<P> Jay Silverheels ( born Harold Preston Smith , May 26 , 1912 -- March 5 , 1980 ) was a Mohawk Canadian actor and athlete . He was well known for his role as Tonto , the faithful Indian companion of the Lone Ranger in the long - running American western television series , The Lone Ranger . </P>
<P> Jay Silverheels ( born Harold Preston Smith , May 26 , 1912 -- March 5 , 1980 ) was a Mohawk Canadian actor and athlete . He was well known for his role as Tonto , the faithful Indian companion of the Lone Ranger in the long - running American western television series , The Lone Ranger . </P>
who played tonto in the original lone ranger series
who played tonto in the original lone ranger series
Jay Silverheels ( born Harold Preston Smith
Jay Silverheels ( born Harold Preston Smith