John Litel

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

Early life Litel was born in Albany, Wisconsin. During World 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 the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and began his stage career.

Career His Broadway credits include Sweet 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), and Irene (1919).

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

In the second season of the Disney series Zorro, he played the governor of California in several episodes. During 1960 and 1961, he was seen as Dan Murchison in nine episodes of the ABC Western television series, Stagecoach West, starring Wayne Rogers and Robert Bray.

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/Desilu Western series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp starring Hugh O'Brian. In the story line, Rowland, a former captain in the United States Navy, is a wealthy Arizona Territory rancher who operates his own law and private jail near the Mexican border.

Litel appeared in an episode of I 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 series Sugarfoot.

Litel also appeared as Bob Cummings's boss Mr. Thackery in the TV series The Bob Cummings Show in the early/mid-1950s. Cummings played Robert S. Beanblossom on the show.

Death Litel died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles in 1972.

Selected filmography

Always Faithful (1929, Short) as Wayne On the Border (1930) as Dave Wayward (1932) as Robert 'Bob' Daniels Fugitive in the Sky (1936) as Mike Phelan - aka Roger Johnson Give Me Liberty (1936, Short) as Patrick Henry Black Legion (1937) as Tommy Smith Midnight Court (1937) as Victor Shanley Marked Woman (1937) as Gordon Slim (1937) as Wyatt Ranstead The Life of Emile Zola (1937) as Charpentier Back in Circulation (1937) as Dr. Eugene Forde Alcatraz Island (1937) as Garrett Sloane aka 'Gat' Brady The Man Without a Country (1937, Short) as Lt. Philip Nolan Missing Witnesses (1937) as Inspector Robedrt L. Lane Gold is Where You Find It (1938) as Ralph Ferris A Slight Case of Murder (1938) as Post Jezebel (1938) as Jean La Cour Love, Honor and Behave (1938) as Jim Blake Over the Wall (1938) as Father Neil Connor Little Miss Thoroughbred (1938) as Nelson 'Nails' Morgan My Bill (1938) as John Rudlin The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse (1938) as Mr. Monroe, the prosecuting attorney Valley of the Giants (1938) as Hendricks Broadway Musketeers (1938) as Stanley 'Stan' Dowling Nancy Drew... Detective (1938) as Carson Drew Declaration of Independence (1938, Short) as Thomas Jefferson Comet Over Broadway (1938) as Bill Appleton Wings of the Navy (1939) as Commander Clark Nancy Drew... Reporter (1939) as Carson Drew Secret Service of the Air (1939) as Saxby You Can't Get Away with Murder (1939) as Attorney Carey Dodge City (1939) as Matt Cole On Trial (1939) as Robert Strickland Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter (1939) as Carson Drew Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1939) as Carson Drew Dust Be My Destiny (1939) as Prosecutor On Dress Parade (1939) as Col. Michael Riker One Hour to Live (1939) as Rudolph Spain The Return of Doctor X (1939) as Dr. Francis Flegg A Child Is Born (1939) as Dr. Brett The Fighting 69th (1940) as Capt. Mangan Castle on the Hudson (1940) as Chaplain Virginia City (1940) as Thomas Marshall It All Came True (1940) as "Doc" Roberts An Angel from Texas (1940) as Quigley Flight Angels (1940) as Dr. Barclay Men Without Souls (1940) as Reverend Thomas Storm Murder in the Air (1940) as Saxby Gambling on the High Seas (1940) as U.S. District Attorney The Man Who Talked Too Much (1940) as District Attorney Dickson They Drive by Night (1940) as Harry McNamara Money and the Woman (1940) as Jerremy 'Jerry ' Helm, Bank Manager Knute Rockne, All American (1940) as Committee Chairman Father is a Prince (1940) as Dr. Mark Stone Lady with Red Hair (1940) as Charles Bryant Santa Fe Trail (1940) as Martin Father's Son (1941) as William Emory The Trial of Mary Dugan (1941) as Mr. West The Great Mr. Nobody (1941) as John Wade The Big Boss (1941) as Bob Dugan Thieves Fall Out (1941) as Tim Gordon Henry Aldrich for President (1941) as Mr. Aldrich They Died with Their Boots On (1941) as General Phil Sheridan Sealed Lips (1942) as Fred M. Morton / Mike Rofano Don Winslow of the Navy (1942) as Spencer Merlin Kid