John Hart

Born: 1917-12-13

John Lewis Hart, also credited as John Hilton was an American film and television actor. In his early career, Hart appeared mostly in Westerns. Although Hart played mostly minor roles in some fairly well known films, he was probably best known for having replaced Clayton Moore in 1952 in the television series, The Lone Ranger for one season from 1952 until 1953. Hart began his screen career in 1937 with a bit part in Daughter of Shanghai. He continued in a variety of B pictures such as Prison Farm and King of Alcatraz before appearing in two of Cecil B. DeMille's films The Buccaneer and North West Mounted Police. In 1941, Hart's acting career was interrupted when he was drafted into the United States Army. He rose to the rank of first sergeant in the Coast Artillery and eventually served in the Philippines. Following his military service, Hart worked frequently for Sam Katzman; he was given the lead role in the Jack Armstrong film serial. Hart did stunt work and acted in numerous Westerns Hart was eventually offered the opportunity to replace Clayton Moore on The Lone Ranger television series. Based on the assumption that the masked character, rather than the actor, was the true star of The Lone Ranger, the program's producers fired Moore (presumably over salary differences) and replaced him with Hart, who was of a similar build and had a comparable background in Westerns. However, the public never truly accepted Hart as the Lone Ranger, and by 1954 the producers returned Moore to the role. According to Clayton Moore's autobiography I Was That Masked Man, Moore never knew why he was replaced by Hart, and also stated that he had not sought a pay increase. Hart acted in minor roles in two episodes of The Lone Ranger before being asked to replace Clayton Moore for the entire third season. The episodes were "Rifles and Renegades" (#34) and "Sheriff at Gunstock" (#46). Hart continued to act in films for more than two decades, appearing in films of several genres, almost always in supporting roles. Hart appeared twice in on the TV series I Love Lucy as Lucy's old boyfriend and again in the Hollywood episodes as a lifeguard at the hotel pool. In 1955, Hart starred in The Adventures of Captain Africa, which was originally intended to be a new movie about famous comic book hero The Phantom. However, licensing issues forced Columbia Pictures re-film the entire serial and re-christen the hero "Captain Africa." Hart also had numerous supporting roles in the Highway Patrol TV series. In 1965 Hart made two brief appearances on the TV series Perry Mason, including the role of title character and murder victim Jamison Selff in "The Case of the Wrathful Wraith." In the 1970 film The Phynx, Hart played the Lone Ranger alongside Jay Silverheels as Tonto, spoofing their characters. Hart's last theatrical film appearance was in 1981's The Legend of the Lone Ranger in which he appeared as a newspaper editor. He appeared in the television series Happy Days as the Lone Ranger in the episode "Hi Yo, Fonzie Away". In this episode Fonzie, played by Henry Winkler, meets his childhood hero, the Lone Ranger, for his birthday. Hart's other major late appearance was in an episode of The Greatest American Hero, My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys, where Hart gives the title character an inspiring speech about heroism.


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as Cretan Ambassador (uncredited)
Released: 1956-10-05

Escaping death, a Hebrew infant is raised in a royal household to become a prince. Upon...

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Viva Las Vegas

as Casino Patron (uncredited)
Released: 1964-02-08

Lucky Jackson arrives in town with his car literally in tow ready for the first Las Vegas Grand...

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Marnie

as Dr. Gilliat (uncredited)
Released: 1964-07-17

Marnie is a thief, a liar, and a cheat. When her new boss, Mark Rutland, catches on to her...

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The Cincinnati Kid

as Poker Player (uncredited)
Released: 1965-10-15

An up-and-coming poker player tries to prove himself in a high-stakes match against a long-time...

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Atlantis: The Lost Continent

as Nobleman (uncredited)
Released: 1961-05-03

A Greek Fisherman brings an Atlantean Princess back to her homeland which is the mythical city...

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Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol

as Billings / Stage Manager / Milkman (voice)
Released: 1962-12-18

In this animated musical version of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", Ebenezer Scrooge - via...

