Jack La Rue
Biography
Jack La Rue, born Gaspare Biondolillo, was an American film and stage actor. He started acting with Otis Skinner's traveling company in Blood and Sand, then spent years on Broadway in the 1920s and early 1930s. During a run in Mae West's Diamond Lil, Howard Hawks offered him a role in Scarface (1932), but the director replaced him with George Raft. Raft later refused the villain in The Story of Temple Drake (1933), and La Rue took it instead. He became known for gangster and thug parts, and was sometimes taken for Humphrey Bogart. Frank Borzage cast him as a priest in A Farewell to Arms (1932). La Rue said he declined a part in The Godfather (1972) and several roles in The Untouchables because of how Italian Americans were shown. He died in 1984.
81years old at death
- Born New York City
- Died Santa Monica
- Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
Movie Career
- Films
- 17
- Career span
- 35 years1932 to 1967
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A role that slipped away
La Rue said that Raft refused the part of the villain in The Story of Temple Drake (1933) because he worried it would hurt his screen image, and so La Rue got the role.
A role that slipped away
La Rue said he rejected a part in The Godfather (1972) and many roles in The Untouchables because of how those productions portrayed Italian-Americans.
First role
La Rue's first acting job came right after high school, in the road company production of Blood and Sand put on by Otis Skinner.
Big break
La Rue said Howard Hawks spotted him while he was appearing in Mae West's play Diamond Lil and offered him a part in Scarface (1932).
Jack La Rue movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Frank Borzage directed two of these films, Michael Curtiz two. Four actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
John Carradine's page
Barton MacLane's page
Frank Puglia's page
Bing Crosby's page
Gino Corrado's page
Spencer Tracy's page
Frank BorzageDirector, 2 films, 1932 to 1945
All films by Frank Borzage
Michael CurtizDirector, 2 films, 1932 to 1933
All films by Michael Curtiz
Also two films together7 more actors
- Robert BarratRoad to Utopia (1945) and The Kennel Murder Case (1933)
- Allen JenkinsThe Spy in the Green Hat (1967) and Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964)
- Bob HopeMy Favorite Brunette (1947) and Road to Utopia (1945)
- Charles ArntMy Favorite Brunette (1947) and Dangerous Passage (1944)
- Walter SlezakCornered (1945) and The Spanish Main (1945)
- Victor KilianThe Spanish Main (1945) and Dangerous Passage (1944)
- Dorothy LamourMy Favorite Brunette (1947) and Road to Utopia (1945)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.