Who Besides Clayton Moore Played the Lone Ranger? One Version Nearly Killed the Franchise

But for a few rocky years in the 1950s, someone else wore the mask. And the backlash almost destroyed the brand.

The Lone Ranger started as a hit radio show in the 1930s before exploding on TV in 1949, with Clayton Moore in the lead role and Jay Silverheels as his faithful companion Tonto. Moore played the part with such square-jawed sincerity that kids and parents alike saw him as the real thing.

So when Moore abruptly vanished from the show in 1952, fans were stunned.

Why Did Clayton Moore Quit the Lone Ranger

The reason was money — or more accurately, a contract dispute. Moore and the show's producers couldn't agree on terms for the third season. Rather than cave, the studio fired him and brought in another actor: John Hart.

On paper, Hart was a solid replacement. He had the look, the voice, and a background in Westerns. But the audience wasn't having it. Ratings dipped. Fan letters poured in. Kids could tell it wasn't Moore behind the mask — and they didn't like it. Even Jay Silverheels later said viewers constantly asked what happened to the "real" Lone Ranger.

Moore returned to the role in 1954, and the show ran successfully until 1957. But the damage was done: John Hart's run is still remembered as the moment the series nearly fell apart.

The Franchise Hit a Bigger Wall in the 1980s

Decades later, Hollywood tried to revive the Lone Ranger for the big screen. The result was 1981's The Legend of the Lone Ranger — a film so poorly received it managed to alienate both critics and longtime fans. This time, it wasn't just the new actor (Klinton Spilsbury, whose voice had to be dubbed) that bothered people — it was the studio's decision to legally block Clayton Moore from making public appearances in costume.

That move backfired spectacularly. Moore, then in his 60s, responded by donning wraparound sunglasses in place of the mask and continued appearing as the Ranger anyway. The lawsuit made headlines, sparked outrage, and only increased loyalty to Moore.

Meanwhile, The Legend of the Lone Ranger flopped hard:

• Production budget: $18 million
• Domestic box office: $12.6 million
• Razzie awards: 5 nominations, including Worst Actor (Spilsbury) and Worst Picture

It was a franchise-killing moment that took decades to recover from — even Disney's big-budget 2013 reboot starring Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp couldn't outrun the curse.

Moore Never Let Go of the Mask

Despite the rocky history, Clayton Moore remained the face of the Lone Ranger until his death in 1999. He made personal appearances in costume well into his senior years and refused to portray the character as anything but virtuous.

In later interviews, Moore made it clear how seriously he took the role: "I felt I had a sacred trust with the children of America." And audiences, even decades later, seemed to agree.

So yes — a few other actors wore the mask. But there's still only one Lone Ranger most people remember. And it's not the guy from 1981.