Jay Silverheels (born Harold Jay Smith; May 26, 1912 – March 5, 1980) was an

Indigenous Canadian In Canada, Indigenous groups comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. Although ''Indian'' is a term still commonly used in legal documents, the descriptors ''Indian'' and ''Eskimo'' have fallen into disuse in Canada, and most consider them ...

actor and athlete. He was well known for his role as

Tonto 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. Trendle and Fran Striker. Tonto has appeared in radio and tele ...

, the Native American companion of the

Lone Ranger The Lone Ranger is a fictional masked former Texas Ranger who fought outlaws in the American Old West with his Native American friend Tonto. The character has been called an enduring icon of American culture. He first appeared in 1933 in ...

in the American

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

television series A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, or cable, excluding breaking news, advertisements, or trailers that are typically placed be ...

''The Lone Ranger''.

Early life

Silverheels was born Harold Jay Smith in Canada, on the

Six Nations of the Grand River Six Nations (or Six Nations of the Grand River, french: Réserve des Six Nations, see, Ye:i’ Níónöëdzage:h) is demographically the largest First Nations reserve in Canada. As of the end of 2017, it has a total of 27,276 members, 12,848 of ...

, near

Hagersville, Ontario Hagersville is a community in Haldimand County, Ontario in Canada. Location and airports *Hagersville is approximately southwest of Hamilton, Ontario, southwest of Caledonia, Ontario, and northeast of Port Dover, Ontario. *Hagersville's ne ...

. He was a grandson of Mohawk Chief A. G. Smith and Mary Wedge, and one of the 11 children of Captain Alexander George Edwin Smith, MC, Cayuga, and his wife Mabel Phoebe Dockstater, maternal Mohawk, and paternal Seneca. His father was wounded and decorated for service at the battles of

Somme __NOTOC__ Somme or The Somme may refer to: Places *Somme (department), a department of France *Somme, Queensland, Australia *Canal de la Somme, a canal in France *Somme (river), a river in France Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Somme'' (book), a ...

and

Ypres Ypres ( , ; nl, Ieper ; vls, Yper; german: Ypern ) is a Belgian city and municipality in the province of West Flanders. Though the Dutch name is the official one, the city's French name is most commonly used in English. The municipality ...

during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

, and later was an adjutant training Polish-American recruits for the Blue Army for service in France, at

Niagara-on-the-Lake Niagara-on-the-Lake is a town in Ontario, Canada. It is located on the Niagara Peninsula at the point where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario, across the river from New York, United States. Niagara-on-the-Lake is in the Niagara Region of O ...

, Ontario.

Athlete

Silverheels excelled in athletics, most notably in

lacrosse Lacrosse is a team sport played with a lacrosse stick and a lacrosse ball. It is the oldest organized sport in North America, with its origins with the indigenous people of North America as early as the 12th century. The game was extensiv ...

, before leaving home to travel around North America. In 1931, owners of

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey sports league, league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranke ...

's franchises in Toronto and Montreal created indoor lacrosse (also known as "box lacrosse") as a means to fill empty arenas during the summers, and playing as "Harry Smith", Silverheels was among the first players chosen to play for the Toronto Tecumsehs. Along with his brothers and cousin, Russell (Beef), Sid (Porky), and George (Chubby), he also played on teams in Buffalo, Rochester, Atlantic City, and Akron throughout the 1930s on teams in the North American Amateur Lacrosse Association. He lived for a time in

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, and is across the Canadian border from Sou ...

, and in 1938, placed second in the middleweight class of the

Golden Gloves The Golden Gloves is the name given to annual competitions for amateur boxing in the United States, where they are awarded a belt and a ring. And the title of nations champion is awarded. The Golden Gloves is a term used to refer to the Nationa ...

tournament. Silverheels was inducted into the

Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame is a Canadian lacrosse hall of fame, located in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada. The Hall was chartered in 1965 by the Canadian Lacrosse Association, and inducted its first class of hall of famers in ...

as a veteran player in 1997.

