John Lewis Hart (December 13, 1917 – September 20, 2009), also credited asJohn Hilton, was an American film and television actor. In his early career, Hart appeared mostly inwesterns. Although Hart played mostly minor roles in some fairly well known films, he was probably best known for playing the characterHawkeye in the TV seriesHawkeye and the Last of the Mohicans and replacingClayton Moore in thetelevision seriesThe Lone Ranger for one season (1952–53), as well as playing Dr. Stein in the 1973 cult classicBlackenstein.
Hart was eventually offered the opportunity to replace Clayton Moore onThe Lone Ranger television series. Based on the assumption that themasked character, rather than the actor, was the true star ofThe 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.[2] However, the public never truly accepted Hart as the Lone Ranger (his speaking voice was significantly different from Moore's), and by 1954 the producers returned Moore to the role. According to Clayton Moore's autobiographyI 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 ofThe 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 on the TV seriesI 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 serialThe Adventures of Captain Africa, which was originally intended to be a new movie about famous comic book heroThe Phantom. However, licensing issues forcedColumbia Pictures to re-film the entire serial and re-christen the hero "Captain Africa."[3] Hart also had numerous supporting roles in theHighway Patrol TV series. Interviewed by Tom Weaver in "Western Clippings" magazine (May–June 2000), Hart revealed that he met actress Beryl Braithwaite when she played a role in an episode of the series; they married just days later, with "Hawkeye" co-starLon Chaney Jr., the best man at the wedding.
In 1965 Hart made two brief appearances on the TV seriesPerry Mason, including the role of title character and murder victim Jamison Selff in "The Case of the Wrathful Wraith." In the 1970 filmThe Phynx, Hart played the Lone Ranger alongsideJay Silverheels as Tonto, spoofing their characters. Hart's last theatrical film appearance was in 1981'sThe Legend of the Lone Ranger in which he appeared as anewspapereditor. He appeared in the television seriesHappy Days as the Lone Ranger in the episode "Hi Yo, Fonzie Away" (February 9, 1982). In this episodeFonzie, played byHenry Winkler, meets his childhood hero, the Lone Ranger, for his birthday. Hart's other major late appearance was in an episode ofThe Greatest American Hero, "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys", in which Hart gives the title character an inspiring speech about heroism.
Hart was born in Los Angeles. His mother was named Enid, and he had a sister, Shari.[4] Hart attendedSouth Pasadena High School and later studied acting at the Pasadena Playhouse.[5] He and his wife Beryl had a daughter, Robyn.
