---
name: "John Litel"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/john-litel"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "30 December 1892"
died: "3 February 1972"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_fi1m_score: 74
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-09-19T23:49:41.348541+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# John Litel

Actor. Born 30 December 1892 in Albany, Wisconsin, USA. Died 3 February 1972.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 30 December 1892, Albany, Wisconsin, USA
- **Died:** 3 February 1972
- **Active:** 1937–1938
- **Also known as:** John Beach Litel, John B. Litel, جان لایتل
- **Frequently works with:** [Donald Crisp](https://film.one/person/donald-crisp.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 74, as actor, over 2 titles
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Litel, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3181945, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0514344/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/16766

## 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.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, nytimes.com.*

## On Fi1m (2)

- *Jezebel* (1938), Fi1m 78, as Jean La Cour — [page](https://film.one/film/jezebel.md)
- *The Life of Emile Zola* (1937), Fi1m 70, as Charpentier — [page](https://film.one/film/the-life-of-emile-zola.md)

## Complete filmography (199)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Nevada Smith* (1966), as Doctor
- *The Sons of Katie Elder* (1965), as Minister
- *Branded* (1965), series, as Gen. James Reed (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *Rendezvous in Space* (1964), as Priest
- *The Gun Hawk* (1963), as Drunk - Madden's father
- *Vacation Playhouse* (1963), series, as Albert P. Leviathan
- *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Finley, Wade Hammill
- *Lover Come Back* (1961), as Williams, Ad Council Board Member (uncredited)
- *Pocketful of Miracles* (1961), as Police Inspector McCrary
- *Hazel* (1961), series, Actor
- *Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea* (1961), as Vice Admiral B.J. Crawford
- *Route 66* (1960), series, Actor
- *Stagecoach West* (1960), series, as Dan Murchison
- *Hawaiian Eye* (1959), series, Actor
- *Lock-Up* (1959), series, Actor
- *Bonanza* (1959), series, as Judge Jeremy Clarence Billington, Mayor George Goshen
- *Rawhide* (1959), series, as Jim Rye, James Whitcomb
- *Houseboat* (1958), as Mr. William Farnsworth
- *77 Sunset Strip* (1958), series, as Colonel Richard Gaunt, Distinguished Visitor
- *Bronco* (1958), series, Actor
- *Wanted: Dead or Alive* (1958), series, as Judge George Healy, Asa Morgan, Clint Davis
- *Decision at Sundown* (1957), as Charles Summerton
- *Zorro* (1957), series, as The Governor
- *Trackdown* (1957), series, as Judge Henry
- *Maverick* (1957), series, as Ellsworth Greeley, Judge Somervell, Judge Joshua Thayer
- *Perry Mason* (1957), series, as Judge
- *The Hired Gun* (1957), as Mace Beldon
- *Sugarfoot* (1957), series, as Hank Tatum, Archie Crenshaw
- *Have Gun, Will Travel* (1957), series, Actor
- *Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre* (1956), series, as Sheriff Martin Calder
- *Comanche* (1956), as Gen. Nelson A. Miles
- *The Wild Dakotas* (1956), as Morgan Wheeler
- *Runaway Daughters* (1956), as George Barton
- *Texas Lady* (1955), as Meade Moore (wigwam owner)
- *Cheyenne* (1955), series, Actor
- *The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp* (1955), series, Actor
- *The Kentuckian* (1955), as Pleasant Tuesday Babson
- *Double Jeopardy* (1955), as Emmett Devery
- *Climax!* (1954), series, as Judge Sam Crowley
- *Sitting Bull* (1954), as Wilford Howell
- *Jack Slade* (1953), as Judge Davidson
- *City Detective* (1953), series, Actor
- *General Electric Theater* (1953), series, as Phillip Saunders, Frank Hobbs
- *Montana Belle* (1952), as Matt Towner
- *My Hero* (1952), series, as Willis Thackery
- *Cavalcade of America* (1952), series, as Dr. Silkworth
- *Four Star Playhouse* (1952), series, as Van Alten, Mayor
- *Scaramouche* (1952), as Dr. Dubuque
- *Jet Job* (1952), as Sam Bentley
- *Flight to Mars* (1951), as Dr. Lane
- *I Love Lucy* (1951), series, as Harvey Cromwell
- *Little Egypt* (1951), as Shuster
- *Two Dollar Bettor* (1951), as John Hewitt
- *Take Care of My Little Girl* (1951), as John Erickson (uncredited)
- *The Texas Rangers* (1951), as John B. Jones
- *The Groom Wore Spurs* (1951), as Chief of Police
- *Cuban Fireball* (1951), as Pomeroy Sr.
- *Lux Video Theatre* (1950), series, as Dr. Robbins
- *The Fuller Brush Girl* (1950), as Mr. Watkins
- *Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye* (1950), as Police Chief Sam Tolgate
- *The Sundowners* (1950), as John Gall
- *Woman in Hiding* (1950), as John Chandler
- *Mary Ryan, Detective* (1949), as Capt. Billings
- *Rusty's Birthday* (1949), as Hugh Mitchell
- *The Gal Who Took the West* (1949), as Colonel Logan
- *Outpost in Morocco* (1949), as Colonel Pascal
- *Rusty Saves a Life* (1949), as Hugh Mitchell
- *Shamrock Hill* (1949), as Ralph Judson
- *The Valiant Hombre* (1948), as Lon Lansdell
- *Rusty Leads the Way* (1948), as Hugh Mitchell
- *Triple Threat* (1948), Actor
- *Pitfall* (1948), as District Attorney
- *Key Largo* (1948), as Dispatcher (uncredited)
- *I, Jane Doe* (1948), as Horton
- *Smart Woman* (1948), as Clark
- *My Dog Rusty* (1948), as Hugh Mitchell
- *Cass Timberlane* (1947), as Webb Wargate
- *Christmas Eve* (1947), as Joe Bland, FBI Agent
- *Heaven Only Knows* (1947), as Reverend Wainwright
- *The Guilty* (1947), as Alex Tremholt
- *Easy Come, Easy Go* (1947), as Tom Clancy
- *The Beginning or the End* (1947), as K.T. Keller
- *Lighthouse* (1947), as Hank Armitage
- *Swell Guy* (1946), as Arthur Tyler
- *Sister Kenny* (1946), as Medical Director
- *Okay for Sound* (1946), Actor
