Facts About Late Jay Silverheels - American Actor and Athlete

Jay Silverheels was a Mohawk athlete turned actor, best known as a Tonto for the role he played in the 1950s hit western TV series 'The Lone Ranger'. He was born on May 26, 1912, in Six Nations of the Grand River, Ontario, Canada.  

Harold Jay Smith was the third son of eleven children of A.G.E Smith and Mabel Phoebe Doxtater among eight sons and three daughters. His grandparents were Mohawk Chief A.G. Smith and Mary Wedge.

Here are 10 Facts about the late actor Jay Silverheels.

Cause of Death 

Jay Silverheels died at the age of 67 with the complications of a stroke on March 5, 1980, in Calabasas, California. In 1976, he suffered a stroke, which led him to death the following year. 

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Silverheels' body was cremated at Chapel of the Pines Crematory located at 1605 South Catalina Street, Los Angeles, where his ashes were returned to his birthplace in the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario, Canada.

Net Worth Before Death

Jay Silverheels had accumulated a net worth of $1 million throughout his career before he passed away in 1980. He was a Lone Ranger who took a bag full of cash from a western hit series of the 1950s with the role of Tonto. In addition, he also earned a good amount of money as a lacrosse player.

House in Cali

Jay used to live in a lavish house in Calabasas, Los Angeles County, California with his family. According to RedFin, the house in Calabasas cost no less than $500,000.

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Athlete 

The Lone Ranger actor was an athlete before he entered to film industry. He was a star Lacrosse player as Harry Smith with the "Iroquois" of Rochester, New York in the 1930s. 

Silverheels was also a boxer, who competed as a middleweight class in the Golden Gloves tournament at New York City's Madison Square Garden and got second place in 1938.

Mary Diroma - Wife 

Mary Diroma was the love of the life of Canadian actor Jay Silverheels. The couple got married in 1946 and shared four children together. The lovebird split with the death of Silverheels in 1980.

Past Relation 

The Phynx actor Silverheels was married twice in his life, Where Bobbi Smith was his first wife. The former couple got divorced in 1943, and the duo shared a daughter. He was also in a relationship with Edna Lickers before he got engaged with Smith.

Five Kids

Jay Silverheels was the father of five children; three daughters 'Marilyn', 'Pamela', and 'Karen' and two sons; 'Joseph' and 'Jay Silverheels Jr'. Marilyn was the daughter of Silverheels with his ex-wife Bobbi Smith. 

Pamela is the daughter of Silverheels with his wife Mary Diroma, who was born on 6th March 1955. Karen was born on 28th October 1957 and daughter of Silverheels and Mary Diroma. 

Joseph is the son of Mary Diroma and Silverhells, who was born on June 6, 1959. Jay is the son of Silverhells with his wife Mary Diroma and was born on May 15, 1961, in Los Angeles, California, United States. He is an actor in the hit movie Kid Power (1972).

Legacy 

Jay Silverheels was honored with a star on the Walk of Fame on 19th July 1979 at 6536 Hollywood Blvd, Street in Los Angeles, California. 

He was also inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers in 1993 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma, United States.

Avid Horse Lover

Besides Jay Silverhell's busy schedule, he used to spend his time with his Standardbred horses. Once when he was asked about the thought of running Tonto's paint horse Scout in a race, he laughed and answered; Heck, I can beat Scout.

Heart Attack 

In 1955, Jay Silverheels suffered a heart attack, while filming 'The Lone Ranger'.  He didn't appear for over eight weeks until he recovered, where the stuntman Chuck Courtney played the role of Dan Reid, Long Ranger's nephew replacing him until he was back.

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