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
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
1964
as Federico 'Feet' Stilletto
Tombstone Territory
1957
as Padre Miguel
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)
Complicated Women
2003
as Self (archive footage)
Special Agent
1935
as Jake Andrews
The Woman Accused
1933
as Little Maxie
42nd Street
1933
as Mug with Murphy (uncredited)
Captains Courageous
1937
as Priest
A Farewell to Arms
1932
as Priest
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
1932
as Ackerman (uncredited)
The Sea Hawk
1940
as Lt. Ortega
Dakota
1945
as Suade
The Story of Temple Drake
1933
as Trigger
Cornered
1945
as Diego, Hotel Valet
Robin and the 7 Hoods
1964
as Tomatoes
Smart Guy
1943
as Matt Taylor
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
1976
as Silent Film Villain
20,000 Years in Sing Sing
1932
as Prisoner at Check-In (uncredited)
Lawyer Man
1932
as Spike Murphy (uncredited)
Bogart: The Untold Story
1997
as Self (archive footage)
Gambling Ship
1933
as Pete Manning
40 Pounds of Trouble
1962
as Nick the Greek (uncredited)
Trapped by G-Men
1937
as Fred Drake
The All-American
1932
as Joe Fiore
The Spy in the Green Hat
1967
as Federico 'Feet' Stilletto
To the Last Man
1933
as Jim Daggs
For Those Who Think Young
1964
as Cronin's Business Associate
The Spanish Main
1945
as Lt. Escobar
The Kennel Murder Case
1933
as Eduardo Grassi
For Heaven's Sake
1950
as Tony Clark
Yellow Cargo
1936
as Al Perrelli
Little Big Shot
1935
as Jack Doré
Dancing Pirate
1936
as Lt. Chago (Baltazar's Aide)
American Empire
1942
as Pierre - Beauchard Henchman
Valley of the Giants
1938
as Ed Morrell
My Favorite Brunette
1947
as Tony
The Mouthpiece
1932
as Joe Garland (Uncredited)
Headline Shooter
1933
as Ricci
Swamp Woman
1941
as Pierre Pertinax Pontineau Briand Broussicourt d'Olivier, aka Pete Oliver
Road to Utopia
1946
as LeBec
East of the River
1940
as Frank 'Frisco' Scarfi
Gangs Inc.
1941
as Mickey Roman
Secret Service In Darkest Africa
1943
as Hassan
Bush Pilot
1947
as Paul Girard
Strike Me Pink
1936
as Mr. Thrust
Three on a Match
1932
as Ace's Henchman (uncredited)
Dangerous Passage
1944
as Mike
Pardon My Sarong
1942
as Tabor (uncredited)
In Old Caliente
1939
as Manuel Delgardo / Sujarno
Christopher Strong
1933
as Carlo
Enemy Agent
1940
as Alex
Night World
1932
as Henchman (uncredited)
In Old Sacramento
1946
as Laramie
Ride the Man Down
1952
as Kennedy
Blessed Event
1932
as Louis De Marco
Dangerous Holiday
1937
as Gollenger
His Night Out
1935
as Joe Ferranza
The Payoff
1942
as John Angus
Radio Patrol
1932
as Slick (uncredited)
Waterfront Lady
1935
as Tom Braden
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
1934
as Bert
Highways by Night
1942
as Johnny Lieber, Gangster
Murder in the Music Hall
1946
as Bruce Wilton
No Orchids for Miss Blandish
1948
as Slim Grisson
Forgotten Girls
1940
as Eddie Nolan
The Sultan's Daughter
1943
as Rata
Footsteps in the Dark
1941
as Ace Vernon
The Gang's All Here
1939
as Alberni
You Can't Beat the Law
1943
as Cain
Charlie Chan in Panama
1940
as Emil Manolo
Times Square Lady
1935
as Jack Kramer
The Headline Woman
1935
as Phil Zarias
Virtue
1932
as Toots O'Neil
The Girl in 419
1933
as Sammy
The King On Main Street
1925
as Member of King's Retinue in Paris Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
Robin Hood of Monterey
1947
as Don Ricardo Gonzales
The Law Rides Again
1943
as Duke Dillon
X Marks the Spot
1942
as Marty Clark
Calling All Cars
1935
as Jerry Kennedy
Murder in Soho
1939
as Steve Marco
Under the Big Top
1938
as Ricardo Le Grande
Mind Your Own Business
1936
as Cruger
The Lucky Devil
1925
as Prizefight Attendant
Her Husband Lies
1937
as 'Trigger'
Remember Last Night?
1935
as Baptiste Bouclier
Follow the Leader
1930
as Gangster (uncredited)
It Couldn't Have Happened (But It Did)
1936
as Smiley Clark
Big Town Czar
1939
as Mike Luger
Follow the Leader
1944
as Larry
Man Against Woman
1932
as Alberti
Fine Manners
1926
as New Year's Eve Celebrant
A Scream in the Dark
1943
as Cross
Steppin' in Society
1945
as Bow Tie
Good Dame
1934
as Bluch Brown
The Bridge of Sighs
1936
as Packy Lacy
The Desert Song
1943
as Lt. Bertin
Paesano
1975
as Bartender
Machine Gun Mama
1944
as Jose
The Spanish Cape Mystery
1935
as Gardner
Terror Aboard
1933
as Gregory Cordoff
Fugitive from a Prison Camp
1940
as Red Nelson
After the Dance
1935
as Mitch
The Daring Young Man
1935
as Cubby
The Last Ride
1944
as Joe Genna
Born to Fight
1936
as Smoothy Morgan
A Tenderfoot Goes West
1936
as James "Killer" Madden
Ellis Island
1936
as Dude
Pistol Packin' Mama
1943
as Johnny Rossi
I Demand Payment
1938
as Smiles Badolio
Ringside Maisie
1941
as Ricky Du Prez
A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen
1942
as Tommy Gould
The Girl from Monterrey
1943
as Al Johnson
Straight Is the Way
1934
as Monk
While Paris Sleeps
1932
as Julot
That I May Live
1937
Arson Racket Squad
1938
as Bud Morgan
Hard Guy
1941
as Vic Monroe
Under the Pampas Moon
1935
as Bazan
Gentleman from Dixie
1941
as Thad Terrill
Leave It to the Irish
1944
as Rockwell
No Ransom
1934
as Larry Romero
Take the Stand
1934
as George Gaylord
Secret of the Chateau
1934
as Lucien Vonaire
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
- Complicated Women (2003) — as Self (archive footage)
- Special Agent (1935) — as Jake Andrews
- The Woman Accused (1933) — as Little Maxie
- 42nd Street (1933) — as Mug with Murphy (uncredited)
- Captains Courageous (1937) — as Priest
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.