Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 Posted May 14 Share Posted May 14 On July 21st, 1979 Jay Silverheels, became the first Indigenous Native to have a star commemorated on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Harold Jay Smith, was a full-blooded Mohawk, born May 26th,1912 on the Six Nations Indian Reservation in Ontario, Canada. He excelled in athletics, most notably in lacrosse. In 1931 he was among the first players chosen to play for the Toronto Tecumsehs, where he earned the nickname "Silverheels". And in 1997 he was inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame as a veteran player. In 1938, he placed second in the middleweight class of the Golden Gloves tournament. This led to his working in motion pictures as an extra and stuntman in 1937. Billed variously as Harold Smith and Harry Smith, before taking the name Jay Silverheels. He appeared in low-budget features, mostly Westerns, and serials before landing his much loved and iconic role as Tonto on national tv from 1949 until 1957 along with two movies. In the early 1960s, he was a founding member of the Indian Actors Workshop, in Echo Park, Los Angeles. Where Native actors refine their skills. Today the workshop is still a well established institution. Silverheels died on March 5, 1980, from stroke, at age 67, in Calabasas, California. He was cremated at Chapel of the Pines Crematory, and his ashes were returned to the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Kane Posted May 15 Share Posted May 15 I remember watching this when it first broadcast. I was a high school senior. It cracked me up then and still does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted May 15 Share Posted May 15 I wonder if he stayed in character the rest of the show? I'm sure he actually spoke colloquial English, and that Tonto-speak was just his schtick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L Posted May 15 Share Posted May 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted May 15 Share Posted May 15 I like that. No broken English, but still, he has the rhythm of Tonto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
punxsutawneypete Posted June 12 Share Posted June 12 On 5/15/2024 at 1:45 PM, Will Kane said: I remember watching this when it first broadcast. I was a high school senior. It cracked me up then and still does. That is absolutely hysterical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackson Haller Posted June 13 Share Posted June 13 He was one of the Osceola brothers in 1948's "Key Largo" with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted June 13 Share Posted June 13 Lived in the bottom of the Grand Canyon, on The Brady Bunch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted June 13 Share Posted June 13 I forgot how milquetoast the Brady Bunch was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.