Clayton Moore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clayton Moore
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Moore as the Lone Ranger
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| Born |
Jack Carlton Moore
September 14, 1914 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| Died | December 28, 1999 (aged 85) |
| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California |
| Other names | Jack Moore Clay Moore |
| Occupation | Actor, model |
| Years active | 1934–1999 |
| Known for | The Lone Ranger |
| Television | The Lone Ranger |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Children | 1 |
Clayton Moore (born Jack Carlton Moore, September 14, 1914 – December 28, 1999) was an American actor. He is most famous for playing the masked hero, the Lone Ranger. He played this character in the popular TV series from 1949 to 1957. He also starred in two movies about the Lone Ranger.
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Clayton Moore's Early Life
Clayton Moore was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1914. His birth name was Jack Carlton Moore. He was the youngest of three sons. His father worked as a real estate broker. This meant his family was quite well-off.
Jack was very athletic when he was young. By age eight, he was already a circus acrobat. In 1934, he performed a trapeze act in Chicago. He went to Stephen K. Hayt Elementary School, Sullivan Junior High School, and Senn High School.
Clayton Moore's Career Journey
How Did Clayton Moore Start Acting?
As a young man, Moore worked as a successful model. In the late 1930s, he moved to Hollywood. There, he worked as a stuntman and took small acting roles. He also continued modeling. Around 1940, a producer named Edward Small suggested he use the stage name "Clayton."
After that, he started getting roles in "B" Westerns. These were lower-budget films. He also played the main character in several movie serials. These were like mini-series shown in theaters.
Clayton Moore's Military Service
During World War II, Moore joined the U.S. Army Air Forces. He worked with a special unit that made training films. He even co-starred in a film called Target-Invisible.
Becoming The Lone Ranger
How Clayton Moore Became a TV Star
In 1949, Clayton Moore's acting caught the eye of George W. Trendle. Trendle was the co-creator of a popular radio show called The Lone Ranger. The story was about a mysterious former Texas Ranger. He was the only survivor of an ambush by outlaws. This hero rode the West with his Native American friend, Tonto. They fought evil and helped people in need.
When Trendle decided to bring the radio show to television, Moore got the main role. With the famous "William Tell Overture" as their theme music, Moore and co-star Jay Silverheels (who played Tonto) made history. Their show was the first Western made specifically for television. The Lone Ranger quickly became a huge hit for the new ABC network. It was even nominated for an Emmy Award in 1950.
Why Was Clayton Moore Replaced and Then Returned?
During the third season, another actor, John Hart, took over the role. Reports said this was because of a contract disagreement. However, Moore returned for the final two seasons. He later said he never understood why he was replaced or why he was brought back.
The fourth season was filmed in black and white. But the fifth and last season was filmed in color. In total, Moore starred in 169 of the 221 episodes.
Life After The Lone Ranger TV Show
Moore also appeared in other TV shows while playing the Lone Ranger. He was in an episode of The Adventures of Kit Carson in 1952. He also guest-starred in two episodes of The Range Rider.
Moore and Jay Silverheels also starred in two Lone Ranger movies. After the second movie, The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold, in 1958, Moore continued to make appearances as the masked man for 40 years. He often appeared at events and in commercials. Silverheels sometimes joined him for reunions. Moore always spoke with great respect and love for Silverheels.
One funny story about Moore's appearances was told by actor Jay Thomas. Moore was at a car dealership in character as the Lone Ranger. Thomas, a radio DJ, offered him a ride back to his hotel. On the way, another car hit Thomas's car. When Thomas confronted the other driver, the driver said no one would believe him. But then Moore, still in his Lone Ranger costume, stepped out of the car. He told the stunned driver, "they'll believe me, citizen!"
The Lawsuit Over The Lone Ranger Mask
In 1979, the owner of the Lone Ranger character, Jack Wrather, tried to stop Moore from appearing as the Lone Ranger. Wrather was making a new movie and thought Moore's public appearances would hurt the film's value. He also worried people might think the 65-year-old Moore would be in the new movie.
This decision did not go well for Wrather. Moore fought back by filing his own lawsuit. He also changed his costume slightly. Instead of his usual mask, he wore Foster Grant wraparound sunglasses. He even appeared in their ads. The public strongly supported Moore. Many people chose not to watch Wrather's new movie, The Legend of the Lone Ranger, which came out in 1981. The movie was not popular and lost money.
The legal battle lasted until 1984. Wrather suddenly dropped the lawsuit, allowing Moore to play the Lone Ranger again. Wrather passed away two months later.
