Discovered on Broadway by director Howard Hawks , La Rue was originally brought to Hollywood to play a gangster in Scarface (1932). He lost that role to George Raft , and similarly was replaced by Humphrey Bogart in the film version of The Petrified Forest (1936). Eventually, he became well-known to movie-goers as a mean, sexy gangster type in sadistic roles like Miriam Hopkins ' abductor in The Story of Temple Drake (1933). Film audiences, who loved to loathe him on-screen, were occasionally surprised by his being cast against type in such movies as A Farewell to Arms (1932). His final film was in the Rat Pack comedy Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964).

Father of actor Jack La Rue Jr.Active on Broadway from 1923-31; appeared in 7 productions (see "other works").