Person
Jack La Rue
New York City, New York, USA
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 pr…
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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
Movies and shows, newest first
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2003
Complicated Women
Movie Self (archive footage)
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1997
Bogart: The Untold Story
Movie Self (archive footage)
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1976
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Movie Silent Film Villain
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1975
Paesano
Movie Bartender
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1969
Love, American Style
TV show Mr. Smith
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1967
The Spy in the Green Hat
Movie Federico 'Feet' Stilletto
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1966
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
TV show Cassie
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1964
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
TV show Federico 'Feet' Stilletto
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1964
Robin and the 7 Hoods
Movie Tomatoes
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1964
For Those Who Think Young
Movie Cronin's Business Associate
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1962
40 Pounds of Trouble
Movie Nick the Greek (uncredited)
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1957
Tombstone Territory
TV show Padre Miguel
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1957
Perry Mason
TV show Cafe Proprietor
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1955
MGM Parade
TV show self
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1955
The Millionaire
TV show Cricket Rosselli
-
1953
General Electric Theater
TV show Nick Rocco
More credits
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1952
Ride the Man Down
Movie Kennedy
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1950
For Heaven's Sake
Movie Tony Clark
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1949
Lights Out
TV show Narrator (voice)
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1948
No Orchids for Miss Blandish
Movie Slim Grisson
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1947
Robin Hood of Monterey
Movie Don Ricardo Gonzales
-
1947
Bush Pilot
Movie Paul Girard
-
1947
My Favorite Brunette
Movie Tony
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1946
Santa Fe Uprising
Movie Bruce Jackson
-
1946
In Old Sacramento
Movie Laramie
-
1946
Murder in the Music Hall
Movie Bruce Wilton
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1946
Road to Utopia
Movie LeBec
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1945
Dakota
Movie Suade
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1945
Cornered
Movie Diego, Hotel Valet
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1945
The Spanish Main
Movie Lt. Escobar
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1945
Steppin' in Society
Movie Bow Tie
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1944
Dangerous Passage
Movie Mike
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1944
The Last Ride
Movie Joe Genna
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1944
Leave It to the Irish
Movie Rockwell
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1944
Machine Gun Mama
Movie Jose
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1944
Follow the Leader
Movie Larry
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1944
The Desert Song
Movie Lt. Bertin
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1943
Smart Guy
Movie Matt Taylor
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1943
The Sultan's Daughter
Movie Rata
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1943
Pistol Packin' Mama
Movie Johnny Rossi