Actor

Films

While playing in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world ...

on a touring

box lacrosse Box lacrosse, also known as boxla, box, or indoor lacrosse, is an indoor version of lacrosse played mostly in North America. The game originated in Canada in the 1930s, where it is more popular than field lacrosse. Lacrosse is Canada's officia ...

team in 1937, Silverheels impressed Joe E. Brown with his

athleticism Athletics is a term encompassing the human competitive sports and games requiring physical skill, and the systems of training that prepare athletes for competition performance. Athletic sports or contests are competitions which are primarily base ...

. Brown encouraged him to do a

screen test A screen test is a method of determining the suitability of an actor or actress for performing on film or in a particular role. The performer is generally given a scene, or selected lines and actions, and instructed to perform in front of a came ...

, which led to his

acting Acting is an activity in which a story is told by means of its enactment by an actor or actress who adopts a character—in theatre, television, film, radio, or any other medium that makes use of the mimetic mode. Acting involves a broad r ...

career. Silverheels began working in motion pictures as an extra and

stuntman A stunt performer, often called a stuntman or stuntwoman and occasionally stuntperson or stunt-person, is a trained professional who performs daring acts, often as a career. Stunt performers usually appear in films or on television, as opposed ...

in 1937. He was billed variously as Harold Smith and Harry Smith, and appeared in low-budget features, Westerns, and serials. He adopted his screen name from the nickname he had as a lacrosse player. Jay Silverheels was cast in a short feature film, ''I Am an American'' (1944). From the late 1940s, he played in major films, including '' Captain from Castile'' starring

Tyrone Power Tyrone Edmund Power III (May 5, 1914 – November 15, 1958) was an American actor. From the 1930s to the 1950s, Power appeared in dozens of films, often in swashbuckler roles or romantic leads. His better-known films include ''Jesse James (193 ...

(1947), '' Key Largo'' with

Humphrey Bogart Humphrey DeForest Bogart (; December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957), nicknamed Bogie, was an American film and stage actor. His performances in Classical Hollywood cinema films made him an American cultural icon. In 1999, the American Film In ...

(1948), '' Lust for Gold'' with

Glenn Ford Gwyllyn Samuel Newton "Glenn" Ford (May 1, 1916 – August 30, 2006) was a Canadian-American actor who often portrayed ordinary men in unusual circumstances. Ford was most prominent during Hollywood's Golden Age as one of the biggest box-offi ...

(1949), '' Broken Arrow'' (1950) with

James Stewart James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American actor and military pilot. Known for his distinctive drawl and everyman screen persona, Stewart's film career spanned 80 films from 1935 to 1991. With the strong morality ...

, '' War Arrow'' (1953) with

Maureen O'Hara Maureen O'Hara (; 17 August 1920 – 24 October 2015) was a native Irish and naturalized American actress and singer, who became successful in Hollywood from the 1940s through to the 1960s. She was a natural redhead who was known for pl ...

, Jeff Chandler and

Noah Beery Jr. Noah Lindsey Beery (August 10, 1913 – November 1, 1994) was an American actor often specializing in warm, friendly character roles similar to many portrayed by his Oscar-winning uncle, Wallace Beery. Unlike his more famous uncle, however, Be ...

, ''

The Black Dakotas ''The Black Dakotas'' is a 1954 American Technicolor Western spy film directed by Ray Nazarro and produced by Columbia Pictures. Set during the American Civil War and filmed at the Iverson Movie Ranch, the film stars Gary Merrill as a cold-blood ...

'' (1954) as Black Buffalo, ''

Drums Across the River ''Drums Across the River '' is a 1954 American Technicolor Western film directed by Nathan Juran and starring Audie Murphy, Walter Brennan and Lyle Bettger. Plot Gary Brannon, is a peaceful homesteader living a quiet existence with his father ...

'' (1954), '' Walk the Proud Land'' (1956) with

Audie Murphy Audie Leon Murphy (20 June 1925 – 28 May 1971) was an American soldier, actor and songwriter. He was one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of World War II. He received every military combat award for valor available from t ...

and

Anne Bancroft Anne Bancroft (born Anna Maria Louisa Italiano; September 17, 1931 – June 6, 2005) was an American actress. Respected for her acting prowess and versatility, Bancroft received an Academy Award, three BAFTA Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, two ...