Glove Killer (1942) as Matty Mississippi Gambler (1942) as Jim Hadley aka Francis Carvel The Mystery of Marie Roget (1942) as Beauvais A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen (1942) as Norman Hadley Henry and Dizzy (1942) as Mr. Aldrich Men of Texas (1942) as Colonel Colbert Scott Invisible Agent (1942) as John Gardiner Henry Aldrich, Editor (1942) as Mr. Sam Aldrich The Boss of Big Town (1942) as Michael Lynn Madame Spy (1942) as Peter Rolf Murder in Times Square (1943) as Dr. Blaine Henry Aldrich Gets Glamour (1943) as Mr. Sam Aldrich Crime Doctor (1943) as Emilio Caspari Henry Aldrich Swings It (1943) as Mr. Sam Aldrich Submarine Base (1943) as James Xavier 'Jim' Taggart So Proudly We Hail! (1943) as Dr. Harrison Henry Aldrich Haunts a House (1943) as Mr. Sam Aldrich Where Are Your Children? (1943) as Judge Edmonds Henry Aldrich, Boy Scout (1944) as Mr. Sam Aldrich Henry Aldrich Plays Cupid (1944) as Mr. Sam Aldrich Henry Aldrich's Little Secret (1944) as Mr. Sam Aldrich My Buddy (1944) as Father Jim Donnelly Murder in the Blue Room (1944) as Frank Baldrich Faces in the Fog (1944) as Dr. Mason Lake Placid Serenade (1944) as Walter Benda Brewster's Millions (1945) as Swearengen Jones Salome, Where She Danced (1945) as Gen. Lee Crime Doctor's Warning (1945) as Inspector Dawes The Crimson Canary (1945) as Roger Quinn Northwest Trail (1945) as Sergeant Means The Daltons Ride Again (1945) as Mitchael J. 'Mike' Bohannon The Enchanted Forest (1945) as Ed Henderson San Antonio (1945) as Charlie Bell The Madonna's Secret (1946) as Police Lt. Roberts Smooth as Silk (1946) as Stephen Elliott Night in Paradise (1946) as Archon She Wrote the Book (1946) as Dean Fowler The Return of Rusty (1946) as Hugh Mitchell Sister Kenny (1946) as Medical Director Swell Guy (1946) as Arthur Tyler Lighthouse (1947) as Hank Armitage Easy Come, Easy Go (1947) as Tom Clancy The Beginning or the End (1947) as K.T. Keller The Guilty (1947) as Alex Tremholt Heaven Only Knows (1947) as Reverend Wainwright Christmas Eve (1947) as Joe Bland, FBI Agent Cass Timberlane (1947) as Webb Wargate My Dog Rusty (1948) as Hugh Mitchell Smart Woman (1948) as Clark I, Jane Doe (1948) as Horton Key Largo (1948) as Dispatcher (uncredited) Pitfall (1948) as District Attorney Triple Threat (1948) as Coach Snyder Rusty Leads the Way (1948) as Hugh Mitchell The Valiant Hombre (1948) as Lon Lansdell Rusty Saves a Life (1949) as Hugh Mitchell Shamrock Hill (1949) as Ralph Judson Outpost in Morocco (1949) as Col. Pascal The Gal Who Took the West (1949) as Colonel Logan Rusty's Birthday (1949) as Hugh Mitchell Mary Ryan, Detective (1949) as Police Captain Billings The Sundowners (1950) as John Gall Woman in Hiding (1950) as John Chandler Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (1950) as Police Chief Sam Tolgate The Fuller Brush Girl (1950) as Mr. Watkins Cuban Fireball (1951) as Pomeroy Sr. The Groom Wore Spurs (1951) as Uncle George The Texas Rangers (1951) as Texas Ranger Major John B. Jones Take Care of My Little Girl (1951) as John Erickson (uncredited) Little Egypt (1951) as Shuster Two-Dollar Bettor (1951) as John Hewitt Flight to Mars (1951) as Dr. Lane Jet Job (1952) as Sam Bentley Scaramouche (1952) as Dr. Dubuque Montana Belle (1952) as Matt Towner Jack Slade (1953) as Judge Davidson Sitting Bull (1954) as Gen. Wilford Howell Double Jeopardy (1955) as Emmett Devery The Kentuckian (1955) as Pleasant Tuesday Babson Texas Lady (1955) as Meade Moore The Wild Dakotas (1956) as Morgan Wheeler Comanche (1956) as Gen. Nelson A. Miles Runaway Daughters (1956) as George Barton The Hired Gun (1957) as Mace Beldon Decision at Sundown (1957) as Charles Summerton Houseboat (1958) as Mr. William Farnsworth The Restless Gun (1958) Episode "A Bell for Santo Domingo" Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961) as Vice-Adm. B.J. Crawford Pocketful of Miracles (1961) as Police Inspector McCrary Lover Come Back (1961) as Williams, Ad Council Board Member (uncredited) The Gun Hawk (1963) as Drunk - Madden's father The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) as Minister Nevada Smith (1966) as Doctor

Selected television YearTitleRole Notes1955Du Pont Cavalcade TheaterDr. William D. SilkworthSeason 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" 1961Bonanza (TV Series) Mayor George Goshen Episode "The Tin Badge"1961 Rawhide Jim Rye S3:E18, "Incident of the Running Iron"