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John Litel

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John Litel
Litel inSubmarine Base(1943)
Born
John Beach Litel

(1892-12-30)December 30, 1892
DiedFebruary 3, 1972(1972-02-03)(aged 79)
Woodland Hills,California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1919–1967

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

Early life

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Litel was born inAlbany, Wisconsin.[1]DuringWorld 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 theAmerican Academy of Dramatic Artsand began his stage career.[citation needed]

Career

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HisBroadwaycredits includeSweet 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), andIrene(1919).[2]

In 1929, he began appearing in films. Part of the "Warner Bros. Stock Company" beginning in the 1930s, he appeared in dozens ofWarner 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 areThey Drive by Night(1940);Knute Rockne, All American(1940);They Died with Their Boots On(1941); andScaramouche(1952). His final film role was inNevada Smith(1966).

In the second season of the Disney seriesZorro,he played the governor of California in several episodes. During 1960 and 1961, he was seen as Dan Murchison in nine episodes of theABCWestern televisionseries,Stagecoach West,starringWayne RogersandRobert Bray.[3]

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/DesiluWestern seriesThe Life and Legend of Wyatt EarpstarringHugh O'Brian.In the story line, Rowland, a former captain in theUnited States Navy,is a wealthyArizona Territoryrancher who operates his own law and private jail near theMexicanborder.[4]: 270 

Litel appeared in an episode ofI 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 seriesSugarfoot.[5]

Litel also appeared as Bob Cummings's Boss Mr. Thackery in the TV seriesThe Bob Cummings Showin the early/mid-1950s. Cummings played Robert S. Beanblossom on the show.[6][3]

Death

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Litel died at theMotion Picture & Television Country House and HospitalinWoodland Hills, Los Angelesin 1972.[1]

Selected filmography

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Selected television

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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"
1961 Rawhide Jim Rye S3:E18, "Incident of the Running Iron"

References

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  1. ^ab"John Litel Dies".Independent Press-Telegram.February 5, 1972. p. 2.RetrievedDecember 31,2017– viaNewspapers.Open access icon
  2. ^"(" John Litel "search results)".Playbill Vault.Playbill. Archived fromthe originalon November 25, 2017.RetrievedNovember 25,2017.
  3. ^abTucker, David C. (April 19, 2010).Lost Laughs of '50s and '60s Television: Thirty Sitcoms That Faded Off Screen.McFarland. pp. 157, 161.ISBN978-0-7864-5582-9.
  4. ^Lentz, Harris M. (1997).Television Westerns Episode Guide: All United States Series, 1949-1996.Jefferson, North Carolina:McFarland & Company.ISBN978-0-7864-7386-1.
  5. ^"Sugarfoot".TVGuide.RetrievedJune 18,2024.
  6. ^Miller, Quinlan (April 4, 2019).Camp TV: Trans Gender Queer Sitcom History.Duke University Press.ISBN978-1-4780-0339-7.
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