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The Courtship of Eddie's Father

as State Trooper (uncredited)
Released: 1963-03-27

Although he's only seven, Eddie's got it all figured out. He wants his father, a widower, to get...

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The Sandpiper

as Trooper (uncredited)
Released: 1965-06-23

A free-spirited single mother forms a connection with the wedded headmaster of an Episcopalian...

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North West Mounted Police

as Constable Norman
Released: 1940-10-22

Texas Ranger Dusty Rivers ("Isn't that a contradiction in terms?", another character asks him)...

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36 Hours

as Lt. Cmdr. Perkins (uncredited)
Released: 1964-11-26

Germans kidnap an American major and try to convince him that World War II is over, so that they...

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The Legend of the Lone Ranger

as Lucas Striker
Released: 1981-08-06

When the young Texas Ranger, John Reid, is the sole survivor of an ambush arranged by the...

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The Centerfold Girls

as Sheriff
Released: 1974-08-08

Police try to halt a psychotic killer's (Andrew Prine) rampage against women who posed nude in...

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Warpath

as Sgt. Plennert
Released: 1951-11-22

John Vickers has spent eight years hunting for the three men who murdered the woman he loved. He...

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Bonnie's Kids

as Sheriff with Sunglasses
Released: 1973-02-08

After killing their repulsive stepfather, emboldened sisters Myra and Ellie set out to become...

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Champagne for Caesar

as Executive No. 4
Released: 1950-05-11

When jobless genius Beauregard Bottomley interviews with Burnbridge Waters for a position at...

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The Diary of a High School Bride

as Policeman
Released: 1959-07-01

A 17-year-old high-school senior marries a 20-something law student who works as a waiter. Who...

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Go Naked in the World

as Club Doorman (uncredited)
Released: 1961-03-10

A domineering San Francisco businessman is determined to put an end to his son's romance with a...

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Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?

as Policeman (uncredited)
Released: 1968-06-19

When the Great Northeast Blackout of 1965 hit, millions of people were left in the dark,...

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The Astral Factor

as Harbormaster
Released: 1978-02-01

Demonstrating that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, a convicted strangler studies the...

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Daughter of Shanghai

as Sailor (uncredited)
Released: 1937-12-17

A Chinese-American woman tries to expose an illegal alien smuggling ring.

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Riot on Sunset Strip

as Pritchard
Released: 1967-03-01

A police captain is caught between businesses operating on the Los Angeles Sunset Strip who...

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Noose for a Gunman

as Dave Barker - Avery Gunman (uncredited)
Released: 1960-05-01

Case Britton, gunslinger and wanted man, comes to town to meet his bride-to-be, stop a...

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Blackenstein

as Dr. Stein
Released: 1973-08-03

Eddie is a Vietnam veteran who loses his arms and legs when he steps on a land mine, but a...

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Day of the Nightmare

as Dr. Philip Crane
Released: 1965-10-01

A young wife's marriage begins to crumble after she's attacked by a knife-wielding woman whom...

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The Bible According to Hollywood

as Self
Released: 1994-01-01

Filmmaker Phillip Dye's documentary explores the many biblical adaptations Hollywood has...

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Illegal Traffic

as Davis
Released: 1938-11-02

G-Man Charles Bent Martin is sent out to break up a nationwide racket. A transport company is...

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Vice Raid

as Blond Gunman at Office Door
Released: 1959-12-01

A prostitute sets out to frame a cop.

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El Paso

as uncredited
Released: 1949-03-22

Ex-confederate officer Clay Fletcher jumps at the chance to reunite with his once lady-friend,...

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King of Alcatraz

as 1st Radio Operator
Released: 1938-09-30

A convict who has just escaped from Alcatraz Prison takes over a passenger ship. Two of the...

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The Living Bible

as Matthew
Released: 1952-01-01

Witness the story of Jesus, beginning with his birth in Bethlehem, to his crucifixion, death,...

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Kate Bliss and the Ticker Tape Kid

as Jake Terry
Released: 1978-05-26

A turn-of-the-century investigator named Kate Bliss goes to the wide-open spaces of the wild...

