Biography
John Litel (1892–1972) was an American actor who worked in theatre, film and television. Born in Albany, Wisconsin, he enlisted in the French Army during the First World War and was twice decorated for bravery. After the war he studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and appeared on Broadway between 1919 and 1936.
He made his film debut in 1929 and became a member of the Warner Bros. stock company in the 1930s. Litel appeared in more than 200 films, often in supporting roles as authority figures. His credits include The Life of Emile Zola (1937) as Charpentier, Jezebel (1938), Key Largo (1948) and Nevada Smith (1966).
Litel also worked regularly in television, with appearances in series such as I Love Lucy (1951), Zorro (1957) and Bonanza (1959). His final screen work was in the mid-1960s.
