Stars & Players · Biography

John Litel

1892–1972 · Actor

Biography

John Litel was an American stage, screen, and television actor. From 1919 to 1936 he performed in several plays on Broadway. In 1929 he began appearing in films and was in over 200 movies throughout his career. Litel often played supporting roles such as hard-nosed cops and district attorneys. He appeared in many television series. John Litel's acting career concluded in 1967.

Notable Noir Roles

They Drive by Night

1940Dir. Raoul Walsh · Harry McNamara

Joe and Paul Fabrini are Wildcat, or independent, truck drivers who have their own small one-truck business. The Fabrini boys constantly battle distributors, rivals and loan collectors, while trying t…

Pitfall

1948Dir. André de Toth · District Attorney

An insurance man wishing for a more exciting life becomes wrapped up in the affairs of an imprisoned embezzler, his model girlfriend, and a violent private investigator.

Woman in Hiding

1950Dir. Michael Gordon · John Chandler

As far as the rest of the world is concerned, mill heiress Deborah Chandler Clark is dead, killed in a freak auto accident. But Deborah is alive, if not too well. Having discovered a horrible truth ab…

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

1950Dir. Gordon Douglas · Police Chief Sam Tolgate

Ralph Cotter, a ruthless criminal, escapes violently from a farm prison. Then, he seduces a dead inmate’s sister, gets back quickly into the crime business, faces corrupt local cops who run the city’s…

Full Noir Filmography

4 films · 1940–1950