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The Man Who Loved Redheads

as Sergei
Released: 1955-02-06

Framed in flashback, The Man Who Loved Redheads is an anecdotal comedy about a man (John Justin)...

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Dial Red O

as Uniformed Deputy (uncredited)
Released: 1955-03-13

The first of the five films where Bill Elliott played a detective lieutenant in the L.A...

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Son of the Guardsman

as Martin, Bullard soldier (uncredited)
Released: 1946-10-23

David Trent is a nobleman who forms an outlaw group to combat his evil uncle Sir Edgar Bullard....

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The Pathfinder

as British Sergeant
Released: 1952-12-09

Pathfinder, a white man raised by the Mohican Indians, joins forces with the British army to...

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Along the Mohawk Trail

as Nat 'Hawkeye' Cutler
Released: 1957-01-01

Two episodes of the 1957 TV series "Hawkeye and the Last of the Mohicans" edited together and...

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The Crooked Web

as uncredited
Released: 1955-11-30

Following WWII, ex-G.I. Stan opened up a drive-in restaurant. His girlfriend, Joanie, is one of...

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Caribbean

as Stuart
Released: 1952-09-01

Francis Barclay, a former member of the British Admiralty, who was captured in the early 1700s,...

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The Phynx

as The Lone Ranger
Released: 1970-03-06

A rock band is invented by the government as a cover to find hostages in a remote castle in...

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Persons in Hiding

as Male Stenographer
Released: 1939-02-10

During a stick-up, a woman is excited by the criminal and joins him on his crime spree.

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The Gift of Love

as Justice of the Peace
Released: 1978-12-08

Inspired by O. Henry's short story about a young bride and groom, each of whom foolishly--but...

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Special Agent

as Ranch Foreman Frank Kent (as John Hilton)
Released: 1949-07-22

A California railroad agent hunts two brothers for murder and robbing a payroll express.

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Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch

as Pedro
Released: 1949-08-14

Joe heads for South America to fight the Latin champ. Shipboard, he helps federal agents fight...

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Welcome to Arrow Beach

as Doctor
Released: 1974-05-01

A hippie girl wandering on a California beach is taken in by a Korean War veteran who lives in a...

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The Subterraneans

as Cop (uncredited)
Released: 1960-06-23

A disillusioned writer explores the subterranean depths of San Francisco's North Beach district.

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The Longhorn

as Moresby
Released: 1951-11-25

A double-crossing cowboy and his gang of henchmen steal cattle, even from friends, in this...

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The Roommates

as Sheriff Sam
Released: 1973-03-01

Looking to spend a swinging summer at Lake Arrowhead, Carla, Beth, Brea, Heather, and Heather's...

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Brick Bradford

as Dent
Released: 1947-12-18

Brick Bradford, soldier-of-fortune and time-machine traveler, is hired to protect the...

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The Fighting Redhead

as Faro Savage
Released: 1949-10-05

Red Ryder gets a telegram from his old friend Dan O'Connor asking for help in his fight against...

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$1,000 a Touchdown

as Buck (uncredited)
Released: 1939-10-04

A couple inherits a college and to generate revenue offers a thousand dollars to players for...

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Adventures of Captain Africa

as Captain Africa
Released: 1955-06-09

Filled from front to back with stock footage taken from the Columbia serials "The Phantom-1943"...

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Hunted Men

as Young Man at Party
Released: 1938-05-27

Notorious racketeer Joe Albany kills James Flowers when he discovers he is embezzling from the...

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Only with Married Men

as Minister
Released: 1974-12-04

A girl decides that she will only date married men, and she runs into a bachelor who tells women...

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The Great Adventures of Captain Kidd

as Mate Jenkins
Released: 1953-09-17

Two British officers are assigned to collect information to convict Captain Kidd of piracy.

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Joe Palooka in Winner Take All

as Army Sergeant George Malone
Released: 1948-09-19

Joe is scheduled for the big fight as usual. This one has more fight sequences than plot.

