John Kitzmiller

John Kitzmiller (December 4, 1913 – February 23, 1965) was an American actor who had a career in Europe. Kitzmiller became an actor when he was cast in an Italian film while stationed in Italy with US troops. He eventually achieved fame as a popular and versatile actor in Europe and making an estimated 40 European films. He was the first Black actor to win the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor in 1957 for his role in the Slovenian film Valley of Peace. He is now best remembered for his role as Quarrel in the first EON-produced James Bond movie, Dr. No.

Early life John Kitzmiller was born in Battle 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 the University of Michigan, receiving a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering in 1937. Both of his parents died during his military service, events which probably influenced his decision to become one of the few black soldiers to remain in Italy after the war. This chance meeting led to his first acting role, in Zampa and Ponti's film To Live in Peace in 1947. Kitzmiller frequently worked in Italian neorealist films. He made Italy his permanent residence and ultimately starred in more than fifty European films, often portraying characters fighting racism.

He played the leading role of "Jerry" in the film Senza pietà (Without Pity), from a screenplay by Federico Fellini, Alberto Lattuada and Tullio 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 a best actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for his role in the Slovenian film Valley of Peace. Kitzmiller is most famous for his role as Quarrel in the 1962 James Bond film Dr. No.

Death Kitzmiller died in Rome in 1965 of a liver ailment at the age of 51.

Selected filmography

To Live in Peace (1947) – Joe Tombolo, paradiso nero (1947) – Jack Senza pietà (1948) – Jerry Jackson Ti ritroverò (1949) – The MP The Monastery of Santa Chiara (1949) – Il negro The Force of Destiny (1950) – Lo scudiero moro Variety Lights (1950) – Trumpet player Johnny Wolves Hunt at Night (1952) – the black servant of Miguel Massacre in Lace (1952) – Rocky Saddler At Sword's Edge (1952) Final Pardon (1952) Delitto al luna park (1952) Legione straniera (1953) – Djalmar Frine, Courtesan of Orient (1953) – Nabus, lo schiavo muto Canto per te (1953) – Angenore Terra straniera (1954) Non vogliamo morire (1954) – John – il timoniere Quay of Blondes (1954) – Michel Desiderio 'e sole (1954) – Domestico di Sirovich La peccatrice dell'isola (1954) – Il Pescatore negro Il grande addio (1954) Acque amare (1954) – Mezzanotte Tears of Love (1954) Il nostro campione (1955) – Raimondo Valley of Peace (1956) – Sgt. Jim The Mysteries of Paris (1957) – Lo Squartatore A vent'anni è sempre festa (1957) – John Miller The Naked Earth (1958) – David Slave Women of Corinth (1958) – Tomoro Vite perdute (1959) – Luca Pensione Edelweiss (1959) – Bougron Due selvaggi a corte (1959) – Kato Seven in the Sun (1960) – Salvador Pirates of the Coast (1960) – Rock Revolt of the Mercenaries (1961) – Tago Totòtruffa 62 (1961) – Ambasciatore del Katonga La corona di fuoco (1961) – Akim Venus Against the Son of Hercules (1962) – Afros Il sangue e la sfida (1962) El hijo del capitán Blood (1962) – Moses Dr. No (1962) – Quarrel Tiger of the Seven Seas (1962) – Serpente Cave of the Living Dead (1964) – John – Black Servant Indios a Nord-Ovest (1964) Il ribelle di Castelmonte (1964) – Ali Uncle Tom's Cabin (1965) – Uncle Tom (final film role)