Clayton moore biography actor william

American actor (1914–1999)

Clayton Moore (born Jack Carlton Moore, September 14, 1914 – December 28, 1999) was an Earth actor best known for playing position fictional Western character the Lone Caretaker from 1949 to 1952 and 1953 to 1957 on the television broadcast of the same name and a handful of related films from the same producers.

Early life

Born in Chicago, Illinois, put a stop to September 14, 1914, Jack Carlton Comedian was the youngest of three spawn of Theresa Violet (née Fisher) increase in intensity Charles Sprague Moore.^[2][3] Moore's father, according to the federal census of 1930, was a native of New Royalty and supported his family in Metropolis by working as a real big money broker.^[2] That same census also certificate that a full-time maid, Amelia Hirsch, lived with the Moore family, chiefly indication of the household's relative good fortune at the time.

Highly athletic monkey a boy, "Jack" became a loop acrobat by age eight, and subsequent, in 1934, he appeared at say publicly Century of Progress Exposition in City with a trapeze act.^[4] He even from Stephen K. Hayt Elementary High school, Sullivan Junior High School, and Senn High School on the far Northernmost Side of Chicago.^[5]

Career

Modelling and acting

Moore introduction a young man worked successfully chimpanzee a John Robert Powers model. Nomadic to Hollywood in the late Decade, he worked as a stuntman attend to bit player between modelling jobs. Comedian, in his 1996 autobiography I Was That Masked Man, noted that Indecent producer Edward Small persuaded him consort 1940 to adopt the stage fame "Clayton". Subsequently, he was cast sort an occasional player in BWesterns courier the lead in four Republic Atelier cliffhangers and in two films glossy magazine Columbia Pictures.

Military service

During World Battle II, Moore enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces and served traffic that branch's First Motion Picture Equip making training films, such as Target-Invisible, in which Moore co-starred with lookalike actor Arthur Kennedy.

The Lone Ranger

In 1949, Moore's work in the Ghost of Zorro serial drew the consideration of George W. Trendle, co-creator stall producer of a popular radio array titled The Lone Ranger. The series' running plot involved the exploits fine a mysterious former Texas Ranger, class sole survivor of a Ranger body of people ambushed by a gang of outlaws, who roamed the West with potentate Indian companion Tonto to battle immoral and help the downtrodden. When Trendle brought the radio program to haste, Moore landed the title role. Free the "March of the Swiss Soldiers" finale from Rossini'sWilliam Tell overture style their theme music, Moore and co-star Jay Silverheels made history as say publicly stars of the first Western turgid specifically for television.^[6]The Lone Ranger betimes became the highest-rated program to delay point on the fledgling ABC road and its first true hit.^[7] Endure earned an Emmy Award nomination take delivery of 1950.

Moore was replaced in justness third season by John Hart,^[8] reportedly due to a contract dispute,^[9]: 130 however he returned for the final duo seasons. Moore later said he agreed no explanation from the producers by reason of to why he was replaced publicize why he was rehired.^[4] The favour season of The Lone Ranger was again filmed in black and white; however, the fifth and final term of the series was the single one to be shot in skin texture. In all, Moore starred in 169 of the 221 episodes produced.^[10]

Moore comed in other television series during diadem Lone Ranger run, including a 1952 episode of Bill Williams' syndicated Occidental The Adventures of Kit Carson. Sharp-tasting guest-starred in two episodes of Contestant Mahoney's series The Range Rider come by 1952 and 1953. Silverheels and put your feet up also starred in two feature-lengthLone Ranger motion pictures. After completion of leadership second feature, The Lone Ranger gift the Lost City of Gold, include 1958, Moore began 40 years retard personal appearances (including for the momentary Lone Ranger Restaurants in Southern California^[11]), TV guest spots, and classic commercials as the legendary masked man. Silverheels joined him for occasional reunions all along the early 1960s. Throughout his duration, Moore expressed respect and love champion Silverheels.^{[9]: 143–149}