, '' Alias Jesse James'' (1959) with

Bob Hope Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) was a British-American comedian, vaudevillian, actor, singer and dancer. With a career that spanned nearly 80 years, Hope appeared in more than 70 short and feature films, with ...

, and '' Indian Paint'' (1964) with Johnny Crawford. He made a brief appearance in ''

True Grit True Grit may refer to: Fiction * True Grit (novel), ''True Grit'' (novel), a 1968 novel by Charles Portis ** True Grit (1969 film), ''True Grit'' (1969 film), a film adaptation by Henry Hathaway, starring John Wayne ** True Grit (2010 film), ''Tr ...

'' (1969) as a condemned criminal about to be executed. He played a substantial role as John Crow in '' Santee'' (1973), starring

. One of his last roles was a wise, white-haired chief in ''

The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing ''The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing'' is a novel written by Marilyn Durham first published in 1972. Plot The novel is set in the American West in the 1880s, but is not written in a genre style. It is the story of Jay, a man of the West, and his offbe ...

'' (1973).

Television

Jay Silverheels achieved his greatest fame as Tonto on ''The Lone Ranger'' (1949–1957). Silverheels appeared in the film sequels: '' The Lone Ranger'' (1956) and '' The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold'' (1958). When ''The Lone Ranger'' television series ended, Silverheels continued to be typecast as a Native American. On January 6, 1960, he portrayed a Native American fireman trying to extinguish a forest fire in the episode "Leap of Life" in the syndicated series, '' Rescue 8'', starring Jim Davis and fellow Canadian

Lang Jeffries Lang Jeffries (June 7, 1930 – February 12, 1987) was a Canadian-American television and film actor. Biography From 1958 to 1960, Jeffries starred as Skip Johnson in the adventure television series ''Rescue 8''. He starred in several American ...

. Silverheels appeared in an episode of the TV series ''

Love, American Style ''Love, American Style'' is an anthology comedy television series that aired on ABC from 1969 to 1974. The series was produced by Paramount Television. During the 1971–72 and 1972–73 seasons, it was a part of ABC's Friday primetime lineup ...

'', in which two tribe members try to talk a young White man who wishes to marry a girl from their tribe into enduring the tribe's "test of manhood," a barbaric ritual of surviving in the wilderness. No matter how she pleads and begs, using all her womanly wiles, he refuses, thus passing the tribe's true "test of manhood." ''Love and the Bachelor Party/Love and the Latin Lover/Love and the Old-Fashioned Father/Love and the Test of Manhood'' (Release Date: February 11, 1972). Eventually, he went to work as a salesman to supplement his acting income. He also began to publish poetry inspired by his youth on the Six Nations Indian Reserve and recited his work on television. In 1966, he guest-starred as John Tallgrass in the short-lived ABC comedy/Western series '' The Rounders'', with Ron Hayes, Patrick Wayne, and

Chill Wills Theodore Childress "Chill" Wills (July 18, 1902 – December 15, 1978) was an American actor and a singer in the Avalon Boys quartet. Early life Wills was born in Seagoville, Texas, on July 18, 1902. Career He was a performer from early chi ...

. Despite the typecasting, Silverheels in later years often poked fun at his character. In 1969, he appeared as Tonto without the Lone Ranger in a comedy sketch on ''

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'' was an American late-night talk show hosted by Johnny Carson on NBC, the third iteration of the ''Tonight Show'' franchise. The show debuted on October 1, 1962, and aired its final episode on May 22, ...

''. The sketch was featured on the 1974 record album '' Here's Johnny: Magic Moments from the Tonight Show''. "My name is Tonto. I hail from

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...

and I speak

Esperanto Esperanto ( or ) is the world's most widely spoken constructed international auxiliary language. Created by the Warsaw-based ophthalmologist L. L. Zamenhof in 1887, it was intended to be a universal second language for international communic ...

." In 1970, he appeared in a commercial for Chevrolet as a Native American chief who rescues two lost hunters, who had ignored his advice, in that year's

Chevy Blazer The Chevrolet Blazer is an automobile nameplate used by General Motors for its Chevrolet brand since 1969 for several SUV models: * Full-size Chevrolet K5 Blazer, based on the C/K pickup chassis and built from 1969 to 1995 (renamed Blazer in 19 ...

