
John Hart
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







Credits
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Self (archive footage)★ NR
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The Nineties 2017Self (archive footage)★ 6.8
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Self★ 6
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Lucas Striker★ 4.8
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Lone Ranger★ 7.2
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The Gift of Love 1978Justice of the Peace★ 6
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Jake Terry★ 5
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Sam 1978★ NR
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The Astral Factor 1978Harbormaster★ 4
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Blood Voyage 1976Jules★ 4.3
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Gemini Affair 1975Bob★ 1
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Minister★ 5
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Klein Salesman★ 7
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The Centerfold Girls 1974Sheriff★ 5.3
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Doctor★ 5
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Happy Days 1974★ 7.6
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Blackenstein 1973Dr. Stein★ 3.1
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The Roommates 1973Sheriff Sam★ 5.1
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Bonnie's Kids 1973Sheriff with Sunglasses★ 5.5
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The Phynx 1970The Lone Ranger★ 3.5
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Policeman (uncredited)★ 5.2
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Riot on Sunset Strip 1967Pritchard★ 4.3
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Hold On! 1966Detective #2★ 5
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The Cincinnati Kid 1965Poker Player (uncredited)★ 7
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Day of the Nightmare 1965Dr. Philip Crane★ 5.1
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The Sandpiper 1965Trooper (uncredited)★ 6.4
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36 Hours 1964Lt. Cmdr. Perkins (uncredited)★ 7
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The Addams Family 1964Scotty★ 8
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Marnie 1964Dr. Gilliat (uncredited)★ 7.1
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Viva Las Vegas 1964Casino Patron (uncredited)★ 6.2
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Nat 'Hawkeye' Cutler★ NR
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Mondo Inferno 1964Commentator★ 5
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The Lieutenant 1963Capt. Adam Quincy★ 6
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State Trooper (uncredited)★ 6
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Billings / Stage Manager / Milkman (voice)★ 6.3
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Ben Casey 1961★ 5.6
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Nobleman (uncredited)★ 5.2
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Club Doorman (uncredited)★ 5
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Maigret 1960Character in Corridor (uncredited)★ 6.9
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Pilot★ NR
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Pete and Gladys 1960★ 6.5
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National Velvet 1960★ 7.5
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The Subterraneans 1960Cop (uncredited)★ 4.8
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Noose for a Gunman 1960Dave Barker - Avery Gunman (uncredited)★ 5.3
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Vice Raid 1959Blond Gunman at Office Door★ 6.2
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Policeman★ 4.6
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Rawhide 1959Narbo★ 7.1
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Bat Masterson 1958Wilson★ 6.1
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Wolf Dog 1958Andy Bates (uncredited)★ 6.5
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Leave It to Beaver 1957Troop #21 Scoutmaster Norton★ 6.9
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Perry Mason 1957Dion★ 7.7
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Hawkeye★ 4.8
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Tales of Wells Fargo 1957Weaver★ 6.6
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Nat 'Hawkeye' Cutler★ NR
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The Ten Commandments 1956Cretan Ambassador (uncredited)★ 7.8
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The Crooked Web 1955★ 5.9
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?★ 6
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Highway Patrol 1955Sergeant at Headquarters★ 5.8
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★ 5.7
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Gunsmoke 1955Crowd member (uncredited)★ 6.6
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Captain Africa★ 6
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Dial Red O 1955Uniformed Deputy (uncredited)★ 5.2
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Sergei★ 5.1
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Mate Jenkins★ 4
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Prince of Pirates 1953Captain of the Guards (uncredited)★ 7.5
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The Pathfinder 1952British Sergeant★ 4
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Caribbean 1952Stuart★ 5.8
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Kansas Territory 1952U.S. Marshal Matt Furness★ NR
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Gang Busters 1952★ NR
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The Living Bible 1952Matthew★ 6
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Stage to Blue River 1951Frederick Kingsley★ NR
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The Longhorn 1951Moresby★ 5.7
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Warpath 1951Sgt. Plennert★ 5.8
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I Love Lucy 1951Lifeguard★ 7.9
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★ 7.3
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Stagecoach Driver 1951Slim Cole★ NR
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Revenue Agent 1950U.S. Border Patroman★ 1
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Champagne for Caesar 1950Executive No. 4★ 7.1
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Mark Palmer★ NR
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The Fighting Redhead 1949Faro Savage★ 5.8
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The Lone Ranger 1949The Lone Ranger★ 6.7
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Pedro★ NR
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Special Agent 1949Ranch Foreman Frank Kent (as John Hilton)★ NR
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El Paso 1949★ 5.7
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Army Sergeant George Malone★ 6
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Brick Bradford 1947Dent★ 6
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Jack Armstrong 1947Jack Armstrong★ NR
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Vacation Days 1947Big Jim★ 4
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Son of the Guardsman 1946Martin, Bullard soldier (uncredited)★ 5
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Constable Norman★ 6.3
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$1,000 a Touchdown 1939Buck (uncredited)★ 2
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Persons in Hiding 1939Male Stenographer★ 3.5
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Disbarred 1939First Reporter★ 6
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Illegal Traffic 1938Davis★ 6.5
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King of Alcatraz 19381st Radio Operator★ 5.7
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Prison Farm 1938'Texas' Jack★ 5.7
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Hunted Men 1938Young Man at Party★ 6
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Daughter of Shanghai 1937Sailor (uncredited)★ 5.4