Electric Theater
1953
as Nick Rocco / Ralphie Fargo
Movies (126)
Hard Guy
1941
as Vic Monroe
Robin and the 7 Hoods
1964
as Tomatoes
Ringside Maisie
1941
as Ricky Du Prez
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
1932
as Ackerman (uncredited)
Swamp Woman
1941
as Pierre Pertinax Pontineau Briand Broussicourt d'Olivier, aka Pete Oliver
The Sea Hawk
1940
as Lt. Ortega
Special Agent
1935
as Jake Andrews
Forgotten Girls
1940
as Eddie Nolan
Hollywood on Parade No. B-10
1934
as Self
Paesano
1975
as Bartender
The Spy in the Green Hat
1967
as Federico 'Feet' Stilletto
Dakota
1945
as Suade
For Those Who Think Young
1964
as Cronin's Business Associate
Valley of the Giants
1938
as Ed Morrell
Highways by Night
1942
as Johnny Lieber, Gangster
The Spanish Main
1945
as Lt. Escobar
My Favorite Brunette
1947
as Tony
The Kennel Murder Case
1933
as Eduardo Grassi
42nd Street
1933
as Mug with Murphy (uncredited)
20,000 Years in Sing Sing
1932
as Prisoner at Check-In (uncredited)
Secret of the Chateau
1934
as Lucien Vonaire
Captains Courageous
1937
as Priest
A Farewell to Arms
1932
as Priest
The Woman Accused
1933
as Little Maxie
The Gang's All Here
1939
as Alberni
Leave It to the Irish
1944
as Rockwell
In Old Sacramento
1946
as Laramie
Times Square Lady
1935
as Jack Kramer
Charlie Chan in Panama
1940
as Emil Manolo
No Orchids for Miss Blandish
1948
as Slim Grisson
The All-American
1932
as Joe Fiore
The Story of Temple Drake
1933
as Trigger
Ellis Island
1936
as Dude
Little Big Shot
1935
as Jack Doré
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
1976
as Silent Film Villain
Three on a Match
1932
as Ace's Henchman (uncredited)
Her Husband Lies
1937
as 'Trigger'
Gangs Inc.
1941
as Mickey Roman
The Payoff
1942
as John Angus
American Empire
1942
as Pierre - Beauchard Henchman
Cornered
1945
as Diego, Hotel Valet
Arson Racket Squad
1938
as Bud Morgan
Complicated Women
2003
as Self (archive footage)
Road to Utopia
1946
as LeBec
For Heaven's Sake
1950
as Tony Clark
The Daring Young Man
1935
as Cubby
Bogart: The Untold Story
1997
as Self (archive footage)
Strike Me Pink
1936
as Mr. Thrust
Virtue
1932
as Toots O'Neil
Dancing Pirate
1936
as Lt. Chago (Baltazar's Aide)
Radio Patrol
1932
as Slick (uncredited)
The King On Main Street
1925
as Member of King's Retinue (uncredited)
East of the River
1940
as Frank 'Frisco' Scarfi
The Desert Song
1943
as Lt. Bertin
The Girl in 419
1933
as Sammy
His Night Out
1935
as Joe Ferranza
40 Pounds of Trouble
1962
as Nick the Greek (uncredited)
Calling All Cars
1935
as Jerry Kennedy
A Scream in the Dark
1943
as Cross
Lawyer Man
1932
as Spike Murphy (uncredited)
Footsteps in the Dark
1941
as Ace Vernon
Waterfront Lady
1935
as Tom Braden
Robin Hood of Monterey
1947
as Don Ricardo Gonzales
Christopher Strong
1933
as Carlo
Men of the Hour
1935
as Nick Thomas
Remember Last Night?
1935
as Baptiste Bouclier
While Paris Sleeps
1932
as Julot
Gambling Ship
1933
as Pete Manning
Terror Aboard
1933
as Gregory Cordoff
Dangerous Passage
1944
as Mike
Santa Fe Uprising
1946
as Bruce Jackson
In Old Caliente
1939
as Manuel Delgardo / Sujarno
Blessed Event
1932
as Louis De Marco
The Girl from Monterrey
1943
as Al Johnson
Headline Shooter
1933
as Ricci
Good Dame
1934
as Bluch Brown
Under the Big Top
1938
as Ricardo Le Grande
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
1934
as Bert
Trapped by G-Men
1937
as Fred Drake
Night World
1932
as Henchman (uncredited)
Murder in Soho
1939
as Steve Marco
To the Last Man
1933
as Jim Daggs
Follow the Leader
1930
as Gangster (uncredited)
Fugitive from a Prison Camp
1940
as Red Nelson
Big Town Czar
1939
as Mike Luger
I Demand Payment
1938
as Smiles Badolio
Ride the Man Down
1952
as Kennedy
Machine Gun Mama
1944
as Jose
The Law Rides Again
1943
as Duke Dillon
Murder in the Music Hall
1946
as Bruce Wilton
The Last Ride
1944
as Joe Genna
Born to Fight
1936
as Smoothy Morgan
The Mouthpiece
1932
as Joe Garland (Uncredited)
It Couldn't Have Happened (But It Did)
1936
as Smiley Clark
Straight Is the Way
1934
as Monk
The Sultan's Daughter
1943
as Rata
The Headline Woman
1935
as Phil Zarias
X Marks the Spot
1942
as Marty Clark
Enemy Agent
1940
as Alex
A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen
1942
as Tommy Gould
Fine Manners
1926
as New Year's Eve Celebrant
The Spanish Cape Mystery
1935
as Gardner
No Ransom
1934
as Larry Romero
Pardon My Sarong
1942
as Tabor (uncredited)
That I May Live
1937
A Tenderfoot Goes West
1936
as James "Killer" Madden
The Lucky Devil
1925
as Prizefight Attendant
After the Dance
1935
as Mitch
Mind Your Own Business
1936
as Cruger
You Can't Beat the Law
1943
as Cain
Dangerous Holiday
1937
as Gollenger
Yellow Cargo
1936
as Al Perrelli
Take the Stand
1934
as George Gaylord
Follow the Leader
1944
as Larry
Secret Service In Darkest Africa
1943
as Hassan
Pistol Packin' Mama
1943
as Johnny Rossi
Under the Pampas Moon
1935
as Bazan
Man Against Woman
1932
as Alberti
Smart Guy
1943
as Matt Taylor
Never a Dull Moment
1943
as Joey
About Jack La Rue
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 n… With 135 credits spanning from 1925 to 2003, Jack La Rue has appeared in 126 films and 9 TV shows.
Fans searching for Jack La Rue movies, Jack La Rue filmography, or the latest projects starring Jack La Rue can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Jack La Rue Movies
- Hard Guy (1941) — as Vic Monroe
- Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964) — as Tomatoes
- Ringside Maisie (1941) — as Ricky Du Prez
- I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932) — as Ackerman (uncredited)
- Swamp Woman (1941) — as Pierre Pertinax Pontineau Briand Broussicourt d'Olivier, aka Pete Oliver
Where to Watch Jack La Rue Films
Most Jack La Rue movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Jack La Rue, check our movies catalogue and browse page.