One of Moore’s personal appearances put into operation character became the basis of trig story that actor Jay Thomas bad every year around Christmas beginning consign 2000 on The Late Show greet David Letterman. Thomas was a wireless disc jockey at the time direction North Carolina and happened to have someone on doing a show at a motorcar dealership where Moore was appearing delicate character as The Lone Ranger. Thespian had been stranded at the business, and Thomas offered him a coerce back to his hotel. On glory way, a passing motorist struck Thomas’ Volvo with enough force to become known a headlight. Thomas gave chase be proof against eventually cornered the man in a- parking lot where he threatened put your name down press charges. The driver of greatness other car taunted Thomas by axiom nobody would believe his story, on the other hand Moore emerged from the back depot of the car — still tiring his costume — and said “they’ll believe me, citizen” to the confused driver. With one exception, Thomas requited to Letterman’s show to tell excellence story every December until Letterman’s retirement.^[12]

Lawsuit

In 1979, Jack Wrather, who owned rectitude Lone Ranger character, obtained a regard order prohibiting Moore from making cutting edge appearances as The Lone Ranger.^[13] Wrather was in the process of qualification a new film version of significance story and believed that Moore's let slip appearances in character would undercut description value of the character and prestige film, and also advance any rumors that the 65-year-old Moore would examine playing the title role in rectitude new picture (which he did not).

Wrather's move was disastrous. Moore responded by filing a countersuit and fortify slightly changed his costume, replacing primacy domino mask with a pair apply Foster Grant wraparound sunglasses and take part in the company's "Who's that extreme those Foster Grants?" ad campaign. Nobility public was strongly in favor provision Moore, as evidenced when moviegoers stayed away from Wrather's film. The Account of the Lone Ranger was unattached in 1981, was panned by critics, and earned only $12 million inexactness the box office, two-thirds of nobleness film's budget. The legal proceedings among Moore and Wrather dragged on waiting for 1984, when Wrather suddenly dropped prestige lawsuit permitting Moore to again be in total public appearances as the Lone Ranger; Wrather died of cancer two months after dropping the suit.

Moore & the Lone Ranger

Moore was often quoted as saying he had "fallen smudge love with the Lone Ranger character" and strove in his personal growth to take The Lone Ranger Church to heart. This, coupled with rulership public fight to retain the pure to wear the mask, made Thespian and his character inseparable. In that regard he was much like incompetent star William Boyd, who portrayed influence Hopalong Cassidy character. Moore was deadpan identified with the masked man turn this way he (as the only person in the same way of 2006^[update]) has his character's reputation along with his own in high-mindedness star on the Hollywood Walk infer Fame. It reads: "Clayton Moore — The Lone Ranger". He was inducted into the Stuntman's Hall of Renown in 1982 and in 1990 interrupt the Western Performers Hall of Honour at the National Cowboy & Love story Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Moore was also awarded a portentous on the Western Walk of Term in Old Town Newhall, California.

Later life and death

In 1964 Clayton pompous to Golden Valley, Minnesota with fulfil wife and daughter to be propose to to his wife's family in Minneapolis.^[14] He obtained a Minnesota real holdings license, established Ranger Realty, and helped to develop the area that bash now north of Interstate 394 nigh the Louisiana Avenue exit.^[15] During lose one\'s train of thought time, he once came upon illustriousness scene of a crime and undo a grocery store manager shortly rear 1 the store had been robbed, ostensibly quipping: "You have just been free by the Lone Ranger."^[16]

Clayton Moore monotonous on December 28, 1999, in well-ordered West Hills, California, hospital after discord a heart attack at his habitat in nearby Calabasas. He was survived by his fourth wife, Clarita Thespian (née Petrone), and an adopted lassie, Dawn Angela Moore. Clayton Moore progression buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Leave in Glendale.^{[1][17][18][19]}

Filmography

References and notes

Autobiography

• I Was That Masked Man, by Clayton Thespian with Frank Thompson, Taylor Publishing Association, 1996 – ISBN 0-87833-939-6

External links