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'''John Kitzmiller''' (December 4, 1913 – February 23, 1965) was an [[United States|American]] [[actor]] who worked in his native land, as well as [[Italy]] and the [[United Kingdom]]. Kitzmiller achieved his greatest fame as a popular and versatile actor in Europe, making an estimated forty [[European cinema|European films]].<ref name=euro>Fikes, Robert. [http://www.blackpast.org/gah/kitzmiller-john-1913-1965 "Kitzmiller, John (1913-1965)."] ''[[Blackpast.org]].'' Retrieved May 28, 2016.</ref> He is the first black |
'''John Kitzmiller''' (December 4, 1913 – February 23, 1965) was an [[United States|American]] [[actor]] who worked in his native land, as well as [[Italy]] and the [[United Kingdom]]. Kitzmiller achieved his greatest fame as a popular and versatile actor in Europe, making an estimated forty [[European cinema|European films]].<ref name=euro>Fikes, Robert. [http://www.blackpast.org/gah/kitzmiller-john-1913-1965 "Kitzmiller, John (1913-1965)."] ''[[Blackpast.org]].'' Retrieved May 28, 2016.</ref> He is the first black American actor to win Best Actor award at Cannes Film Festival in 1957 for his role in the Slovenian film the [[Valley of Peace (film)]].He is known for his role in [[Dr. No (film)|''Dr. No'']]. |
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==Early life== |
==Early life== |
Revision as of 22:44, 11 August 2020
John Kitzmiller | |
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![]() Kitzmiller in 1954 | |
Born | Battle Creek, Michigan, U.S. | December 4, 1913
Died | February 23, 1965 | (aged 51)
Alma mater | University of Michigan Chem. Eng. |
Years active | 1947–1965 |
Spouse | Dusia Bejic (1964-1965) (his death)[1] |
John Kitzmiller (December 4, 1913 – February 23, 1965) was an American actor who worked in his native land, as well as Italy and the United Kingdom. Kitzmiller achieved his greatest fame as a popular and versatile actor in Europe, making an estimated forty European films.[2] He is the first black American actor to win Best Actor award at Cannes Film Festival in 1957 for his role in the Slovenian film the Valley of Peace (film).He is known for his role in Dr. No.
Early life
John Kitzmiller was born in Battle Creek, Michigan, 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.[2] Kitzmiller was commissioned in the US Army reaching the rank of Captain in the Corps of Engineers. He was stationed in Italy in 1943, serving with the 92nd Infantry Division during the Italian campaign of World War II.[3] Both of Kitzmiller's parents died during his military service, events which likely influenced his decision to become one of the few black soldiers to remain in Italy after the war.[2]
Acting career
Kitzmiller was discovered in 1946 by Luigi Zampa and Carlo Ponti while playing poker at an officers' club.[4] 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 an angry black man 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 of a liver ailment at the age of 51.[5]
Selected filmography
- To Live in Peace (1947) - Joe
- Tombolo, paradiso nero (1947) - Jack
- Senza pietà (1948) - Jerry Jackson
- Ti ritroverò (1949) - The MP
- Monastero di 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)
- Ultimo perdono (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
- Quai des blondes (1954) - Michel
- Desiderio 'e sole (1954) - Somestico 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)
References
- ^ https://www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/kitzmiller-john-1913-1965/
- ^ a b c Fikes, Robert. "Kitzmiller, John (1913-1965)." Blackpast.org. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
- ^ "John Kitzmiller, Who Became Italian Star, Dies At 51." Jet, March 11, 1965. Google Books. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
- ^ Ehrman, Richard (May 20, 1957). "Former American Army Officer Wins Best Actor at Cannes Festival". St. Petersburg Times. No. 23.
- ^ "American actor dies in Rome". Afro-American. No. 19. February 27, 1965. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- 1913 births
- 1965 deaths
- Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor winners
- Deaths from liver disease
- American male film actors
- People from Battle Creek, Michigan
- Male actors from Michigan
- American military personnel of World War II
- African-American male actors
- 20th-century American male actors
- American expatriates in Italy
- University of Michigan alumni