. The

William Tell Overture The ''William Tell'' Overture is the overture to the opera '' William Tell'' (original French title ''Guillaume Tell''), whose music was composed by Gioachino Rossini. ''William Tell'' premiered in 1829 and was the last of Rossini's 39 operas, a ...

is heard in the background. Silverheels spoofed his Tonto character, opposite

Clayton Moore Clayton Moore (born Jack Carlton Moore, September 14, 1914 – December 28, 1999) was an American actor best known for playing the fictional western character the Lone Ranger from 1949 to 1952 and 1953 to 1957 on the television series of the sa ...

, in a

Stan Freberg Stan Freberg (born Stanley Friberg; August 7, 1926 – April 7, 2015) was an American actor, author, comedian, musician, radio personality, puppeteer and advertising creative director. His best-known works include "St. George and the Dragonet" ...

Jeno's Pizza Rolls TV commercial, which was set to the music of

Gioachino Rossini Gioachino Antonio Rossini (29 February 1792 – 13 November 1868) was an Italian composer who gained fame for his 39 operas, although he also wrote many songs, some chamber music and piano pieces, and some sacred music. He set new standards ...

's '

," and in '' The Phynx'', opposite John Hart, both having played the Lone Ranger in the original television series. He appeared in three 1964/5 episodes of NBC's ''

Daniel Boone Daniel Boone (September 26, 1820) was an American pioneer and frontiersman whose exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. He became famous for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky, which was then beyond the we ...

'', starring Fess Parker in the title role. His later appearances included an episode of ABC's ''

The Brady Bunch ''The Brady Bunch'' is an American sitcom created by Sherwood Schwartz that aired from September 26, 1969, to March 8, 1974, on ABC. The series revolves around a large blended family with six children. The show aired for five seasons and, afte ...

'', as a Native American who befriends the Bradys in the

Grand Canyon The Grand Canyon (, yuf-x-yav, Wi:kaʼi:la, , Southern Paiute language: Paxa’uipi, ) is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in Arizona, United States. The Grand Canyon is long, up to wide and attains a depth of over a m ...

, and in an episode of the short-lived ''

Dusty's Trail ''Dusty's Trail'' is an American Western/comedy series starring Bob Denver and Forrest Tucker that aired in syndication from September 1973 to March 1974. The series is a western-themed reworking of Denver's previous series ''Gilligan's Island''. ...

'', starring Bob Denver of ''

Gilligan's Island ''Gilligan's Island'' is an American sitcom created and produced by Sherwood Schwartz. The show's ensemble cast features Bob Denver, Alan Hale Jr., Jim Backus, Natalie Schafer, Tina Louise, Russell Johnson and Dawn Wells. It aired for th ...

''. In the early 1960s, Silverheels supported the Indian Actors Workshop, where Native American actors refined their skills in

Echo Park, Los Angeles Echo Park is a neighborhood in the east-central region of Los Angeles, California. Located to the northwest of Downtown, it is bordered by Silver Lake to the west and Chinatown to the east. The culturally diverse neighborhood has become known f ...

. Today, the workshop is firmly established.

Personal life

Silverheels raised, bred, and raced Standardbred horses in his spare time. Once, when asked about possibly running Tonto's paint horse Scout in a race, Jay laughed off the idea: "Heck, ''I'' can outrun Scout!" Married twice, Silverheels had two sons (Steve, with his first wife; Jay Anthony Jr., who followed his father into acting) and four daughters (Marilyn, Gail, Pamela, and Karen).

