John Litel

☆ Save On Wikipedia ↗
John Litel
Litel in Submarine Base (1943)
Born
John Beach Litel

(1892-12-30)December 30, 1892
Albany, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedFebruary 3, 1972(1972-02-03) (aged 79)
Woodland Hills, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1919–1967
Spouse(s)Ruth Emilie Pecheur Litel (1920-1955) (her death)
(Beatrice Marguerite Brush (1956-1972) (his death)[1]

John Beach Litel (December 30, 1892 – February 3, 1972) was an American film and television actor.

Early life

Litel was born in Albany, Wisconsin.[2] During World War I, he enlisted in the French Army and was twice decorated for bravery. Back in the U.S. after the war, Litel enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and began his stage career.

Career

His Broadway credits include Sweet Aloes (1935), Hell Freezes Over (1935), Life's Too Short (1935), Strange Gods (1932), Before Morning (1932), Lilly Turner (1932), Ladies of Creation (1931), Back Seat Drivers (1928), The Half Naked Truth (1926), The Beaten Track (1925), Thoroughbreds (1924), and Irene (1919).[3]

In 1929, he began appearing in films. Part of the "Warner Bros. Stock Company" beginning in the 1930s, he appeared in dozens of Warner Bros. films and was in over 200 films during his entire career. He often played supporting roles such as hard-nosed cops and district attorneys. He was Nancy Drew's (Bonita Granville) attorney father, Carson Drew, in four films in 1938 and 1939. Among his other films are They Drive by Night (1940); Knute Rockne, All American (1940); They Died with Their Boots On (1941); and Scaramouche (1952). His final film role was in Nevada Smith (1966).

In the second season of the Disney series Zorro, he played the governor of California in several episodes. During 1960 and 1961, he was seen as Dan Murchison in nine episodes of the ABC Western television series, Stagecoach West, starring Wayne Rogers and Robert Bray.[4]

He appeared in many other series as well, including the role of Captain David Rowland in the episode "Don't Get Tough with a Sailor" on the ABC/Desilu Western series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp starring Hugh O'Brian. In the story line, Rowland, a former captain in the United States Navy, is a wealthy Arizona Territory rancher who operates his own law and private jail near the Mexican border.[5]: 270 

Litel appeared in an episode of I Love Lucy, “Mr. and Mrs. T.V. Show”, airing November 1, 1954.

He appeared as Mr. Crenshaw in the episode "The Giant Killer" of the Western series Sugarfoot.[6]

Litel also appeared as Bob Cummings's boss Mr. Thackery in the TV series The Bob Cummings Show in the early/mid-1950s. Cummings played Robert S. Beanblossom on the show.[7][4]

Death

Litel died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles in 1972.[2]

