Tonto

Tonto is the Native-American partner of the Lone Ranger. He is from the Pottawatamie tribe.

Tonto

Origin

In most versions of the Lone Ranger story, Tonto is the last surviving member of a wandering band of Pottawatamie indians. His tribe, in some versions including a sister, is massacred when he is young boy. A white boy named John Reid finds Tonto still alive and cares for him until he heals. Before they part company, Tonto gives Reid a ring, and calls him "Kemosabe," which means "faithful friend" or "trusty scout."

Years later, Tonto is hunting when he comes upon the scene of the ambush in Bryant's Gap, finding five dead Texas Rangers and one barely alive. He recognizes the living Ranger as the boy who helped him long ago, and now cares for him. He buries the other five Rangers, but digs six graves, to make the outlaws believe all six men were killed. When Reid decides to put on a mask and become the Lone Ranger, Tonto vows his loyalty to his friend and joins him in his pursuit of law and order.

Radio

Actor John Todd played Tonto almost exclusively on the radio series from 1933 to 1954. He even carried the majority of the action during the transition between Rangers Earle Graser and Brace Beemer, when the Lone Ranger character was injured and could not speak above a whisper.

Television

For the entire run of the television series, 1949-1957, Tonto was portrayed by Jay Silverheels. Silverheels appeared in every one of the 221 episodes alongside both Clayton Moore and John Hart.

For the WB network's ill-received 2003 TV movie, Nathaniel Arcand assumed the role of Tonto. His performance was said to be one of the few highlights of the project. His Tonto was much more articulate, and much more of his own character than the previous interpretations of the character.

Films

Chief Thundercloud played Tonto in both the 1936 serial "The Lone Ranger" and the 1938 serial "The Lone Ranger Rides Again." This was the first time Tonto was seen on film.

Jay Silverheels brought television's Tonto to the silver screen in 1956's feature film "The Lone Ranger" and the 1958 sequel "The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold."

Michael Horse assumed the role for 1981's "The Legend of the Lone Ranger." In this version Tonto's pidgin english was gone and we saw Tonto teach the Ranger most of his skills. Tonto even introduces the silver bullets claiming silver is more accurate than lead.

Dynamite Entertainment

In Dynamite Entertainment's 2006 comic book series Tonto is a much larger man than we are used to seeing. The childhood friendship betwwen Tonto and the Ranger has been eliminated and the two have a fairly uneasy alliance, although Tonto seems to see something special in the Ranger that compells him to stick with him.