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The Great Ice Rip-Off

as Klein Salesman
Released: 1974-11-06

A retired cop goes up against a slick jewel thief and his gang, who have pulled a diamond heist...

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Disbarred

as First Reporter
Released: 1939-01-06

The Bar Association disbars attorney Tyler Cradon when it appears he was implicated in the...

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Mondo Inferno

as Commentator
Released: 1964-01-01

"Mondo Inferno"- This shockumentary takes us on visits to a restaurant that serves up delicious...

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Blood Voyage

as Jules
Released: 1976-01-01

What is meant to be a pleasure cruise becomes a nightmare as murder follows murder on a small...

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Kansas Territory

as U.S. Marshal Matt Furness
Released: 1952-05-04

Wild Bill Elliott goes after his brother's murderer!

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Prison Farm

as 'Texas' Jack
Released: 1938-06-17

Shirley Ross plays an innocent young girl convicted for complicity in a crime committed by her...

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Cowboy and the Prizefighter

as Mark Palmer
Released: 1949-12-14

Red Ryder KO's a fight racket with sidekick Little Beaver (Little Brown Jug) and a new friend.

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Last of the Desperados

as ?
Released: 1955-10-31

After killing Billy the Kid, Sheriff Pat Garrett is relentlessly dogged by members of the Kid's...

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Wolf Dog

as Andy Bates (uncredited)
Released: 1958-07-01

A paroled convict tries to start life anew by moving with his family to a ranch, where his young...

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Vacation Days

as Big Jim
Released: 1947-01-25

Miss Hinklefink invites the Teen Agers to stay at her new ranch for the summer. Freddie is...

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Stagecoach Driver

as Slim Cole
Released: 1951-07-15

Jim Bannon and his partner own a stagecoach line. With the coming of the telegraph and the end...

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Prince of Pirates

as Captain of the Guards (uncredited)
Released: 1953-03-07

In a 16th century kingdom in the Netherlands, the newly crowned King Stephan concludes a secret...

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Stage to Blue River

as Frederick Kingsley
Released: 1951-12-30

Whip Wilson has to stop bandits who are trying to take over a stage line.

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Hold On!

as Detective #2
Released: 1966-06-22

Herman's Hermits' first film, in which the British band has the chance to have an American...

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Jack Armstrong

as Jack Armstrong
Released: 1947-02-06

15 episode serial where Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy, battles the evil Dr. Grood, who...

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The Long Rifle and the Tomahawk

as Nat 'Hawkeye' Cutler
Released: 1964-01-01

A feature made out of two episodes from the 1958 TV series "Hawkeye and the Last of the Mohicans."

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Gemini Affair

as Bob
Released: 1975-09-01

A hopeful young actress is lured to Hollywood by the seduction of fame and fortune. A friend she...

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Revenue Agent

as U.S. Border Patroman
Released: 1950-12-12

Accountant Augustis King discovers that his wife, Marfhe, is having an affair with his boss Sam...

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Perry Mason

as Dion
First aired: 1957-09-21

The cases of master criminal defense attorney Perry Mason and his staff who handled the most...

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Perry Mason

as Jamison Selff
First aired: 1957-09-21

The cases of master criminal defense attorney Perry Mason and his staff who handled the most...

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Ben Casey

as uncredited
First aired: 1961-10-02

Ben Casey is an American medical drama series which ran on ABC from 1961 to 1966. The show was...

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Bat Masterson

as Wilson
First aired: 1958-10-08

Bat Masterson is an American Western television series which showed a fictionalized account of...

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Bat Masterson

as Jacobs
First aired: 1958-10-08

Bat Masterson is an American Western television series which showed a fictionalized account of...

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Happy Days

as uncredited
First aired: 1974-01-15

In 1950s Milwaukee the Cunningham family must contend with Fonzie, a motorcycle riding Casanova.

TV Show page

I Love Lucy

as Lifeguard
First aired: 1951-10-15

Cuban Bandleader Ricky Ricardo would be happy if his wife Lucy would just be a housewife....

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I Love Lucy

as Tom Henderson
First aired: 1951-10-15

Cuban Bandleader Ricky Ricardo would be happy if his wife Lucy would just be a housewife....

