John Kitzmiller was an African-American actor

Actor

An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...

. Born in Battle Creek, Michigan

Battle Creek, Michigan

Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Calhoun county...

, Kitzmiller participated in the liberation of Italy

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

 during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. He began acting while stationed in this country, and appeared in Italian neorealist

Italian neorealism

Italian neorealism is a style of film characterized by stories set amongst the poor and working class, filmed on location, frequently using nonprofessional actors...

 films. He made Italy his permanent residence and 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

Senza pietà

Senza pietà is a 1948 Italian film directed by Alberto Lattuada and with script of Federico Fellini.-Plot:As the war ended, some soldiers of color refused to abandon northern Italy to return to America by the intolerance, deserting. Of them, Jerry falls in love with Angela , a local girl....

(Without Pity), written by Federico Fellini

Federico Fellini

Federico Fellini, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI , was an Italian film director and scriptwriter. Known for a distinct style that blends fantasy and baroque images, he is considered one of the most influential and widely revered filmmakers of the 20th century...

. He received awards commemorating both his role as an actor and as a soldier: he received the Victory Medal

World War II Victory Medal

The World War II Victory Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was created by an act of Congress in July 1945. The decoration commemorates military service during World War II and is awarded to any member of the United States military, including members of the armed forces of...

 and in 1957 was the first black actor to win a best actor

Best Actor Award (Cannes Film Festival)

The Best Actor Award is an award presented at the Cannes Film Festival. It is chosen by the jury from the 'official section' of movies at the festival. It was first awarded in 1946.- Award Winners :-External links:* * ....

 award at the Cannes Film Festival

Cannes Film Festival

The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...

 for his role in the Slovenia

Slovenia

Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...

n film Valley of Peace

Valley of Peace (film)

Valley of Peace is a 1956 Yugoslavian war film directed by France Štiglic. It was in competition at the 1957 Cannes Film Festival. At that festival, John Kitzmiller received the best actor award for his role as Sgt. Jim.-Cast:* John Kitzmiller - Sgt...

.

Kitzmiller is most famous for his role as Quarrel in the 1962

1962 in film

The year 1962 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*May - The Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards are officially founded by the Taiwanese government....

 James Bond

James Bond

James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...

 movie Dr. No

Dr. No (film)

Dr. No is a 1962 spy film, starring Sean Connery; it is the first James Bond film. Based on the 1958 Ian Fleming novel of the same name, it was adapted by Richard Maibaum, Johanna Harwood, and Berkely Mather and was directed by Terence Young. The film was produced by Harry Saltzman and Albert R...

.

He died of cirrhosis

Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of liver tissue by fibrosis, scar tissue and regenerative nodules , leading to loss of liver function...

 of the liver.

Select filmography

• Senza pietà
  Senza pietà
  Senza pietà is a 1948 Italian film directed by Alberto Lattuada and with script of Federico Fellini.-Plot:As the war ended, some soldiers of color refused to abandon northern Italy to return to America by the intolerance, deserting. Of them, Jerry falls in love with Angela , a local girl....
  
  (1948)
• Wolves Hunt at Night
  Wolves Hunt at Night
  Wolves Hunt at Night , is a French comedy film from 1952, directed by Bernard Borderie, written by Bernard Borderie, starring Jean-Pierre Aumont and Louis de Funès.- Cast :* Jean-Pierre Aumont : Cyril Dormoy, an agent of Mollert...
  
  (1952)
• Valley of Peace
  Valley of Peace (film)
  Valley of Peace is a 1956 Yugoslavian war film directed by France Štiglic. It was in competition at the 1957 Cannes Film Festival. At that festival, John Kitzmiller received the best actor award for his role as Sgt. Jim.-Cast:* John Kitzmiller - Sgt...
  
  (1956)
• Dr No (film) (1962)

External links