Rod La Rocque

Birth Name:

Rod La Rocque de la Rour

Birth Place:

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Profession

Actor, Soundtrack

After retiring from acting, he and wife Vilma Banky started entertaining at veterans' hospitals
Thousands of fans and hundreds of Hollywood stars flocked to his wedding to actress Vilma Banky
Made movies for the Essanay Studios in Chicago until it closed
Started acting on the stage and with traveling shows as a child
Samuel Goldwyn noticed him while he was performing on stage in New York City and took him to Hollywood
Quote: "[on his marriage] "The gossips said it'd never last․ That it was all a publicity stunt․ Well, we're celebrating our 22nd wedding anniversary in a few months․""
A leading man of the silent film era, he transitioned into talkies in the 1940s
Known for his passionate onscreen roles, often opposite Vilma Banky
Remained a freelance actor throughout his career instead of signing with a single studio at a time when contracts were a common practice in the acting profession
In 1941, he retired from the film industry and became a real estate broker

Fast Facts