John Litel was an American actor who appeared in more than 200 films, mostly in supporting roles as authority figures or villains. He was also an economist and a war hero before becoming an actor. He died of natural causes in 1972, at the age of 79.
Early Life and Career
John Litel was born on December 30, 1892, in Albany, Wisconsin, to Italian immigrant parents. He graduated from Brown University with a degree in economics and worked for the US Department of State and the Treasury Department. He also served in the French Army during World War I and was twice decorated for bravery
He returned to the US after the war and enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He began his stage career in Broadway and made his film debut in 1929. He became part of the Warner Bros. Stock Company in the 1930s and appeared in dozens of films for the studio, often playing hard-nosed cops, district attorneys, business executives, and other such roles. He also played villains, such as the evil Scorpion in the serial Don Winslow of the Navy (1942)
Memorable Roles and Performances
Litel appeared in many films of different genres, such as westerns, dramas, horror, and science fiction. Some of his most memorable roles and performances are:
- The Man Without a Country (1937): He played Lt. Philip Nolan, a young officer who is sentenced to live on a ship without ever hearing of his country again, after uttering a treasonous remark. He dies of old age on the ship, regretting his words and longing for his homeland
- Nancy Drew series (1938-1939): He played Carson Drew, the attorney father of Nancy Drew (Bonita Granville), the teenage sleuth. He appeared in four films of the series, often helping or being helped by his daughter in solving mysteries
- They Drive by Night (1940): He played Ed Carlsen, the district attorney who prosecutes George Raft for the murder of his boss, which was actually committed by his boss’s wife (Ida Lupino). He is a tough but fair prosecutor who eventually realizes the truth and clears Raft’s name
- They Died with Their Boots On (1941): He played Gen. Phil Sheridan, the commander of the US cavalry who sends George Custer (Errol Flynn) and his men to their doom at the Battle of Little Bighorn. He is a stern but respectful leader who honors Custer’s memory after his death
Death and Legacy
Litel died on February 3, 1972, at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered. He was survived by his second wife Beatrice and their four children. His first wife Ruth had died in 1955. He was 79 years old
Litel is widely regarded as a versatile and reliable character actor, who could play both heroes and villains with equal skill and conviction. He is remembered for his roles in some of the most iconic films of Hollywood history. He is honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
