Lash La Rue (born June 15, 1917 - died May 21, 1996)

Born Alfred LaRue in Gretna, Louisiana, USA of Cajun ancestry, he was raised in various towns throughout Louisiana but in his teens the family moved to Los Angeles, California where he attended St. John's Military Academy.

He began acting in films in 1945 as Al LaRue, appearing in two action/thriller films before being given a role in a Western film that would result in him being cast in a cowboy persona for virtually the rest of his career. He was given the name "Lash" because of the 15 foot long bullwhip he used to help bring down the bad guys. The popularity of his "Cheyenne Kid" in his first role brandishing the whip paved the way for him to star in a series of western films. La Rue developed his image dressed all in black and added a comic sidekick in the form of "Fuzzy Jones" played by Al St. John .

"Lash LaRue Western" comic books were published by Fawcett Comics between 1949 and 1961.

In 1956, he appeared in a number of episodes of the television show, Judge Roy Bean but after more than four decades of success, interest in Westerns faded quickly in the mid 1950s and LaRue made a living doing appearances at western film buff conventions and later as an evangelist on the rodeo and country-music circuit.

La Rue died in Burbank, California and is believed to be interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

See also: Other notable figures in Western films