Clayton Moore and The Lone Ranger Character
Clayton Moore often said he "fell in love with the Lone Ranger character." He tried to live by the character's values in his own life. Because of this, and his fight to keep wearing the mask, Moore and the Lone Ranger became almost the same person to many fans.
He is the only person on the Hollywood Walk of Fame whose star includes his character's name. It reads, "Clayton Moore — The Lone Ranger." He was honored in the Stuntman's Hall of Fame in 1982. In 1990, he was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame. He also has a place on the Western Walk of Fame in Newhall, California.
Clayton Moore's Later Life and Death
In 1964, Clayton Moore moved to Golden Valley, Minnesota. He wanted to be closer to his wife's family. He even got a real estate license and started a company called Ranger Realty. He helped develop parts of the area.
Once, he found a grocery store manager tied up after a robbery. Moore untied him and joked, "You have just been rescued by the Lone Ranger."
Clayton Moore passed away on December 28, 1999. He had a heart attack at his home in Calabasas. He was survived by his fourth wife, Clarita Moore, and his adopted daughter, Dawn Angela Moore. He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale.
Images for kids
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Forlorn River (1937 film).jpg
Forlorn River (1937)
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Thunder Trail.jpg
Thunder Trail (1937)
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Go Chase Yourself.jpg
Go Chase Yourself (1938)
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Burn 'Em Up O'Connor.jpg
Burn 'Em Up O'Connor (1939)
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Kit Carson (1940 film).jpg
Kit Carson (1940)
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The Son of Monte Cristo.jpg
The Son of Monte Cristo (1940)
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International Lady.jpg
International Lady (1941)
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Tuxedo Junction (film).jpg
Tuxedo Junction (1941)
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Black Dragons.jpg
Black Dragons (1942)
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Perils of Nyoka.jpg
Perils of Nyoka (1942)
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Outlaws of Pine Ridge.jpg
Outlaws of Pine Ridge (1942)
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The Bachelor's Daughters.jpg
The Bachelor's Daughters (1946)
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The Crimson Ghost.jpg
The Crimson Ghost (1946)
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Jesse James Rides Again.jpg
Jesse James Rides Again (1947)
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Along the Oregon Trail.jpg
Along the Oregon Trail (1947)
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G-Men Never Forget.jpg
G-Men Never Forget (1948)
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Marshal of Amarillo.jpg
Marshal of Amarillo (1948)
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Adventures of Frank and Jesse James.jpg
Adventures of Frank and Jesse James (1948)
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The Far Frontier.jpg
The Far Frontier (1949)
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Sheriff of Wichita.jpg
Sheriff of Wichita (1949)
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Riders of the Whistling Pines.jpg
Riders of the Whistling Pines (1949)
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Ghost of Zorro.jpg
Ghost of Zorro (1949)
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Frontier Investigator.jpg
Frontier Investigator (1949)
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The Gay Amigo.jpg
The Gay Amigo (1949)
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South of Death Valley.jpg
South of Death Valley (1949)
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Masked Raiders.jpg
Masked Raiders (1949)
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The Cowboy and the Indians.jpg
The Cowboy and the Indians (1949)
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Bandits of El Dorado.jpg
Bandits of El Dorado (1949)
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Sons of New Mexico.jpg
Sons of New Mexico (1949)
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Cyclone Fury.jpg
Cyclone Fury (1951)
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Kansas Pacific Railway.jpg
Kansas Pacific (1951)
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Son of Geronimo Apache Avenger.jpg
Son of Geronimo: Apache Avenger (1952)
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The Hawk of Wild River.jpg
The Hawk of Wild River (1952)
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Radar Men from the Moon.jpg
Radar Men from the Moon (1952)
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Night Stage to Galveston.jpg
Night Stage to Galveston (1952)
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Captive of Billy the Kid.jpg
Captive of Billy the Kid (1952)
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Buffalo Bill in Tomahawk Territory.jpg
Buffalo Bill in Tomahawk Territory (1952)
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Montana Territory (film).jpg
Montana Territory (1952)
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Jungle Drums of Africa.jpg
Jungle Drums of Africa (1953)
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Kansas Pacific (film).jpg
Kansas Pacific (1953)
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The Bandits of Corsica.jpg
The Bandits of Corsica (1953)
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Down Laredo Way.jpg
Down Laredo Way (1953)
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Gunfighters of the Northwest.jpg
Gunfighters of the Northwest (1954)
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Apache Ambush.jpg
Apache Ambush (1955)
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The Lone Ranger (1956 film).jpg
The Lone Ranger (1956 film)
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The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold.jpg
The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold (1958 film)
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Lassie (1954 TV series).jpg
Lassie (1954 TV series) (1959)
See also
In Spanish: Clayton Moore para niños
