ROD LA ROQUE early silver screen matinee idol, born (d: 1969); It is well-documented that he had a torrid affair with actor Richard Halliburton, which gives gentle irony to two of La Rocque’s films: Let Us Be Gay (1929) and One Romantic Night (1930) to say nothing of The Gay Bandit. He was born Rodrique la Rocque de la Rour in Chicago of French and Irish descent. He began appearing in stock theater at the age of seven and eventually ended up at the Essanay Studios 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 with ease.

In 1927, he married Hungarian actress Vilma Banky in a lavish and highly (some might say “overly”) publicized wedding. They were married until his death in 1969, and seemed to have a loving compatible relationship.