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 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.
Acting
Movie
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
as Ackerman (uncredited)
1932
Movie
42nd Street
as Mug with Murphy (uncredited)
1933
Movie
Captains Courageous
as Priest
1937
Movie
A Farewell to Arms
as Priest
1932
Movie
The Sea Hawk
as Lt. Ortega
1940
TV
Perry Mason
as Cafe Proprietor
1957
Movie
Robin and the 7 Hoods
as Tomatoes
1964
Movie
Three on a Match
as Ace's Henchman (uncredited)
1932
TV
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
as Federico 'Feet' Stilletto
1964
Movie
My Favorite Brunette
as Tony
1947
Movie
The Kennel Murder Case
as Eduardo Grassi
1933
Movie
Road to Utopia
as LeBec
1946
Movie
Cornered
as Diego, Hotel Valet
1945
Movie
20,000 Years in Sing Sing
as Prisoner at Check-In (uncredited)
1932
Movie
The Story of Temple Drake
as Trigger
1933
Movie
Christopher Strong
as Carlo
1933
Movie
Dakota
as Suade
1945
Movie
The Spanish Main
as Lt. Escobar
1945
Movie
Pardon My Sarong
as Tabor (uncredited)
1942
Movie
No Orchids for Miss Blandish
as Slim Grisson
1948
Movie
To the Last Man
as Jim Daggs
1933
Movie
Charlie Chan in Panama
as Emil Manolo
1940
TV
Love, American Style
as Mr. Smith
1969
Movie
40 Pounds of Trouble
as Nick the Greek (uncredited)
1962