Chief Thundercloud
Encyclopedia
Chief Thundercloud, was an American character actor
in westerns
.
Information about Thundercloud is vague. Most biographies state that he was a full blooded Cherokee
(or Muskogee
), although others state that he had some German, Scottish and/or Irish ancestors; and that he was educated at the University of Arizona
, although no record exists of his enrollment. The pressbook for The Lone Ranger Rides Again
announced his parents as "Dark Cloud and Morning Star, artistocrats of the Muskogee tribe" but his death certificate lists his father as "Joseph Mahawa."
Daniels worked many jobs before becoming a stuntman. From there he graduated to character actor
status. His title "Chief" was a Hollywood invention. He had the title role in Geronimo (1939
) and played Tonto
in both Republic
Lone Ranger serials, The Lone Ranger
(1938
) and The Lone Ranger Rides Again (1939
).
In later years, he worked with other western actors, performing in live shows at the Corriganville ranch. His interment was located in Glendale's Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery
.
Character actor
A character actor is one who predominantly plays unusual or eccentric characters. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a character actor as "an actor who specializes in character parts", defining character part in turn as "an acting role displaying pronounced or unusual characteristics or...
in westerns
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
.
Information about Thundercloud is vague. Most biographies state that he was a full blooded Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
(or Muskogee
Creek people
The Muscogee , also known as the Creek or Creeks, are a Native American people traditionally from the southeastern United States. Mvskoke is their name in traditional spelling. The modern Muscogee live primarily in Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida...
), although others state that he had some German, Scottish and/or Irish ancestors; and that he was educated at the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
, although no record exists of his enrollment. The pressbook for The Lone Ranger Rides Again
The Lone Ranger Rides Again
The Lone Ranger Rides Again is a 1939 American Republic serial. It was a sequel to Republic's earlier 1937 serial The Lone Ranger, which had been highly successful, and the thirteenth of the sixty-six serials produced by Republic....
announced his parents as "Dark Cloud and Morning Star, artistocrats of the Muskogee tribe" but his death certificate lists his father as "Joseph Mahawa."
Daniels worked many jobs before becoming a stuntman. From there he graduated to character actor
Character actor
A character actor is one who predominantly plays unusual or eccentric characters. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a character actor as "an actor who specializes in character parts", defining character part in turn as "an acting role displaying pronounced or unusual characteristics or...
status. His title "Chief" was a Hollywood invention. He had the title role in Geronimo (1939
1939 in film
The year 1939 in motion pictures can be justified as being called the most outstanding one ever, when it comes to the high quality and high attendance at the large set of the best films that premiered in the year .- Events :Motion picture historians and film often rate...
) and played Tonto
Tonto (Lone Ranger character)
Tonto is a fictional character, the Native American companion of The Lone Ranger, a popular American Western character created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker...
in both Republic
Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures was an independent film production-distribution corporation with studio facilities, operating from 1934 through 1959, and was best known for specializing in westerns, movie serials and B films emphasizing mystery and action....
Lone Ranger serials, The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger (serial)
The Lone Ranger is a 1938 American Republic Movie serial. It was the ninth of the sixty-six serials produced by Republic, the fourth western and the first of 1938...
(1938
1938 in film
The year 1938 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*January — MGM announces that Judy Garland would be cast in the role of "Dorothy" in the upcoming Wizard of Oz motion picture. Ray Bolger is cast as the "Tinman" and Buddy Ebsen is cast as the "Scarecrow". At Bolger's insistence,...
) and The Lone Ranger Rides Again (1939
1939 in film
The year 1939 in motion pictures can be justified as being called the most outstanding one ever, when it comes to the high quality and high attendance at the large set of the best films that premiered in the year .- Events :Motion picture historians and film often rate...
).
In later years, he worked with other western actors, performing in live shows at the Corriganville ranch. His interment was located in Glendale's Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery
Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale
Forest Lawn Memorial Park is a privately owned cemetery in Glendale, California. It is the original location of Forest Lawn, a chain of cemeteries in Southern California. The land was formerly part of Providencia Ranch.-History:...
.