Jay Silverheels facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jay Silverheels
Silverheels at The Meadows Racetrack in Pennsylvania, 1970s
Born	Harold Jay Smith May 26, 1912 Six Nations of the Grand River, Ontario, Canada
Died	March 5, 1980 (aged 67) Calabasas, California, US
Nationality	Mohawk / Canadian
Occupation	Actor, stunt man, athlete, poet, salesman
Years active	1937–1980
Known for	Tonto
Television	Tonto in The Lone Ranger (TV series)
Spouse(s)	Bobbi Smith (m. 19??; div. 1943) Mary Diroma ​ (m. 1945)​
Children	6

Jay Silverheels (born Harold Jay Smith; May 26, 1912 – March 5, 1980) was a famous Indigenous Canadian actor and athlete. He is best known for playing Tonto, the Native American friend of the Lone Ranger. This role was in the popular American Western television series The Lone Ranger.

Early Life and Family

Jay Silverheels was born Harold Jay Smith in Canada. His birthplace was on the Six Nations of the Grand River reserve, near Hagersville, Ontario. He was a grandson of Mohawk Chief A. G. Smith. Jay was one of 11 children. His father, Captain Alexander George Edwin Smith, was a Cayuga and a decorated soldier from World War I.

A Talented Athlete

Before becoming an actor, Silverheels was a great athlete. He was especially good at lacrosse. In 1931, he was one of the first players chosen for the Toronto Tecumsehs, a professional indoor lacrosse team. He played as "Harry Smith." He also played for teams in Buffalo, Rochester, Atlantic City, and Akron during the 1930s.

Silverheels also lived in Buffalo, New York, for a while. In 1938, he won second place in the middleweight boxing division at the Golden Gloves tournament. His amazing lacrosse career led to him being added to the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1997.

Becoming an Actor

Starting in Films

In 1937, while playing lacrosse in Los Angeles, Jay Silverheels met actor Joe E. Brown. Brown was impressed by Jay's athletic skills and suggested he try acting. This led to Silverheels starting his career in movies.

He began as an extra and stuntman. He used different names like Harold Smith and Harry Smith. He got his screen name, Jay Silverheels, from his nickname as a lacrosse player. He appeared in many films, often playing Native American characters. Some of his notable films include Captain from Castile (1947), Key Largo (1948), Broken Arrow (1950), and True Grit (1969).

Television Fame as Tonto

Clayton Moore as the Lone Ranger and Jay Silverheels as Tonto: Moore is riding Silver, while Silverheels is riding Scout.

Jay Silverheels became most famous for his role as Tonto in The Lone Ranger TV series. He played Tonto for many years, from 1949 to 1957. He also appeared in the movies based on the show: The Lone Ranger (1956) and The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold (1958).

After The Lone Ranger ended, Silverheels often played Native American roles. He appeared in other TV shows like Rescue 8 and Love, American Style. He even worked as a salesman to earn more money. He also wrote and shared his poetry, which was inspired by his childhood on the Six Nations Reserve.

Later in his career, Silverheels often made jokes about his Tonto character. In 1969, he appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as Tonto, without the Lone Ranger, in a funny sketch. He also made commercials where he spoofed his famous role.

Jay Silverheels was also a strong supporter of Native American actors. In the early 1960s, he helped start the Indian Actors Workshop in Los Angeles. This workshop helped Native American actors improve their skills.

Personal Life

In his free time, Silverheels enjoyed raising and racing Standardbred horses. He was married twice and had six children: two sons (Steve and Jay Anthony Jr.) and four daughters (Marilyn, Gail, Pamela, and Karen). His son, Jay Anthony Jr., also became an actor.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1976, Jay Silverheels had a stroke. The next year, Clayton Moore, who played the Lone Ranger, rode a horse in a parade to honor Silverheels. Jay Silverheels passed away on March 5, 1980, at the age of 67, due to a stroke. His ashes were returned to the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario.

Jay Silverheels left a lasting legacy. In 1993, he was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1997, he was honored again by being inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame for his sports career.

Selected Filmography

Selected Television Appearances

Images for kids

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  Silverheels at The Meadows Racetrack in Pennsylvania, 1970s

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  Jay Silverheels' star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

See also

• Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood