John Litel (December 30, 1892 – February 3, 1972) was an American film and television actor.During World War I, Litel 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. In 1929, he started appearing in films. Part of the "Warner Bros. Stock Company" beginning in the 1930s, he appeared in dozens of Warner Bros. films. He often played supporting roles such as hard-nosed cops, district attorneys, etc. He appeared in over 200 films, including They Drive by Night (1940), Knute Rockne, All American (1940), They Died with Their Boots On (1941), Scaramouche (1952), and his final film role in Nevada Smith (1966).From 1960 to 1961, he was cast as Dan Murchison in nine episodes of the ABC western television series, Stagecoach West, starring Wayne Rogers and Robert Bray.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.He appeared as Mr. Crenshaw in the episode "The Giant Killer" (March 3, 1959) of the ABC/Warner Brothers western series, Sugarfoot, with Will Hutchins in the title role. In the segment Patricia Barry plays the recently widowed Doreen Bradley who with the assistance of Sugarfoot exposes to a grateful town the corruption and cowardice of Lou Stoner (R. G. Armstrong), a leading candidate for a territorial governorship. Others in the segment are Dorothy Provine, Russ Conway, and child actor Jay North.
His body was donated to University of Southern California.
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Retired in 1967 due to ill health.
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Portrayed a number of famous historical figures in several Warner Bros. shorts during his long career, including Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson and Robert E. Lee. The film Give Me Liberty (1936) with Litel as Henry won an Academy Award for best short. In it he managed to recite a long and complicated speech in one take. His short film on Jefferson entitled The Declaration of Independence (1938) also won an Oscar.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Gambling on the High Seas
1940
U.S. District Attorney
Murder in the Air
1940
Saxby
Men Without Souls
1940
Reverend Thomas Storm
Flight Angels
1940
Dr. Barclay
An Angel from Texas
1940
Quigley
It All Came True
1940
Mr. Roberts
Virginia City
1940
Marshall
Castle on the Hudson
1940
Chaplain
The Fighting 69th
1940
Captain Mangan
A Child Is Born
1939
Dr. Brett
The Return of Doctor X
1939
Dr. Francis Flegg
One Hour to Live
1939
Rudolph Spain
On Dress Parade
1939
Col. Michael Riker
Dust Be My Destiny
1939
Prosecutor
Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase
1939
Carson Drew
Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter
1939
Carson Drew
Dodge City
1939
Matt Cole
On Trial
1939
Robert Strickland
You Can't Get Away with Murder
1939
Attorney Carey
Secret Service of the Air
1939
Saxby
Nancy Drew... Reporter
1939
Carson Drew
Wings of the Navy
1939
Commander Clark
Comet Over Broadway
1938
Bill Appleton
The Declaration of Independence
1938
Short
Thomas Jefferson
Nancy Drew: Detective
1938
Carson Drew
Broadway Musketeers
1938
Stanley 'Stan' Dowling
Valley of the Giants
1938
Hendricks
The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse
1938
Prosecuting Attorney
My Bill
1938
John Rudlin
Little Miss Thoroughbred
1938
Nelson 'Nails' Morgan
Over the Wall
1938
Father Neil Connor
Love, Honor and Behave
1938
Jim Blake
Jezebel
1938
Jean La Cour
A Slight Case of Murder
1938
Post
Gold Is Where You Find It
1938
Ralph Ferris
Missing Witnesses
1937
Inspector Lane
The Man Without a Country
1937
Short
Lt. Philip Nolan
Alcatraz Island
1937
Garrett Sloane aka 'Gat' Brady
Back in Circulation
1937
Dr. Eugene Forde
The Life of Emile Zola
1937
Charpentier
Slim
1937
Wyatt Ranstead
Marked Woman
1937
Gordon
Midnight Court
1937
Victor Shanley
Black Legion
1937
Tommy Smith
Give Me Liberty
1936
Short
Patrick Henry
Fugitive in the Sky
1936
Mike Phelan - aka Roger Johnson
Wayward
1932
Robert 'Bob' Daniels
On the Border
1930
Dave (as John B. Litel)
Oh Darling!
1930
Short
Don't Believe It
1930
Short
Always Faithful
1929
Short
Wayne (as John B. Litel)
Finders Keepers
1929
Short as John B. Litel
The Flattering Word
1929
Short
Dr. Loring Wrigley
The Sleeping Porch
1929
Short
Kisses
1929
Short
Charlie
The Road West
1967
TV Series
Judge
Nevada Smith
1966
Doctor
The Sons of Katie Elder
1965
Minister
The Virginian
1963-1965
TV Series
Wade Hammill / Lawyer / Finley
Branded
1965
TV Series
Gen. James Reed
Vacation Playhouse
1964
TV Series
Albert P. Leviathan
Wagon Train
1964
TV Series
Dr. Phineas Burke
The Gun Hawk
1963
Drunk - Madden's father
Route 66
1963
TV Series
Mr. School
The Dick Powell Theatre
1962-1963
TV Series
Floyd Maxwell
Rawhide
1961-1962
TV Series
James Whitcomb / Jim Rye
Wide Country
1962
TV Series
Fred Winkler
Cheyenne
1959-1962
TV Series
Mike Ainley / Vincent Claiborn
77 Sunset Strip
1958-1962
TV Series
Distinguished Visitor / Cyrus Blanton / Colonel Richard Gaunt
Hazel
1962
TV Series
Mr. Wheeler
Perry Mason
1962
TV Series
Judge
Lover Come Back
1961
Williams, Ad Council Board Member (uncredited)
Pocketful of Miracles
1961
Police Inspector McCrary
Bonanza
1959-1961
TV Series
Mayor George Goshen / Judge Jeremy Clarence Billington