Rod La Rocque

Summary

Roderick Ross La Rocque[1] (November 29, 1898 – October 15, 1969) was an American actor.

Rod La Rocque
La Rocque in 1925
Born
Roderick Ross La Rocque

(1898-11-29)November 29, 1898
DiedOctober 15, 1969(1969-10-15) (aged 70)
OccupationActor
Years active1914–1941
Spouse
(m. 1927)

Biography edit

La Rocque was born in Chicago, Illinois to Edmund La Rocque and Ann (née Rice) La Rocque. His father was of French-Canadian descent and his mother was of Irish descent. He began appearing in stock theater at the age of seven and eventually ended up at the Essanay Studios as a teenager in Chicago where he found steady work until the studios closed. He then moved to New York City and worked on the stage until he was noticed by Samuel Goldwyn who took him to Hollywood. Over the next two decades, he appeared in films and made the transition to sound films. [citation needed]

 
La Rocque and Vilma Bánky, 1927.

In 1927, he married Hungarian actress Vilma Bánky in a lavish, highly publicized wedding.[2] They were married until his death in 1969.[3] The couple had no children. He retired from movies in 1941 and became a real estate broker.[2]

For his contribution to the film industry, La Rocque was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Partial filmography edit

References edit

Notes
  1. ^ Birthname per WWI United States draft registration card, 1917-18, ancestry.com; accessed October 20, 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Vilma Banky And Rod La Rocque, Film Lovers, Fooled The Gossips". Milwaukee Journal. February 2, 1949. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  3. ^ "Silent Film Star Rod La Rocque Dies". October 17, 1969. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
Bibliography
  • Schildgen, Rachel A. More Than a Dream: Rediscovering the Life & Films of Vilma Banky ISBN 978-0-9827709-2-4.

External links edit

  • Rod La Rocque at IMDb
  • Rod La Rocque at Find a Grave
  • Rod La Rocque at Virtual History
  • Portraits of Rod La Rocque; NY Public Library, Billy Rose collection