- *The Return of Rusty* (1946), as Hugh Mitchell
- *She Wrote the Book* (1946), as Dean Fowler
- *Night in Paradise* (1946), as Archon
- *The Madonna's Secret* (1946), as Lt. Roberts
- *Smooth as Silk* (1946), as Stephen Elliott
- *San Antonio* (1945), as Charlie Bell
- *The Enchanted Forest* (1945), as Ed Henderson
- *Northwest Trail* (1945), as Sergeant Means
- *The Daltons Ride Again* (1945), as Mitchael J. 'Mike' Bohannon
- *The Crimson Canary* (1945), as Roger Quinn
- *The Crime Doctor's Warning* (1945), as Inspector Dawes
- *Salome, Where She Danced* (1945), as General Lee
- *Brewster's Millions* (1945), as Swearengen Jones
- *Faces in the Fog* (1944), as Dr. Mason
- *Murder in the Blue Room* (1944), as Frank Baldrich
- *My Buddy* (1944), as Jim Donnelly
- *Henry Aldrich's Little Secret* (1944), as Mr. Samuel J. Aldrich
- *Henry Aldrich Plays Cupid* (1944), as Mr. Aldrich
- *Henry Aldrich, Boy Scout* (1944), as Sam Aldrich
- *Where Are Your Children?* (1943), as Judge Edmonds
- *Henry Aldrich Haunts a House* (1943), as Sam Aldrich
- *So Proudly We Hail* (1943), as Dr. Harrison
- *Submarine Base* (1943), as James Xavier 'Jim' Taggart
- *Henry Aldrich Swings It* (1943), as Mr. Aldrich
- *Crime Doctor* (1943), as Emilio Caspari, the mystery man
- *Henry Aldrich Gets Glamour* (1943), as Sam Aldrich
- *Murder in Times Square* (1943), as Dr. Blaine
- *Madame Spy* (1942), as Peter Rolf
- *The Boss of Big Town* (1942), as Michael Lynn
- *Henry Aldrich, Editor* (1942), as Sam Aldrich
- *Invisible Agent* (1942), as John Gardiner
- *Men of Texas* (1942), as Colonel Colbert Scott
- *For the Common Defense!* (1942), as Subprefect Santiago Castillo
- *March On, America!* (1942), as Patrick Henry (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *Henry and Dizzy* (1942), as Sam Aldrich
- *A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen* (1942), as Norman Hadley
- *The Mystery of Marie Roget* (1942), as Henri Beauvais
- *Kid Glove Killer* (1942), as Matty
- *Mississippi Gambler* (1942), as Jim Hadley aka Francis Carvel
- *Soldiers in White* (1942), as Charles Anthony
- *Don Winslow of the Navy* (1942), as Spencer Merlin
- *Sealed Lips* (1942), as Mike Rofano / Fred Morton
- *They Died with Their Boots On* (1941), as Gen. Phil Sheridan
- *Henry Aldrich for President* (1941), as Sam Aldrich
- *Thieves Fall Out* (1941), as Tim Gordon
- *The Big Boss* (1941), as Bob Dugan
- *The Great Mr. Nobody* (1941), as John Wade
- *The Trial of Mary Dugan* (1941), as Mr. West
- *Father's Son* (1941), as William Emory
- *Santa Fe Trail* (1940), as Martin
- *March On, Marines* (1940), as Colonel Myers
- *Lady with Red Hair* (1940), as Charles Bryant
- *Father Is A Prince* (1940), as Dr. Mark Stone
- *Knute Rockne All American* (1940), as Committee Chairman
- *Money and the Woman* (1940), as Jerremy Helm
- *They Drive by Night* (1940), as Harry McNamara
- *The Man Who Talked Too Much* (1940), as District Attorney Dickson
- *Gambling on the High Seas* (1940), as U.S. District Attorney Homer Sears
- *Murder in the Air* (1940), as Saxby
- *Men Without Souls* (1940), as Reverend Thomas Storm
- *Flight Angels* (1940), as Dr. Barclay
- *An Angel from Texas* (1940), as Quigley
- *It All Came True* (1940), as Mr. Roberts
- *Virginia City* (1940), as Marshall
- *Castle on the Hudson* (1940), as Prison Chaplain
- *The Fighting 69th* (1940), as Captain Mangan
- *A Child is Born* (1939), as Dr. Brett
- *The Return of Doctor X* (1939), as Dr. Flegg
- *On Dress Parade* (1939), as Col. Michael Riker
- *One Hour to Live* (1939), as Rudolph Spain
- *Dust Be My Destiny* (1939), as Prosecutor
- *Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase* (1939), as Carson Drew
- *The Bill of Rights* (1939), as Patrick Henry
- *Old Glory* (1939), as Patrick Henry (voice) (uncredited)
- *Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter* (1939), as Carson Drew
- *Dodge City* (1939), as Matt Cole
- *On Trial* (1939), as Robert Strickland
- *You Can't Get Away with Murder* (1939), as Attorney Carey
- *Secret Service of the Air* (1939), as Chief Agent Tom Saxby
- *Nancy Drew... Reporter* (1939), as Carson Drew
- *Wings of the Navy* (1939), as Commander Clark
- *Breakdowns of 1938* (1938), as Inspector Lane (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *Comet Over Broadway* (1938), as Bill Appleton
- *The Declaration of Independence* (1938), as Thomas Jefferson
- *Nancy Drew… Detective* (1938), as Carson Drew
- *Broadway Musketeers* (1938), as Stan Dowling
- *Valley of the Giants* (1938), as Hendricks
- *The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse* (1938), as Mr. Monroe, Prosecuting Attorney
- *My Bill* (1938), as John C. Rudlin
- *Little Miss Thoroughbred* (1938), as Nelson "Nails" Morgan
- *Over the Wall* (1938), as Father Neil Connor
- *Jezebel* (1938), as Jean La Cour — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/jezebel.md)
- *Love, Honor and Behave* (1938), as Jim Blake
- *A Slight Case of Murder* (1938), as Post
- *Gold Is Where You Find It* (1938), as Ralph Ferris
- *Missing Witnesses* (1937), as Inspector Lane
- *The Man Without a Country* (1937), as Lt. Philip Nolan
- *Alcatraz Island* (1937), as 'Gat' Brady
- *The Life of Emile Zola* (1937), as Charpentier — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/the-life-of-emile-zola.md)
- *Back in Circulation* (1937), as Dr. Eugene Forde
- *Slim* (1937), as Wyatt Ranstead
- *Marked Woman* (1937), as Gordon
- *Midnight Court* (1937), as Victor Shanley
- *Black Legion* (1937), as Tommy Smith
- *Give Me Liberty* (1936), as Patrick Henry
- *Fugitive in the Sky* (1936), as Mike Phelan
- *Wayward* (1932), as Robert 'Bob' Daniels
- *On the Border* (1930), as Dave (as John B. Litel)
- *Oh Darling!* (1930), Actor
- *Don't Believe It* (1930), as Dick
- *Always Faithful* (1929), as Wayne
- *Finders Keepers* (1929), as (as John B. Litel)
- *The Sleeping Porch* (1929), Actor

