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John Hart

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
113

Gender
Male

Birthday
December 13, 1917 (108 years old)

Place of Birth
Los Angeles, California, USA

John Hart

Biography

John Lewis Hart, also credited as John Hilton was an American film and television actor. In his early career, Hart appeared mostly in Westerns. Although Hart played mostly minor roles in some fairly well known films, he was probably best known for having replaced Clayton Moore in 1952 in the television series, The Lone Ranger for one season from 1952 until 1953.

Hart began his screen career in 1937 with a bit part in Daughter of Shanghai. He continued in a variety of B pictures such as Prison Farm and King of Alcatraz before appearing in two of Cecil B. DeMille's films The Buccaneer and North West Mounted Police. In 1941, Hart's acting career was interrupted when he was drafted into the United States Army. He rose to the rank of first sergeant in the Coast Artillery and eventually served in the Philippines. Following his military service, Hart worked frequently for Sam Katzman; he was given the lead role in the Jack Armstrong film serial. Hart did stunt work and acted in numerous Westerns

Hart was eventually offered the opportunity to replace Clayton Moore on The Lone Ranger television series. 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. However, the public never truly accepted Hart as the Lone Ranger, and by 1954 the producers returned Moore to the role. According to Clayton Moore's autobiography I Was That Masked Man, Moore never knew why he was replaced by Hart, and also stated that he had not sought a pay increase. Hart acted in minor roles in two episodes of The Lone Ranger before being asked to replace Clayton Moore for the entire third season. The episodes were "Rifles and Renegades" (#34) and "Sheriff at Gunstock" (#46).

Hart continued to act in films for more than two decades, appearing in films of several genres, almost always in supporting roles. Hart appeared twice in on the TV series I Love Lucy as Lucy's old boyfriend and again in the Hollywood episodes as a lifeguard at the hotel pool. In 1955, Hart starred in The Adventures of Captain Africa, which was originally intended to be a new movie about famous comic book hero The Phantom. However, licensing issues forced Columbia Pictures re-film the entire serial and re-christen the hero "Captain Africa." Hart also had numerous supporting roles in the Highway Patrol TV series. In 1965 Hart made two brief appearances on the TV series Perry Mason, including the role of title character and murder victim Jamison Selff in "The Case of the Wrathful Wraith." In the 1970 film The Phynx, Hart played the Lone Ranger alongside Jay Silverheels as Tonto, spoofing their characters. Hart's last theatrical film appearance was in 1981's The Legend of the Lone Ranger in which he appeared as a newspaper editor. He appeared in the television series Happy Days as the Lone Ranger in the episode "Hi Yo, Fonzie Away". In this episode Fonzie, played by Henry Winkler, meets his childhood hero, the Lone Ranger, for his birthday. Hart's other major late appearance was in an episode of The Greatest American Hero, My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys, where Hart gives the title character an inspiring speech about heroism.