Selected filmography

  1. Always Faithful (1929, Short) as Wayne
  2. On the Border (1930) as Dave
  3. Wayward (1932) as Robert 'Bob' Daniels
  4. Fugitive in the Sky (1936) as Mike Phelan - aka Roger Johnson
  5. Give Me Liberty (1936, Short) as Patrick Henry
  6. Black Legion (1937) as Tommy Smith
  7. Midnight Court (1937) as Victor Shanley
  8. Marked Woman (1937) as Gordon
  9. Slim (1937) as Wyatt Ranstead
  10. The Life of Emile Zola (1937) as Charpentier
  11. Back in Circulation (1937) as Dr. Eugene Forde
  12. Alcatraz Island (1937) as Garrett Sloane aka 'Gat' Brady
  13. The Man Without a Country (1937, Short) as Lt. Philip Nolan
  14. Missing Witnesses (1937) as Inspector Robedrt L. Lane
  15. Gold is Where You Find It (1938) as Ralph Ferris
  16. A Slight Case of Murder (1938) as Post
  17. Jezebel (1938) as Jean La Cour
  18. Love, Honor and Behave (1938) as Jim Blake
  19. Over the Wall (1938) as Father Neil Connor
  20. Little Miss Thoroughbred (1938) as Nelson 'Nails' Morgan
  21. My Bill (1938) as John Rudlin
  22. The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse (1938) as Mr. Monroe, the prosecuting attorney
  23. Valley of the Giants (1938) as Hendricks
  24. Broadway Musketeers (1938) as Stanley 'Stan' Dowling
  25. Nancy Drew... Detective (1938) as Carson Drew
  26. Declaration of Independence (1938, Short) as Thomas Jefferson
  27. Comet Over Broadway (1938) as Bill Appleton
  28. Wings of the Navy (1939) as Commander Clark
  29. Nancy Drew... Reporter (1939) as Carson Drew
  30. Secret Service of the Air (1939) as Saxby
  31. You Can't Get Away with Murder (1939) as Attorney Carey
  32. Dodge City (1939) as Matt Cole
  33. On Trial (1939) as Robert Strickland
  34. Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter (1939) as Carson Drew
  35. Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1939) as Carson Drew
  36. Dust Be My Destiny (1939) as Prosecutor
  37. On Dress Parade (1939) as Col. Michael Riker
  38. One Hour to Live (1939) as Rudolph Spain
  39. The Return of Doctor X (1939) as Dr. Francis Flegg
  40. A Child Is Born (1939) as Dr. Brett
  41. The Fighting 69th (1940) as Capt. Mangan
  42. Castle on the Hudson (1940) as Chaplain
  43. Virginia City (1940) as Thomas Marshall
  44. It All Came True (1940) as "Doc" Roberts
  45. An Angel from Texas (1940) as Quigley
  46. Flight Angels (1940) as Dr. Barclay
  47. Men Without Souls (1940) as Reverend Thomas Storm
  48. Murder in the Air (1940) as Saxby
  49. Gambling on the High Seas (1940) as U.S. District Attorney
  50. The Man Who Talked Too Much (1940) as District Attorney Dickson
  51. They Drive by Night (1940) as Harry McNamara
  52. Money and the Woman (1940) as Jerremy 'Jerry ' Helm, Bank Manager
  53. Knute Rockne, All American (1940) as Committee Chairman
  54. Father is a Prince (1940) as Dr. Mark Stone
  55. Lady with Red Hair (1940) as Charles Bryant
  56. Santa Fe Trail (1940) as Martin
  57. Father's Son (1941) as William Emory
  58. The Trial of Mary Dugan (1941) as Mr. West
  59. The Great Mr. Nobody (1941) as John Wade
  60. The Big Boss (1941) as Bob Dugan
  61. Thieves Fall Out (1941) as Tim Gordon
  62. Henry Aldrich for President (1941) as Mr. Aldrich
  63. They Died with Their Boots On (1941) as General Phil Sheridan
  64. Sealed Lips (1942) as Fred M. Morton / Mike Rofano
  65. Don Winslow of the Navy (1942) as Spencer Merlin
  66. Kid Glove Killer (1942) as Matty
  67. Mississippi Gambler (1942) as Jim Hadley aka Francis Carvel
  68. The Mystery of Marie Roget (1942) as Beauvais
  69. A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen (1942) as Norman Hadley
  70. Henry and Dizzy (1942) as Mr. Aldrich
  71. Men of Texas (1942) as Colonel Colbert Scott
  72. Invisible Agent (1942) as John Gardiner
  73. Henry Aldrich, Editor (1942) as Mr. Sam Aldrich
  74. The Boss of Big Town (1942) as Michael Lynn
  75. Madame Spy (1942) as Peter Rolf
  76. Murder in Times Square (1943) as Dr. Blaine
  77. Henry Aldrich Gets Glamour (1943) as Mr. Sam Aldrich
  78. Crime Doctor (1943) as Emilio Caspari
  79. Henry Aldrich Swings It (1943) as Mr. Sam Aldrich
  80. Submarine Base (1943) as James Xavier 'Jim' Taggart
  81. So Proudly We Hail! (1943) as Dr. Harrison
  82. Henry Aldrich Haunts a House (1943) as Mr. Sam Aldrich
  83. Where Are Your Children? (1943) as Judge Edmonds
  84. Henry Aldrich, Boy Scout (1944) as Mr. Sam Aldrich
  85. Henry Aldrich Plays Cupid (1944) as Mr. Sam Aldrich
  86. Henry Aldrich's Little Secret (1944) as Mr. Sam Aldrich
  87. My Buddy (1944) as Father Jim Donnelly
  88. Murder in the Blue Room (1944) as Frank Baldrich
  89. Faces in the Fog (1944) as Dr. Mason
  90. Lake Placid Serenade (1944) as Walter Benda
  91. Brewster's Millions (1945) as Swearengen Jones
  92. Salome, Where She Danced (1945) as Gen. Lee
  93. Crime Doctor's Warning (1945) as Inspector Dawes
  94. The Crimson Canary (1945) as Roger Quinn
  95. Northwest Trail (1945) as Sergeant Means
  96. The Daltons Ride Again (1945) as Mitchael J. 'Mike' Bohannon
  97. The Enchanted Forest (1945) as Ed Henderson
  98. San Antonio (1945) as Charlie Bell
  99. The Madonna's Secret (1946) as Police Lt. Roberts
  100. Smooth as Silk (1946) as Stephen Elliott
  101. Night in Paradise (1946) as Archon
  102. She Wrote the Book (1946) as Dean Fowler
  103. The Return of Rusty (1946) as Hugh Mitchell
  104. Sister Kenny (1946) as Medical Director
  105. Swell Guy (1946) as Arthur Tyler
  106. Lighthouse (1947) as Hank Armitage
  107. Easy Come, Easy Go (1947) as Tom Clancy
  108. The Beginning or the End (1947) as K.T. Keller
  109. The Guilty (1947) as Alex Tremholt
  110. Heaven Only Knows (1947) as Reverend Wainwright
  111. Christmas Eve (1947) as Joe Bland, FBI Agent
  112. Cass Timberlane (1947) as Webb Wargate
  113. My Dog Rusty (1948) as Hugh Mitchell
  114. Smart Woman (1948) as Clark
  115. I, Jane Doe (1948) as Horton
  116. Key Largo (1948) as Dispatcher (uncredited)
  117. Pitfall (1948) as District Attorney
  118. Triple Threat (1948) as Coach Snyder
  119. Rusty Leads the Way (1948) as Hugh Mitchell
  120. The Valiant Hombre (1948) as Lon Lansdell
  121. Rusty Saves a Life (1949) as Hugh Mitchell
  122. Shamrock Hill (1949) as Ralph Judson
  123. Outpost in Morocco (1949) as Col. Pascal
  124. The Gal Who Took the West (1949) as Colonel Logan
  125. Rusty's Birthday (1949) as Hugh Mitchell
  126. Mary Ryan, Detective (1949) as Police Captain Billings
  127. The Sundowners (1950) as John Gall
  128. Woman in Hiding (1950) as John Chandler
  129. Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (1950) as Police Chief Sam Tolgate
  130. The Fuller Brush Girl (1950) as Mr. Watkins
  131. Cuban Fireball (1951) as Pomeroy Sr.
  132. The Groom Wore Spurs (1951) as Uncle George
  133. The Texas Rangers (1951) as Texas Ranger Major John B. Jones
  134. Take Care of My Little Girl (1951) as John Erickson (uncredited)
  135. Little Egypt (1951) as Shuster
  136. Two-Dollar Bettor (1951) as John Hewitt
  137. Flight to Mars (1951) as Dr. Lane
  138. Jet Job (1952) as Sam Bentley
  139. Scaramouche (1952) as Dr. Dubuque
  140. Montana Belle (1952) as Matt Towner
  141. Jack Slade (1953) as Judge Davidson
  142. Sitting Bull (1954) as Gen. Wilford Howell
  143. Double Jeopardy (1955) as Emmett Devery
  144. The Kentuckian (1955) as Pleasant Tuesday Babson
  145. Texas Lady (1955) as Meade Moore
  146. The Wild Dakotas (1956) as Morgan Wheeler
  147. Comanche (1956) as Gen. Nelson A. Miles
  148. Runaway Daughters (1956) as George Barton
  149. The Hired Gun (1957) as Mace Beldon
  150. Decision at Sundown (1957) as Charles Summerton
  151. Houseboat (1958) as Mr. William Farnsworth
  152. The Restless Gun (1958) Episode "A Bell for Santo Domingo"
  153. Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961) as Vice-Adm. B.J. Crawford
  154. Pocketful of Miracles (1961) as Police Inspector McCrary
  155. Lover Come Back (1961) as Williams, Ad Council Board Member (uncredited)
  156. The Gun Hawk (1963) as Drunk - Madden's father
  157. The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) as Minister
  158. Nevada Smith (1966) as Doctor

Selected television

Year Title Role Notes
1955 Du Pont Cavalcade Theater Dr. William D. Silkworth Season 4 Episode 7 "One Day at a Time"
1958 Wanted Dead or Alive Judge George Healy Season, Episode "Sheriff of Red Rock"
1958 The Restless Gun Season 1 finale "Gratitude"
1959 The Restless Gun Mr. Carter Episode "Incident at Bluefield"
1959 Wanted Dead or Alive Asa Morgan Season, Episode "The Corner"
1960 Wanted Dead or Alive Clint Davis Season 2, Episode 30 "The Inheritance"
1961 Have Gun - Will Travel Sheriff John Armstedder Episode "Ben Jalisco"
1961 Bonanza (TV Series) Mayor George Goshen Episode "The Tin Badge"
1961RawhideJim RyeS3:E18, "Incident of the Running Iron"

References

  1. "John Litel, 77, Character Actor On Stage, in Films and TV, Dies". February 5, 1972 – via NYTimes.com.
  2. "John Litel Dies". Independent Press-Telegram. February 5, 1972. p. 2. Retrieved December 31, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. "("John Litel" search results)". Playbill Vault. Playbill. Retrieved November 25, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  4. Tucker, David C. (April 19, 2010). Lost Laughs of '50s and '60s Television: Thirty Sitcoms That Faded Off Screen. McFarland. pp. 157, 161. ISBN 978-0-7864-5582-9.
  5. Lentz, Harris M. (1997). Television Westerns Episode Guide: All United States Series, 1949-1996. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-0-7864-7386-1.
  6. "Sugarfoot". TVGuide.com. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  7. Miller, Quinlan (April 4, 2019). Camp TV: Trans Gender Queer Sitcom History. Duke University Press. ISBN 978-1-4780-0339-7.