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The Addams Family

as Scotty
First aired: 1964-09-18

A satirical inversion of the ideal of the perfect American nuclear family, they are an eccentric...

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Leave It to Beaver

as Troop #21 Scoutmaster Norton
First aired: 1957-10-04

Leave It to Beaver is an American television situation comedy about an inquisitive and often...

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Rawhide

as Narbo
First aired: 1959-01-09

The tale of trail boss Gil Favor and his trusty foreman Rowdy Yates as they drives cattle across...

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Rawhide

as Spence
First aired: 1959-01-09

The tale of trail boss Gil Favor and his trusty foreman Rowdy Yates as they drives cattle across...

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Rawhide

as Nate Johnson
First aired: 1959-01-09

The tale of trail boss Gil Favor and his trusty foreman Rowdy Yates as they drives cattle across...

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Rawhide

as Sheriff
First aired: 1959-01-09

The tale of trail boss Gil Favor and his trusty foreman Rowdy Yates as they drives cattle across...

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Rawhide

as Rep
First aired: 1959-01-09

The tale of trail boss Gil Favor and his trusty foreman Rowdy Yates as they drives cattle across...

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Rawhide

as Harley Lear
First aired: 1959-01-09

The tale of trail boss Gil Favor and his trusty foreman Rowdy Yates as they drives cattle across...

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Rawhide

as Slim
First aired: 1959-01-09

The tale of trail boss Gil Favor and his trusty foreman Rowdy Yates as they drives cattle across...

TV Show page

The Lone Ranger

as The Lone Ranger
First aired: 1949-09-15

The Lone Ranger is an American western television series that ran from 1949 to 1957, starring...

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The Lone Ranger

as Duke
First aired: 1949-09-15

The Lone Ranger is an American western television series that ran from 1949 to 1957, starring...

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Highway Patrol

as Sergeant at Headquarters
First aired: 1955-10-03

Highway Patrol was a syndicated, fictional police action series produced from 1955 to 1959,...

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The Greatest American Hero

as Lone Ranger
First aired: 1981-03-18

The chronicles of  teacher Ralph Hinkley's adventures after a group of aliens gives him a red...

TV Show page

Gunsmoke

as Crowd member (uncredited)
First aired: 1955-09-10

Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman...

TV Show page

Maigret

as Character in Corridor (uncredited)
First aired: 1960-10-31

BBC series based on the novels by Georges Simenon which starred Rupert Davies as Inspector...

TV Show page

Tales of Wells Fargo

as Weaver
First aired: 1957-03-18

Jim Hardie helps Wells Fargo agents battle the bad guys.

TV Show page

Hawkeye and the Last of the Mohicans

as Hawkeye
First aired: 1957-04-03

Hawkeye and the Last of the Mohicans was set in New York's Hudson Valley during the French and...

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Pete and Gladys

as uncredited
First aired: 1960-09-19

Pete and Gladys is an American situation comedy television series starring Harry Morgan and Cara...

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The Lieutenant

as Capt. Adam Quincy
First aired: 1963-09-14

The Lieutenant is an American television series, the first created by Gene Roddenberry. It aired...

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The Nineties

as Self (archive footage)
First aired: 2017-07-09

Hit rewind and explore the most iconic moments and influential people of The Nineties, the...

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National Velvet

as uncredited
First aired: 1960-09-18

National Velvet is an American drama series

TV Show page

Sergeant Preston of the Yukon

as uncredited
First aired: 1955-09-29

Canadian Mountie Sgt. Preston patrols the wilds of the Yukon with his horse Rex and his faithful...

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The Case of the Dangerous Robin

as Pilot
First aired: 1960-10-18

The Case of the Dangerous Robin is an American crime drama series which aired in syndication...

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Sam

as uncredited
First aired: 1978-03-14

Sam is an American crime drama television series that aired on the CBS network from March 14 to...

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Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

as uncredited
First aired: 1951-10-05

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars is an anthology series that was telecast from 1951 until 1959 on CBS....

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