## Gallery

- ![John Litel in the American war film Submarine Base (1943) - cropped screenshot.](https://film.one/media/person/1229601/gallery-7160435300ae.jpg) John Litel in the American war film Submarine Base (1943) - cropped screenshot. — film screenshot (Producers Releasing Corporation), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/John_Litel_in_Submarine_Base_%281943%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Screenshot of John Litel from the trailer for the film Little Miss Thoroughbred (1938).](https://film.one/media/person/1229601/gallery-5324675a6d4c.jpg) Screenshot of John Litel from the trailer for the film Little Miss Thoroughbred (1938). — Trailer screenshot Licencing information :https://web.archive.org/web/20080321033709/http://www.sabucat.com/?pg=copyright and http://www.creativeclearance.com/guidelines.html#D2, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/John_Litel_Little_Miss_Thoroughbred_trailer_%281938%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![John Litel](https://film.one/media/person/1229601/gallery-10724b5e6213.png) John Litel — Trailer screenshot Licencing information :https://web.archive.org/web/20080321033709/http://www.sabucat.com/?pg=copyright and http://www.creativeclearance.com/guidelines.html#D2, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/John_litel_in_Little_Miss_Thoroughbred_trailer.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![John Litel](https://film.one/media/person/1229601/gallery-8dd1da22026f.jpg) John Litel — Image via TMDB
- ![John Litel](https://film.one/media/person/1229601/gallery-c4ffc01ca3ef.jpg) John Litel — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/john-litel