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. DeMilles films The Buccaneer and North West Mounted Police. In 1941, Harts 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 WesternsHart 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 programs 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 Moores 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 Lucys 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. Harts last theatrical film appearance was in 1981s 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. Harts 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.
Casino Patron (uncredited)
Film 1964
Sheriff with Sunglasses
Film 1973
U.S. Border Patroman
Film 1950
Jake Terry
Film 1978
Film 1955
Captain of the Guards (uncredited)
Film 1953
Uniformed Deputy (uncredited)
Film 1955
The Lone Ranger
Film 1970
Andy Bates (uncredited)
Film 1958
Poker Player (uncredited)
Film 1965
Dr. Gilliat (uncredited)
Film 1964
Big Jim
Film 1947
Cretan Ambassador (uncredited)
Film 1956
Male Stenographer
Film 1939
Minister
Film 1974
Mate Jenkins
Film 1953
Billings / Stage Manager / Milkman (voice)
Film 1962
Lucas Striker
Film 1981
Faro Savage
Film 1949
Sheriff
Film 1974
Dr. Stein
Film 1973
Dr. Philip Crane
Film 1965
Nobleman (uncredited)
Film 1961
State Trooper (uncredited)
Film 1963
Captain Africa
Film 1955
Matthew
Film 1952
Lt. Cmdr. Perkins (uncredited)
Film 1964
Dave Barker - Avery Gunman (uncredited)
Film 1960
Dent
Film 1947
Policeman (uncredited)
Film 1968
Jack Armstrong
Film 1947
Trooper (uncredited)
Film 1965
Ranch Foreman Frank Kent (as John Hilton)
Film 1949
Constable Norman
Film 1940
Bob
Film 1975
Jules
Film 1976
Sheriff Sam
Film 1973
Film 1949
Moresby
Film 1951
Frederick Kingsley
Film 1951
'Texas' Jack
Film 1938
Mark Palmer
Film 1949
U.S. Marshal Matt Furness
Film 1952
Blond Gunman at Office Door
Film 1959
Slim Cole
Film 1951
Doctor
Film 1974
Nat 'Hawkeye' Cutler
Film 1957
Nat 'Hawkeye' Cutler
Film 1964
Pritchard
Film 1967
?
Film 1955
Commentator
Film 1964
Executive No. 4
Film 1950
Klein Salesman
Film 1974
First Reporter
Film 1939
1st Radio Operator
Film 1938
Buck (uncredited)
Film 1939
Self (archive footage)
Film 2018
Army Sergeant George Malone
Film 1948
Pedro
Film 1949
Self
Film 1994
British Sergeant
Film 1952
Cop (uncredited)
Film 1960
Davis
Film 1938
Policeman
Film 1959
Stuart
Film 1952
Martin, Bullard soldier (uncredited)
Film 1946
Club Doorman (uncredited)
Film 1961
Sailor (uncredited)
Film 1937
Young Man at Party
Film 1938
Tv 1974
Weaver
Tv 1957
Dion
Tv 1957
Troop #21 Scoutmaster Norton
Tv 1957
Sergeant at Headquarters
Tv 1955
Narbo
Tv 1959
Lifeguard
Tv 1951
Tv 1960
Hawkeye
Tv 1957
Tv 1960
Wilson
Tv 1958
Tv 1961
Scotty
Tv 1964
Tv 1955
Tv 1978
Tv 1952
Capt. Adam Quincy
Tv 1963
The Lone Ranger
Tv 1949
Spence
Tv 1959
Nate Johnson
Tv 1959
Sheriff
Tv 1959
Rep
Tv 1959
Harley Lear
Tv 1959
Self (archive footage)
Tv 2017
Jacobs
Tv 1958
Jamison Selff
Tv 1957
Duke
Tv 1949
Pilot
Tv 1960
Crowd member (uncredited)
Tv 1955
Character in Corridor (uncredited)
Tv 1960
Tv 1951
Lone Ranger
Tv 1981
Slim
Tv 1959
Tom Henderson
Tv 1951