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Jack La Rue

May 03, 1902 - Jan 11, 1984 (81 years old) in 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 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

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Love, American Style
Mr. Smith
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Perry Mason
Cafe Proprietor
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The Millionaire
Cricket Rosselli
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The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
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General Electric Theater
Nick Rocco
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My Favorite Brunette
Tony
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42nd Street
Thug (uncredited)
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The Kennel Murder Case
Eduardo Grassi
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The Sea Hawk
Lt. Ortega
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Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Silent Film Villain

Credits

Images

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