Death

Silverheels suffered a stroke in 1976, and the following year, Clayton Moorehis co-star on ''The Lone Ranger''rode an

American Paint Horse The American Paint Horse is a breed of horse that combines both the conformational characteristics of a western stock horse with a pinto spotting pattern of white and dark coat colors. Developed from a base of spotted horses with Quarter Hors ...

in Silverheels' honor in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade. Silverheels died on March 5, 1980, from stroke, at age 67, in

Calabasas, California Calabasas (from Spanish ''calabazas'' " gourds") is a city in the southwestern region of the San Fernando Valley, between the foothills of the Santa Monica and Santa Susanna mountains.Chapel of the Pines Crematory Chapel of the Pines Crematory is a crematory and columbarium located at 1605 South Catalina Street, Los Angeles, in the U.S. state of California, in the historic West Adams District a short distance southwest of Downtown. It is beside Angelus- ...

, and his ashes were returned to the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario.

Legacy

In 1993, Silverheels was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers at the

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is a museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, with more than 28,000 Western and American Indian art works and artifacts. The facility also has the world's most extensive collection of Am ...

Oklahoma City Oklahoma City (), officially the City of Oklahoma City, and often shortened to OKC, is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, it ranks 20th among United States cities in population, and ...

Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a state in the South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the north, Missouri on the northeast, Arkansas on the east, New ...

. He was named to the Western New York Entertainment Hall of Fame, and his portrait hangs in Buffalo, New York's Shea's Buffalo Theatre. He has a star on the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Calif ...

at 6538

Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood Boulevard is a major east–west street in Los Angeles, California. It begins in the east at Sunset Boulevard in the Los Feliz district and proceeds to the west as a major thoroughfare through Little Armenia and Thai Town, Hollywoo ...

. First Americans in the Arts honored Silverheels with their Life Achievement Award. In 1997, Silverheels was inducted, under the name Harry "Tonto" Smith, into the

in the Veteran Player category in recognition of his lacrosse career during the 1930s. A fictionalized version of Silverheels appears in the ''

Thrilling Adventure Hour ''The Thrilling Adventure Hour'' was a staged production and podcast in the style of old time radio that was held monthly at Largo, a Los Angeles nightclub located in the former Coronet Theatre. The show ran from March 2005 to April 2015. Each ...

'' serialized segment "Tales from the Black Lagoon". His friend Milan Smith promised himself that he would name a horse after Silverheels. The horse was named, "Hi Ho Silverheels".

Selected filmography

* '' Make a Wish'' (1937) – Indian Guide (uncredited) * ''

The Sea Hawk ''The Sea Hawk'' is a 1915 novel by Rafael Sabatini. The story is set over the years 1588–1593 and concerns a retired Cornish seafaring gentleman, Sir Oliver Tressilian, who is villainously betrayed by a jealous half-brother. After being ...

'' (1940) – Native Lookout (uncredited) * ''

Kit Carson Christopher Houston Carson (December 24, 1809 – May 23, 1868) was an American frontiersman. He was a fur trapper, wilderness guide, Indian agent, and U.S. Army officer. He became a frontier legend in his own lifetime by biographies and ...

'' (1940) – Indian (uncredited) * '' Too Many Girls'' (1940) – Indian (uncredited) * '' Hudson's Bay'' (1941) – Indian (uncredited) * ''

Western Union The Western Union Company is an American multinational financial services company, headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 1851 as the New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company in Rochester, New York, the company cha ...

'' (1941) – Indian (uncredited) * '' Jungle Girl'' (1941, Serial) – Lion Man Guard hs. 2–3, 15(uncredited) * '' This Woman Is Mine'' (1941) – Indian Marauder (uncredited) * ''

Valley of the Sun A valley is an elongated low area often running between hills or mountains, which will typically contain a river or stream running from one end to the other. Most valleys are formed by erosion of the land surface by rivers or streams over ...

'' (1942) – Indian (uncredited) * ''

Perils of Nyoka ''Perils of Nyoka'' is a 1942 Republic serial directed by William Witney. It stars Kay Aldridge as Nyoka the Jungle Girl, a character who first appeared in the Edgar Rice Burroughs-inspired serial ''Jungle Girl''. Plot Nyoka, with help from L ...

'' (1942, Serial) – Tuareg (uncredited) * '' Good Morning, Judge'' (1943) – Indian (uncredited) * ''

Daredevils of the West ''Daredevils of the West'' is an American Western movie serial consisting of 12 chapters, released by Republic Pictures in 1943 starring Allan Lane and Kay Aldridge. The plot involves a gang of land-grabbers who try to prevent safe passage o ...

'' (1943, Serial) – Kiaga h. 8–9(uncredited) * '' The Girl from Monterrey'' (1943) – Fighter Tito Flores * ''

Northern Pursuit ''Northern Pursuit'' is a 1943 American World War II film directed by Raoul Walsh and starring Errol Flynn as a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) who tries to uncover a Nazi plot against the Allied war effort. The film was set ...

'' (1943) – Indian (uncredited) * ''

The Phantom ''The Phantom'' is an American adventure comic strip, first published by Lee Falk in February 1936. The main character, the Phantom, is a fictional costumed crime-fighter who operates from the fictional African country of Bangalla. The char ...

'' (1943, Serial) – Astari Warrior (uncredited) * '' Passage to Marseille'' (1944) – Sailor Crewman on Boat Deck (uncredited) * '' The Tiger Woman'' (1944, Serial) – Native at Shack Shoot-Out h. 7(uncredited) * '' Call of the Jungle'' (1944) – Native (uncredited) * '' Haunted Harbor'' (1944, Serial) – Native hs. 11–12(uncredited) * '' Lost in a Harem'' (1944) – Guard at Execution (uncredited) * ''Tahiti Nights'' (1944) – Lua (uncredited) * ''

Song of the Sarong ''Song of the Sarong'' (1945) is a musical film starring Nancy Kelly and William Gargan. The film was written by Gene Lewis and directed by Harold Young. Plot There are valuable pearls worth millions of dollars being guarded by a formidable t ...

'' (1945) – Spearman (uncredited) * ''Romance of the West'' (1946) – Young Bear (uncredited) * ''Singin' in the Corn'' (1946) – Indian Brave * '' Gas House Kids Go West'' (1947) – Kingsley's Henchman (uncredited) * '' Northwest Outpost'' (1947) – Indian Scout (uncredited) * ''

Unconquered Unconquered or The Unconquered may refer to: Films * ''Unconquered'' (1917 film), a drama film by Frank Reicher * ''Unconquered'' (1947 film), an adventure film by Cecil B. DeMille * ''The Unconquered'' (documentary) or ''Helen Keller in Her Sto ...

'' (1947) – Indian (uncredited) * '' The Last Round-up'' (1947) – Sam Luther (uncredited) * '' The Prairie'' (1947) – Running Deer * '' Captain from Castile'' (1947) – Coatl (uncredited) * '' The Treasure of the Sierra Madre'' (1948) – Indian Guide at Pier (uncredited) * ''

Fury at Furnace Creek '' Fury at Furnace Creek '' is a 1948 American Western film directed by H. Bruce Humberstone and starring Victor Mature, Coleen Gray, Glenn Langan, and Reginald Gardiner. Plot Troops are massacred at a Furnace Creek fort in 1880 after an arm ...

'' (1948) – Little Dog (uncredited) * '' Key Largo'' (1948) – Tom Osceola (uncredited) * '' Singin' Spurs'' (1948) – Abel * '' Family Honeymoon'' (1948) – Elevator Boy (uncredited) * '' The Feathered Serpent'' (1948) – Diego (uncredited) * '' Yellow Sky'' (1948) – Indian (uncredited) * '' Song of India'' (1949) – Villager (uncredited) * ''

Tulsa Tulsa () is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 47th-most populous city in the United States. The population was 413,066 as of the 2020 census. It is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region wit ...

'' (1949) – Creek Indian (uncredited) * ''Laramie'' (1949) – Running Wolf (uncredited) * '' Lust for Gold'' (1949) – Deputy Walter (uncredited) * '' Trail of the Yukon'' (1949) – Poleon * ''

Sand Sand is a granular material composed of finely divided mineral particles. Sand has various compositions but is defined by its grain size. Sand grains are smaller than gravel and coarser than silt. Sand can also refer to a textural class ...

'' (1949) – Indian (uncredited) * '' The Cowboy and the Indians'' (1949) – Lakoma * '' Broken Arrow'' (1950) –

Geronimo Geronimo ( apm, Goyaałé, , ; June 16, 1829 – February 17, 1909) was a prominent leader and medicine man from the Bedonkohe band of the Ndendahe Apache people. From 1850 to 1886, Geronimo joined with members of three other Central Apache b ...

