The only diversion from this image since then has been Johnny Depp's depiction in Disney's 2013 film, The Lone Ranger, its most recent portrayal. This serial established the better-remembered image of Tonto as a handsome young tribal warrior in buckskins. To this point, Tonto had been depicted, on the radio series, as a somewhat elderly sidekick.
Ĭhief Thundercloud played the character in the Republic movie serials The Lone Ranger and The Lone Ranger Rides Again. Throughout the radio run (which spanned 21 years), with only a few exceptions, Tonto was played by American actor John Todd.
Though he became well known as the Lone Ranger's friend, Tonto was originally created just so the Lone Ranger would have someone to talk to. Tonto made his first appearance on the 11th episode of the radio show, which originated on the Detroit, Michigan, radio station WXYZ. Tonto has appeared in radio and television series and other presentations of the characters' adventures righting wrongs in 19th-century western United States. Tonto is a fictional character he is the Native American (either Tonto Apache, Comanche, or Potawatomi) companion of the Lone Ranger, a popular American Western character created by George W. WXYZ radio Detroit, Michigan, USA February 25, 1933
Jay Silverheels (right) as Tonto with Clayton Moore as the Lone Ranger in the TV adaptation