Known For

Acting

2018Hope & Fury: MLK, the Movement and the Mediaas Self (archive footage)
2017The Ninetiesas Self (archive footage)
1994The Bible According to Hollywoodas Self
1981The Legend of the Lone Rangeras Lucas Striker
1981The Greatest American Heroas Lone Ranger
1978The Gift of Loveas Justice of the Peace
1978Kate Bliss and the Ticker Tape Kidas Jake Terry
1978Samas
1978The Astral Factoras Harbormaster
1976Blood Voyageas Jules
1975Gemini Affairas Bob
1974Only with Married Menas Minister
1974The Great Ice Rip-Offas Klein Salesman
1974The Centerfold Girlsas Sheriff
1974Welcome to Arrow Beachas Doctor
1974Get Christie Love!as Sgt. Mallory
1974Happy Daysas
1973Blackensteinas Dr. Stein
1973The Roommatesas Sheriff Sam
1973Bonnie's Kidsas Sheriff with Sunglasses
1970The Phynxas Lone Ranger
1968Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?as Policeman (uncredited)
1967Riot on Sunset Stripas Pritchard
1966Hold On!as Detective #2
1965The Cincinnati Kidas Poker Player (uncredited)
1965Day of the Nightmareas Dr. Philip Crane
1965The Sandpiperas Trooper (uncredited)
196436 Hoursas Lt. Cmdr. Perkins (uncredited)
1964The Addams Familyas Scotty
1964Marnieas Dr. Gilliat (uncredited)
1964Viva Las Vegasas Casino Patron (uncredited)
1964The Long Rifle and the Tomahawkas Nat 'Hawkeye' Cutler
1964Mondo Infernoas Commentator
1963The Lieutenantas Capt. Adam Quincy
1963The Courtship of Eddie's Fatheras State Trooper (uncredited)
1962Mister Magoo's Christmas Carolas Billings / Stage Manager / Milkman (voice)
1961Ben Caseyas
1961Atlantis: The Lost Continentas Nobleman (uncredited)
1961Go Naked in the Worldas Club Doorman (uncredited)
1961Gunslingeras Corporal
1960Maigretas Character in Corridor (uncredited)
1960The Case of the Dangerous Robinas Pilot
1960Pete and Gladysas
1960National Velvetas
1960The Subterraneansas Cop (uncredited)
1960Noose for a Gunmanas Dave Barker - Avery Gunman (uncredited)
1959Vice Raidas Blond Gunman at Office Door
1959The Diary of a High School Brideas Policeman
1959Rawhideas Harley Lear
1959Rawhideas Narbo
1959Rawhideas Nate Johnson
1959Rawhideas Posseman
1959Rawhideas Rep
1959Rawhideas Sheriff
1959Rawhideas Slim
1959Rawhideas Spence
1958Bat Mastersonas Jacobs
1958Bat Mastersonas Wilson
1958Wolf Dogas Andy Bates (uncredited)
1957Leave It to Beaveras Troop #21 Scoutmaster Norton
1957Perry Masonas Dion
1957Perry Masonas Jamison Selff
1957Hawkeye and the Last of the Mohicansas Hawkeye
1957Tales of Wells Fargoas Weaver
1957Along the Mohawk Trailas Nat 'Hawkeye' Cutler
1956The Ten Commandmentsas Cretan Ambassador (uncredited)
1955The Crooked Webas
1955Last of the Desperadosas ?
1955Highway Patrolas Sergeant at Headquarters
1955Sergeant Preston of the Yukonas
1955Gunsmokeas Crowd member (uncredited)
1955Adventures of Captain Africaas Captain Africa
1955Dial Red Oas Uniformed Deputy (uncredited)
1955The Man Who Loved Redheadsas Sergei
1953The Great Adventures of Captain Kiddas Mate Jenkins
1953Prince of Piratesas Captain of the Guards (uncredited)
1952The Pathfinderas British Sergeant
1952Caribbeanas Stuart
1952Kansas Territoryas Matt Furness
1952Gang Bustersas
1952Jungle Jim in the Forbidden Landas Commissioner's Secretary
1952The Living Bibleas Matthew
1951Stage to Blue Riveras Frederick Kingsley
1951The Longhornas Moresby
1951Warpathas Sgt. Plennert
1951I Love Lucyas Lifeguard
1951I Love Lucyas Tom Henderson
1951Schlitz Playhouse of Starsas
1951Stagecoach Driveras Slim Cole
1951Fury of the Congoas Guard
1950Revenue Agentas U.S. Border Patroman
1950Champagne for Caesaras Executive No. 4
1949Cowboy and the Prizefighteras Mark Palmer
1949The Fighting Redheadas Faro Savage
1949The Lone Rangeras Duke
1949The Lone Rangeras The Lone Ranger
1949Joe Palooka in the Counterpunchas Pedro
1949Special Agentas Ranch Foreman Frank Kent (as John Hilton)
1949El Pasoas
1948Joe Palooka in Winner Take Allas Army Sergeant George Malone
1947Brick Bradfordas Dent
1947Jack Armstrongas Jack Armstrong
1947Vacation Daysas Big Jim
1946Son of the Guardsmanas Martin, Bullard soldier (uncredited)
1940North West Mounted Policeas Constable Norman
1939$1,000 a Touchdownas Buck (uncredited)
1939Persons in Hidingas Male Stenographer
1939Disbarredas First Reporter
1938Illegal Trafficas Davis
1938King of Alcatrazas 1st Radio Operator
1938Prison Farmas 'Texas' Jack
1938Hunted Menas Young Man at Party
1937Daughter of Shanghaias Sailor (uncredited)

Production