(uncredited) * ''

The Wild Blue Yonder ''The Wild Blue Yonder'' is a 2005 science fiction fantasy film by German director Werner Herzog. It was presented at the 62nd Venice Film Festival, where it won the FIPRESCI Award. It was screened in competition at the Mar del Plata Interna ...

'' (1951) – Benders * ''Red Mountain'' (1951) – Little Crow * ''

The Battle at Apache Pass ''The Battle at Apache Pass'' is a 1952 American Western film directed by George Sherman. The stars are John Lund as United States Army Maj. Colton and Jeff Chandler (in brownface) repeating the role of Apache chief Cochise, whom he had played ...

'' (1952) – Geronimo * '' The Half-Breed'' (1952) – Apache (uncredited) * '' Brave Warrior'' (1952) –

Tecumseh Tecumseh ( ; October 5, 1813) was a Shawnee chief and warrior who promoted resistance to the expansion of the United States onto Native American lands. A persuasive orator, Tecumseh traveled widely, forming a Native American confederacy and ...

* ''

The Story of Will Rogers ''The Story of Will Rogers'' (titled onscreen as ''The Story of Will Rogers as told by His Wife'')is a 1952 American Comedy Western film biography of humorist and movie star Will Rogers, directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Will Rogers Jr. a ...

'' (1952) – Joe Arrow (uncredited) * '' Yankee Buccaneer'' (1952) – Lead Warrior * '' The Pathfinder'' (1952) – Chingachgook * ''The Legend of the Lone Ranger'' (1952) –

* '' Last of the Comanches'' (1953) – Indian (uncredited) * '' Jack McCall, Desperado'' (1953) – Red Cloud * ''

The Nebraskan ''The Nebraskan'' is a 1953 3-D American Western film directed by Fred F. Sears starring Phil Carey and Roberta Haynes. ''The Nebraskan'' was one of seven feature films from prolific director Fred Sears that were released that year. Plot Se ...

'' (1953) – Spotted Bear * '' War Arrow'' (1953) – Satanta * ''

Saskatchewan Saskatchewan ( ; ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Western Canada, western Canada, bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and on t ...

'' (1954) (with Alan Ladd) – Cajou * ''Drums Across The River'' (1954) (with Audie Murphy) – Taos * ''

'' (1954) – Black Buffalo * ''

Four Guns to the Border ''Four Guns to the Border'' is a 1954 American Western film directed by Richard Carlson and starring Rory Calhoun, Colleen Miller, George Nader, Walter Brennan and Nina Foch.p.173 Fitzgerald, Michael G. & Magers, Boyd ''Ladies of the Western ...

'' (1954) – Yaqui * ''

Masterson of Kansas ''Masterson of Kansas'' is a 1954 American Western film directed by William Castle and starring George Montgomery, Nancy Gates and James Griffith. It was produced by Sam Katzman for distribution for Columbia Pictures. Synopsis Bat Masterson ...

'' (1954) – Yellow Hawk * ''The Lone Ranger Rides Again'' (1955, TV Movie) –

* ''The Lone Ranger Story'' (1955) – Tonto * '' The Vanishing American'' (1955) – Beeteia * '' The Lone Ranger'' (1956) –

* '' Walk the Proud Land'' (1956) –

* ''

Return to Warbow ''Return to Warbow'' is a 1958 American Western film directed by Ray Nazarro and starring Philip Carey. The film is based on the novel ''Return to Warbow'' by Les Savage, Jr. (New York, 1955). Plot Philip Carey plays Clay Hollister, an esca ...

'' (1958) – Indian Joe * '' The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold'' (1958) –

* '' Alias Jesse James'' (1959) –

(uncredited) * '' Indian Paint'' (1965) – Chief Hevatanu * '' Smith!'' (1969) – McDonald Lasheway * ''

'' (1969) – Condemned Man at Hanging (uncredited) * '' The Phynx'' (1970) –

* ''In Pursuit of Treasure'' (1972) * ''

One Little Indian One Little Independent Records (formerly One Little Indian Records) is an English independent record label. It was set up in 1985 by members of various anarcho-punk bands, and managed by former Flux of Pink Indians bassist Derek Birkett. In ...

