Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

Chief Thundercloud

 
Actor: Chief Thundercloud
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Actors
  • Born: Apr 12, 1899 in Muskogee, Oklahoma
  • Died: Nov 30, 1955 in California
  • Occupation: Actor
  • Active: '30s-'40s
  • Major Genres: Western, Action
  • Career Highlights: Lone Ranger Rides Again
  • First Major Screen Credit: Lone Ranger Rides Again (1939)

Biography

Though the "Chief" was a purely honorary title, Chief Thundercloud was indeed a Native American. Educated at the University of Arizona, Thundercloud (given name: Victor Daniels) worked at a series of manual-labor and rodeo jobs before trying his luck in Hollywood. In films from 1928 through 1952, Thundercloud is best known for creating the role of Tonto in the 1938 serial The Lone Ranger. He also played the title role in Paramount's Geronimo (1939), though he incredibly received no on-screen credit. Chief Thundercloud should not be confused with another prominent Indian actor, Chief Thunderbird, who appeared as Sitting Bull in 1936's Annie Oakley, nor with film-actor Scott T. Williams, who also billed himself as Chief Thundercloud. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Search unanswered questions...

Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics

Wikipedia: Chief Thundercloud
Top
Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Chief Thundercloud
Born Victor Daniels
12 April 1899
Muskogee, Indian Territory, United States
Died 1 December 1955
Ventura, California, United States
Occupation Film actor
Spouse(s) Frances Delmar

Chief Thundercloud, real name Victor Daniels, (12 April 1899 - 1 December 1955) was an American character actor in westerns.

Information about Thundercloud is vague. Most biographies state that he was a full blooded Cherokee (or Muskogee), although others state that he had some German, Scottish and/or Irish ancestors; and that he was educated at the University of Arizona, although no record exists of his enrollment[1]. The pressbook for The Lone Ranger Rides Again announced his parents as "Dark Cloud and Morning Star, artistocrats of the Muskogee tribe"[2] but his death certificate lists his father as "Joseph Mahawa."[1]

Daniels worked many jobs before becoming a stuntman. From there he graduated to character actor status. His title "Chief" was a Hollywood invention. He had the title role in Geronimo (1939) and played Tonto in both Republic Lone Ranger serials, The Lone Ranger (1938) and The Lone Ranger Rides Again (1939).

In later years, he worked with other western actors, performing in live shows at the Corriganville ranch. His interment was located in Glendale's Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery.

References

  1. ^ a b B-Westerns, retrieved 11 August 2007
  2. ^ The Lone Ranger Rides Again pressbook, via B-Westerns, retrieved 11 August 2007

External links


Stub icon This biographical article related to film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Actor. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Chief Thundercloud".  Read more