Was Tonto on The Lone Ranger a real Indian?
Tonto is a fictional character; he is the Native American (either Comanche or Potawatomi) companion of the Lone Ranger, a popular American Western character created by George W. Show creator Trendle grew up in Michigan, and knew members of the local Potawatomi tribe, who told him it meant “wild one” in their language.
Is actor Jay Silverheels still alive?
Deceased (1912–1980)
Jay Silverheels/Living or Deceased
Why did John Hart take over as The Lone Ranger?
Based on the assumption that the masked character, rather than the actor, was the true star of The Lone Ranger, the program’s producers fired Moore (presumably over salary differences) and replaced him with Hart, who was of a similar build and had a comparable background in Westerns.
Who was the actor who played Tonto in the Lone Ranger?
Of the nearly 200 TV and film appearances Silverheels made with Clayton Moore, the actors co-starred in just 4 features where they did NOT play Tonto and The Lone Ranger: Perils of Nyoka (1942), The Cowboy and the Indians (1949), Cyclone Fury (1951) and The Black Dakotas (1954).
What did Tonto do on The Tonight Show?
He even appeared in a sketch as Tonto on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. But more importantly, he became a huge advocate for indigenous people in the entertainment industry. He founded and ran the Indian Actors Workshop in Los Angeles during the 60s which is still functioning to this day in the Echo Park neighborhood.
How did Jay Silverheels get the role of Tonto?
Reportedly beat out 35 other actors to win the Tonto role in the initial radio version of “The Lone Ranger”, which he had been invited to audition for based on his appearance in Key Largo (1948). While filming The Lone Ranger (1949) in 1955, he suffered a heart attack. He didn’t appear on the show for eight weeks while he recuperated.
Who is the father of Tonto’s Paint Horse Scout?
Once, when asked about possibly running Tonto’s paint horse Scout in a race, Silverheels laughed off the idea: “Heck, I can outrun Scout!” Married in 1945, Silverheels was the father of first son, Steve, four daughters named Marilyn, Gail, Pamela, and Karen, and a second son, Jay Anthony Silverheels Junior, who also was briefly an actor.