Jay Silverheels, born Harold Jay Smith, was a celebrated Canadian actor and athlete. He was most famous for his role in the popular American TV series The Lone Ranger. His role as Tonto was not only iconic, but it made him a global star. Besides acting, Silverheels was an established athlete, especially in lacrosse. He played for several teams throughout the 1930s, along with his brothers and cousins.
Even though Jay Silverheels is no longer alive, he remains a legendary figure in both acting and sports. Like most fans, if you wish to delve deeper into his career journey and life story, you will find the details in this post.
Early Life
Jay Silverheels was born on 26th May 1912, on the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve in Ontario, Canada. His grandfather, A.G. Smith was a Mohawk Chief and his parents were Mabel Phoebe Dockstater and Captain Alexander George Edwin Smith.
Silverheels’ father was a decorated soldier who served in the battles of Ypres and Somme during World War I. Back then Silverheels was only four years old. Even after getting injured in the war, his father continued his military service and trained Polish-American recruits for the Blue Army.
Growing up, Silverheels was influenced by his culture, which played an important role in shaping his identity. He was a talented athlete from a young age and excelled in sports like lacrosse and boxing.
Career
Initially, Jay Silverheels was not interested in acting and pursued lacrosse as his career. While working as a stuntman and athlete in the Hollywood Studios, he started developing an interest in playing indigenous roles. With his striking presence and athletic skills, Silverheels caught the attention of casting directors. At first, he received minor roles in films like The Cowboy and the Indians.
His biggest acting break came when he was offered a role in The Lone Ranger, where he played Tonto. This made him a household name and an international star.
After The Lone Ranger, Silverheels worked in several other movies and television series. Some of his films that are worth mentioning are True Grit and The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing. Fast forward to 1966, he co-founded the Indian Actors Workshop, which helped Native American actors enter the film industry.
Personal Life
Talking about his personal life, Jay Silverheels married twice. His first wife was Bobbi Smith. It is not clear when they got married, but they divorced in 1943. Following that, he married Mary Diroma.
In terms of health, Silverheels suffered a stroke in 1976. Four years later, he had another stroke which took his life. He passed away at the age of 67 on 5th March 1980.
Net Worth
At the time of his death, Jay Silverheels’ net worth was around $1 million. A major chunk of his wealth came from his acting career. Before getting into acting, he earned a good amount from his lacrosse career. Despite his success, he lived a modest life and focused more on his family.
