John Hart (December 13, 1917 – September 20, 2009) was a rugged American actor and stuntman who holds a unique place in television history as the man who briefly took over the iconic role of The Lone Ranger.
In 1952, following a contract dispute with the original star Clayton Moore, Hart was hired to play the masked hero for 52 episodes from 1952 to 1953 of the popular television series. While Moore eventually returned to the role, Hart’s tenure made him a significant part of the show’s history. He found leading man success again, starring as the frontiersman Nat “Hawkeye” Cutler in the classic syndicated series, Hawkeye and the Last of the Mohicans (1957).
Throughout his long career, Hart was a staple of the Western genre, appearing in numerous films and television shows. He starred in the title role of the 1947 movie serial Jack Armstrong and had supporting roles in major films like It Happened at the World’s Fair and The Ten Commandments. He continued acting for decades, even having a recurring role on the hit 1980s series Dallas.
