Jay Silverheels

Acting

Jay Silverheels

Born May 26, 1912 · Six Nations Reservation, Brantford, Ontario, Canada

Died March 5, 1980 · aged 67

Jay Silverheels was born on a reservation in Canada to a Mohawk chief. He was a star lacrosse player and a boxer before he entered films as a stuntman in 1938. He worked in a number of films though the 1940s before he gained some notice as the Osceola brother in Humphrey Bogart's film Key Largo (1948). Most of his roles consisted of bit parts as "Indian." In 1949, he would work in a movie calle…

Known For

True GritTrue Grit · 1969
True Grit
7.31969
MovieWestern
The murder of her father sends a teenage tomboy on a mission of 'justice', which involves avenging her father's death. She recruits a tough old marshal, 'Rooster' Cogburn because he has 'true grit', and a reputation of getting the job done.
The Treasure of the Sierra MadreThe Treasure of the Sierra Madre · 1948
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
8.01948
MovieAdventureDrama
Two jobless Americans convince a prospector to travel to the mountains of Mexico with them in search of gold. But the hostile wilderness, local bandits, and greed all get in the way of their journey.
The Movie OrgyThe Movie Orgy · 1968
The Movie Orgy
6.71968
MovieComedyDocumentary
Clips from assorted television programs, B-movies, commercials, music performances, newsreels, bloopers, satirical short films and promotional and government films of the 1950s and 1960s are intercut together to tell a single story of various creatures and societal ills attacking American cities.
Broken ArrowBroken Arrow · 1950
Broken Arrow
6.71950
MovieWesternDrama
Indian scout Tom Jeffords is sent out to stem the war between the American settlers and Apaches in the late 1870s Arizona. He learns that the Indians kill only to protect themselves, or out of retaliation for white atrocities.
The Lone RangerThe Lone Ranger · 1956
The Lone Ranger
6.31956
MovieAdventureWestern
The territorial governor asks the Lone Ranger to investigate mysterious raids on settlers by Indians who ride with saddles. Wealthy rancher Reese Kilgore wants to mine silver on Spirit Mountain which is sacred to the Indians.
Last of the ComanchesLast of the Comanches · 1953
Last of the Comanches
6.21953
MovieWestern
It's 1876 and all the Indians are at peace except the Comanches lead by Black Cloud. When Black Cloud wipes out a town, only six soldiers are left and they head for the nearest fort. In the desert they are reinforced by members of a stagecoach and find some water at a deserted mission. Pinned down by Black Cloud they send an Indian boy who was Black Cloud's prisoner on to the fort while they try to bargain with Black Cloud whom they learn is without water.
Smith!Smith! · 1969
Smith!
5.91969
MovieDramaFamily
When the Indian Jimmyboy is accused of murder of a white man, he flees onto the ranch of Smith, who's well known for his tolerance for Indians, since he was raised by the old Indian Antoine. Smith helps Jimmyboy against the mean Sheriff and promises to speak for him in court, thus persuading him to surrender himself to the police.
SaskatchewanSaskatchewan · 1954
Saskatchewan
6.11954
MovieWesternAdventure
Story of blood brothers whose bonds are tested when marauding Sioux Indians cross the border to enlist the peaceful Cree in a battle against the Great White Father.

