Jack La Rue
Acting
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.
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
as Silent Film Villain
Age 74 (now 81)
The Spy in the Green Hat
as Federico 'Feet' Stilletto
Age 64 (now 81)
For Those Who Think Young
as Cronin's Business Associate
Age 62 (now 81)
Secret Service In Darkest Africa
as Hassan
Age 41 (now 81)
A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen
as Tommy Gould
Age 40 (now 81)
Swamp Woman
as Pierre Pertinax Pontineau Briand Broussicourt d'Olivier, aka Pete Oliver
Age 39 (now 81)
It Couldn't Have Happened (But It Did)
as Smiley Clark
Age 34 (now 81)
20,000 Years in Sing Sing
as Prisoner at Check-In (uncredited)
Age 30 (now 81)
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
as Ackerman (uncredited)
Age 30 (now 81)
The King On Main Street
as Member of King's Retinue in Paris Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
Age 23 (now 81)
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
as Federico 'Feet' Stilletto
Age 62 (now 81)
Gathering insights...
Also Known As
Gaspere Biondolillo, Jack LaRue, The Latin Lover (nickname), Gaspare Biondolillo
IMDB
nm0479011