'' (1973) – Jimmy Wolf * ''

'' (1973) – The Chief * '' Santee'' (1973) – John Crow

Television

* '' The Lone Ranger'' – 217 episodes – Tonto (1949–1957) * ''

Wide Wide World ''Wide Wide World'' is a 1955–1958 90-minute documentary series telecast live on NBC on Sunday afternoons at 4pm Eastern. Conceived by network head Pat Weaver and hosted by Dave Garroway, ''Wide Wide World'' was introduced on the ''Producers' ...

'' – episode – The Western – Himself (1958) * '' Wanted Dead or Alive'' – episode – Man on Horseback – Charley Red Cloud (1959) * '' Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color'' – episode – Texas John Slaughter: Apache Friendship & Texas John Slaughter: Geronimo's Revenge – Natchez (1960) * ''

Gunslinger Gunfighters, also called gunslingers (), or in the 19th and early 20th centuries gunmen, were individuals in the American Old West who gained a reputation of being dangerous with a gun and participated in gunfights and shootouts. Today, the t ...

'' – episode – The Recruit – Hopi Indian (1961) * ''

Wagon Train ''Wagon Train'' is an American Western series that aired 8 seasons: first on the NBC television network (1957–1962), and then on ABC (1962–1965). ''Wagon Train'' debuted on September 18, 1957, and became number one in the Nielsen ratings ...

'' – episode – Path of the Serpent – The Serpent (1961) * '' Rawhide'' – episode – The Gentleman's Gentleman – Pawnee Joe (1961) * '' Laramie'' – episode – The Day of the Savage – Toma (1962) * ''

Daniel Boone (1964 TV series) ''Daniel Boone'' is an American action- adventure television series starring Fess Parker as Daniel Boone that aired from September 24, 1964, to May 7, 1970, on NBC for 165 episodes, and was produced by 20th Century Fox Television, Arcola En ...

'' – Chenrogan - S1/E11 "Mountain of the Dead" (1964) * ''

'' - Latawa - S1/E20 "The Quietists" (1965) * '' Branded'' – episode – The Test – Wild Horse (1965) * ''

'' – Sashona – S2/E14 "The Christmas Story" (1965) * '' Gentle Ben'' – episode – Invasion of Willie Sam Gopher – Willie Sam Gopher (1967) * '' The Virginian'' – episode – The Heritage – Den'Gwatzi (1968) * ''

'' – episode – The Brady Braves – Chief Eagle Cloud (1971) * '' The Virginian'' – episode – The Animal – Spotted Hand (1971) * ''

Cannon A cannon is a large- caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder ...

'' – episode – Valley of the Damned – Jimmy One Eye (1973) * ''

CHiPs ''CHiPs'' is an American crime drama television series created by Rick Rosner and originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to May 1, 1983. It follows the lives of two motorcycle officers of the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The seri ...

'' – episode – Poachers (1980)

Notes

References

External links

The Rise and Fall of Jay Silverheels
at

WFMU WFMU is a listener-supported, independent community radio station, licensed to East Orange, New Jersey. Since 1998 its studios and operating facilities have been headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey. It broadcasts locally at 91.1 Mhz FM, i ...

Jay Silverheels tribute site
*

Screen Legends

AMC article on Western Sidekicks

Jay Silverheels Biography;Tonto: The Man in Front of the Mask
{{DEFAULTSORT:Silverheels, Jay 1912 births 1980 deaths 20th-century Canadian male actors Canadian people of Native American descent Canadian Mohawk people Canadian expatriate male actors in the United States Canadian male film actors Canadian male television actors First Nations male actors First Nations sportspeople Iroquois nations lacrosse players Lone Ranger Male Western (genre) film actors Male actors from Ontario People from the County of Brant Western (genre) television actors

Early life

Athlete

Actor

Films

Television

Personal life

Death

Legacy

Selected filmography

Television

See also

Notes

References

Further reading

External links