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John Kitzmiller

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This article is about the actor. For the American football player, seeJohnny Kitzmiller.
John Kitzmiller
Kitzmiller in 1954
Born(1913-12-04)December 4, 1913
Battle Creek, Michigan,U.S.
DiedFebruary 23, 1965(1965-02-23)(aged 51)
Rome,Italy
Alma materUniversity of MichiganChem. Eng.
Years active1947–1965
SpouseDusica Bejic (1964–1965) (his death)[1]

John Kitzmiller(December 4, 1913 – February 23, 1965) was an Americanactorwho worked in his native land, as well asItalyand theUnited Kingdom.Kitzmiller achieved his greatest fame as a popular and versatile actor in Europe, making an estimated 40European films.[2]He was the first Black actor to win theCannes Film Festival Award for Best Actorin1957for his role in the Yugoslav (Slovenia) filmValley of Peace.He is best-known for his role asQuarrelin the firstEON-producedJames Bondmovie,Dr. No.

Early life[edit]

John Kitzmiller was born inBattle Creek, Michigan,the younger of two children born to John B. and Mary E. Kitzmiller. In high school Kitzmiller was a member of the Chemistry Club, and he later attended theUniversity of Michigan,receiving abachelor's degreeinchemical engineeringin 1937.[2]

He was commissioned in theUS Armyreaching the rank of captain in theCorps of Engineers.He was stationed inItalyin 1943, serving with the92nd Infantry Divisionduring theItalian campaignofWorld War II.[3]Both of his parents died during his military service, events which likely influenced his decision to become one of the few black soldiers to remain in Italy after the war.[2]

Acting career[edit]

Kitzmiller was discovered in 1946 byLuigi ZampaandCarlo Pontiwhile playingpokerat an officers' club.[4]This chance meeting led to his first acting role, in Zampa and Ponti's filmTo Live in Peacein 1947. Kitzmiller frequently worked inItalian neorealistfilms. He made Italy his permanent residence and ultimately starred in more than fiftyEuropean films,often portraying characters fighting racism.

He played the leading role of "Jerry" in the filmSenza pietà(Without Pity), from a screenplay byFederico Fellini,Alberto LattuadaandTullio Pinelli.He received awards commemorating both his role as an actor and as a soldier. In 1957, he was the first black actor to win abest actor awardat theCannes Film Festivalfor his role in theYugoslavian(Slovenian) filmValley of Peace.Kitzmiller is most famous for his role asQuarrelin the1962James BondfilmDr. No.

Death[edit]

Kitzmiller died in Rome of aliver ailmentat the age of 51.[5]

Selected filmography[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"John Kitzmiller (1913-1965) •".27 January 2014.
  2. ^abcFikes, Robert."Kitzmiller, John (1913–1965)".Blackpast.org.RetrievedMay 28,2016.
  3. ^"John Kitzmiller, Who Became Italian Star, Dies At 51".Jet.March 11, 1965.RetrievedMay 6,2017– viaGoogle Books.
  4. ^Ehrman, Richard (May 20, 1957). "Former American Army Officer Wins Best Actor at Cannes Festival".St. Petersburg Times.No. 23.
  5. ^"American actor dies in Rome".Afro-American.No. 19. February 27, 1965.RetrievedJanuary 27,2011.

External links[edit]

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