John H. Kitzmiller, a veteran movie star, Purple Heart recipient with the US Army during World War II, died in a Rome hospital on February 23, 1965. A native of Battle Creek, Michigan, Kitzmiller found fame during an infamous poker game while deployed in Leghorn.
Kitzmiller was a graduate from the University of Michigan with a degree in chemical engineering who joined the ranks of the United States Army. As a Captain in the 92nd Division in Italy during World War II, John Kitzmiller attracted the attention of Italian director Luigi Zampa while playing in a poker game at an officer's club. The soon-to-be actor was more interested in recouping his losses during the poker game and needed a bit of persuading to accept the offer. Kitzmiller received numerous offers for casting upon leaving the Army, so he remained in Italy to begin his acting career.
Kitzmiller's first acting role was in To Live in Peace in 1947 under the direction of Zampa and Carlo Ponti. He went on to star in more than 50 European films, often portraying characters fighting racism. In 1957, John Kitzmiller became the first black actor to win a Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival for his role in the Yugoslavian film Valley of Peace. Kitzmiller's most notable role was that of Quarrel in the James Bond film Dr. No. At the time of his death, Kitzmiller had just returned to Rome after starring in the lead role of the film Uncle Tom's Cabin, which was filmed in Yugoslavia.
Kitzmiller was a graduate from the University of Michigan with a degree in chemical engineering who joined the ranks of the United States Army. As a Captain in the 92nd Division in Italy during World War II, John Kitzmiller attracted the attention of Italian director Luigi Zampa while playing in a poker game at an officer's club. The soon-to-be actor was more interested in recouping his losses during the poker game and needed a bit of persuading to accept the offer. Kitzmiller received numerous offers for casting upon leaving the Army, so he remained in Italy to begin his acting career.
Kitzmiller's first acting role was in To Live in Peace in 1947 under the direction of Zampa and Carlo Ponti. He went on to star in more than 50 European films, often portraying characters fighting racism. In 1957, John Kitzmiller became the first black actor to win a Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival for his role in the Yugoslavian film Valley of Peace. Kitzmiller's most notable role was that of Quarrel in the James Bond film Dr. No. At the time of his death, Kitzmiller had just returned to Rome after starring in the lead role of the film Uncle Tom's Cabin, which was filmed in Yugoslavia.
John H. Kitzmiller, a veteran movie star, Purple Heart recipient with the US Army during World War II, died in a Rome hospital on February 23, 1965. A native of Battle Creek, Michigan, Kitzmiller found fame during an infamous poker game while deployed in Leghorn.
Kitzmiller was a graduate from the University of Michigan with a degree in chemical engineering who joined the ranks of the United States Army. As a Captain in the 92nd Division in Italy during World War II, John Kitzmiller attracted the attention of Italian director Luigi Zampa while playing in a poker game at an officer's club. The soon-to-be actor was more interested in recouping his losses during the poker game and needed a bit of persuading to accept the offer. Kitzmiller received numerous offers for casting upon leaving the Army, so he remained in Italy to begin his acting career.
Kitzmiller's first acting role was in To Live in Peace in 1947 under the direction of Zampa and Carlo Ponti. He went on to star in more than 50 European films, often portraying characters fighting racism. In 1957, John Kitzmiller became the first black actor to win a Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival for his role in the Yugoslavian film Valley of Peace. Kitzmiller's most notable role was that of Quarrel in the James Bond film Dr. No. At the time of his death, Kitzmiller had just returned to Rome after starring in the lead role of the film Uncle Tom's Cabin, which was filmed in Yugoslavia.
Kitzmiller was a graduate from the University of Michigan with a degree in chemical engineering who joined the ranks of the United States Army. As a Captain in the 92nd Division in Italy during World War II, John Kitzmiller attracted the attention of Italian director Luigi Zampa while playing in a poker game at an officer's club. The soon-to-be actor was more interested in recouping his losses during the poker game and needed a bit of persuading to accept the offer. Kitzmiller received numerous offers for casting upon leaving the Army, so he remained in Italy to begin his acting career.
Kitzmiller's first acting role was in To Live in Peace in 1947 under the direction of Zampa and Carlo Ponti. He went on to star in more than 50 European films, often portraying characters fighting racism. In 1957, John Kitzmiller became the first black actor to win a Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival for his role in the Yugoslavian film Valley of Peace. Kitzmiller's most notable role was that of Quarrel in the James Bond film Dr. No. At the time of his death, Kitzmiller had just returned to Rome after starring in the lead role of the film Uncle Tom's Cabin, which was filmed in Yugoslavia.
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