John Kitzmiller (December 4, 1913 â€" 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.
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.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. 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. 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.Kitzmiller was discovered in 1946 by
Luigi Zampa and Carlo Ponti while playing poker at an officers' club.
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.
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.
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.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. 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. 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.Kitzmiller was discovered in 1946 by
Luigi Zampa and Carlo Ponti while playing poker at an officers' club.
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.
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