Movies

True GritTrue Grit · 1969
True Grit
7.31969
MovieWestern
The murder of her father sends a teenage tomboy on a mission of 'justice', which involves avenging her father's death. She recruits a tough old marshal, 'Rooster' Cogburn because he has 'true grit', and a reputation of getting the job done.
The Treasure of the Sierra MadreThe Treasure of the Sierra Madre · 1948
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
8.01948
MovieAdventureDrama
Two jobless Americans convince a prospector to travel to the mountains of Mexico with them in search of gold. But the hostile wilderness, local bandits, and greed all get in the way of their journey.
The Movie OrgyThe Movie Orgy · 1968
The Movie Orgy
6.71968
MovieComedyDocumentary
Clips from assorted television programs, B-movies, commercials, music performances, newsreels, bloopers, satirical short films and promotional and government films of the 1950s and 1960s are intercut together to tell a single story of various creatures and societal ills attacking American cities.
Broken ArrowBroken Arrow · 1950
Broken Arrow
6.71950
MovieWesternDrama
Indian scout Tom Jeffords is sent out to stem the war between the American settlers and Apaches in the late 1870s Arizona. He learns that the Indians kill only to protect themselves, or out of retaliation for white atrocities.
The Lone RangerThe Lone Ranger · 1956
The Lone Ranger
6.31956
MovieAdventureWestern
The territorial governor asks the Lone Ranger to investigate mysterious raids on settlers by Indians who ride with saddles. Wealthy rancher Reese Kilgore wants to mine silver on Spirit Mountain which is sacred to the Indians.
Last of the ComanchesLast of the Comanches · 1953
Last of the Comanches
6.21953
MovieWestern
It's 1876 and all the Indians are at peace except the Comanches lead by Black Cloud. When Black Cloud wipes out a town, only six soldiers are left and they head for the nearest fort. In the desert they are reinforced by members of a stagecoach and find some water at a deserted mission. Pinned down by Black Cloud they send an Indian boy who was Black Cloud's prisoner on to the fort while they try to bargain with Black Cloud whom they learn is without water.
Smith!Smith! · 1969
Smith!
5.91969
MovieDramaFamily
When the Indian Jimmyboy is accused of murder of a white man, he flees onto the ranch of Smith, who's well known for his tolerance for Indians, since he was raised by the old Indian Antoine. Smith helps Jimmyboy against the mean Sheriff and promises to speak for him in court, thus persuading him to surrender himself to the police.
SaskatchewanSaskatchewan · 1954
Saskatchewan
6.11954
MovieWesternAdventure
Story of blood brothers whose bonds are tested when marauding Sioux Indians cross the border to enlist the peaceful Cree in a battle against the Great White Father.
Yankee BuccaneerYankee Buccaneer · 1952
Yankee Buccaneer
6.01952
MovieAdventureHistory
A United States Navy ship in the first half of the 19th century, under the command of Captain David Porter, is expecting to put ashore after a year on the seas; but the arrival of one of Porter's ex-students, the willful and independent Lieutenant David Farragut, brings a new mission: to disguise the ship and crew as a pirate ship and help the Navy locate the criminals who have been robbing America's merchant fleet. But as Farragut's disobedience threatens the safety of the crew, they stumble upon an international conspiracy.
Key LargoKey Largo · 1948
Key Largo
7.51948
MovieCrimeThriller
A hurricane swells outside, but it's nothing compared to the storm within the hotel at Key Largo. There, sadistic mobster Johnny Rocco holes up - and holds at gunpoint hotel owner James Temple, his widowed daughter-in-law Nora, and ex-GI Frank McCloud.
Family HoneymoonFamily Honeymoon · 1948
Family Honeymoon
6.31948
MovieComedy
Grant Jordan, bachelor botany professor, marries Katie, a widow with three kids, despite the machinations of Grant's former girlfriend Minna. But on the wedding day, Aunt Jo, who was to babysit, breaks a leg; so the kids come along on the honeymoon.
One Little IndianOne Little Indian · 1973
One Little Indian
6.31973
MovieFamilyComedy
An Army deserter flees by camel across the desert with a caucasian boy raised by Indians.
Captain from CastileCaptain from Castile · 1947
Captain from Castile
7.21947
MovieAdventure
Spain, 1518: young caballero Pedro De Vargas offends his sadistic neighbor De Silva, who just happens to be an officer of the Inquisition. Forced to flee, Pedro, friend Juan Garcia, and adoring servant girl Catana join Cortez' first expedition to Mexico. Arriving in the rich new land, Cortez decides to switch from exploration to conquest...with only 500 men. Embroiled in continuous adventures and a romantic interlude, Pedro almost forgets he has a deadly enemy...
Yellow SkyYellow Sky · 1948
Yellow Sky
7.01948
MovieWestern
In 1867, a gang robs a bank and flees into the desert. Out of water, the outlaws encounter a ghost town called Yellow Sky and its only residents, a hostile young woman and her grandfather.
The Sea HawkThe Sea Hawk · 1940
The Sea Hawk
7.21940
MovieAdventureHistory
Dashing pirate Geoffrey Thorpe plunders Spanish ships for Queen Elizabeth I and falls in love with Dona Maria, a beautiful Spanish royal he captures.
Alias Jesse JamesAlias Jesse James · 1959
Alias Jesse James
6.01959
MovieComedyWestern
Insurance salesman Milford Farnsworth sells a man a life policy only to discover that the man in question is the outlaw Jesse James. Milford is sent to buy back the policy, but is robbed by Jesse. And when Jesse learns that Milford's boss is on the way out with more cash, he plans to rob him too and have Milford get killed in the robbery while dressed as Jesse, and collect on the policy.
The Half-BreedThe Half-Breed · 1952
The Half-Breed
7.01952
MovieWestern
An Apache of mixed blood tries to make peace between Indians and whites.
Western UnionWestern Union · 1941
Western Union
6.01941
MovieWestern
When Edward Creighton leads the construction of the Western Union to unite East with West, he hires a Western reformed outlaw and a tenderfoot Eastern surveyor. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in partnership with Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation in 2000.
The PhynxThe Phynx · 1970
The Phynx
3.71970
MovieComedy
A rock band is invented by the government as a cover to find hostages in a remote castle in Albania held by communist enemies of the USA.
TulsaTulsa · 1949
Tulsa
6.41949
MovieDrama
It's Tulsa, Oklahoma at the start of the oil boom and Cherokee Lansing's rancher father is killed in a fight with the Tanner Oil Company. Cherokee plans revenge by bringing in her own wells with the help of oil expert Brad Brady and childhood friend Jim Redbird. When the oil and the money start gushing in, both Brad and Jim want to protect the land but Cherokee has different ideas. What started out as revenge for her father's death has turned into an obsession for wealth and power.
Red MountainRed Mountain · 1951
Red Mountain
6.71951
MovieWestern
Towards the end of the American Civil War, a rebel captain flees to Colorado to join a band of Southern mercenaries. He drags an innocent gold prospecting couple into trouble when the husband is accused of a murder he committed.
Pistols 'n' PetticoatsPistols 'n' Petticoats · 1967
Pistols 'n' Petticoats
1967
MovieComedyWestern
Compilation of several episodes of the TV series Pistols 'n' Petticoats.
The Last Round-upThe Last Round-up · 1947
The Last Round-up
7.31947
MovieWestern
A rancher tries to convince an Indian tribe to relocate so their land can be used to provide water for Kansas City.
Northern PursuitNorthern Pursuit · 1943
Northern Pursuit
6.21943
MovieAdventureWar
Canadian Mountie Steve Wagner captures a German Luftwaffe officer on a spy mission, who later escapes from the prison camp. To catch the spy ring, the Mounties employ a ruse so that the spies, believing Steve to be sympathetic, enlist him in their plans.

TV Shows

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson · 1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
7.51962
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under The Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally aired during late-night. For its first ten years, Carson's Tonight Show was based in New York City with occasional trips to Burbank, California; in May 1972, the show moved permanently to Burbank, California. In 2002, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was ranked #12 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.
The VirginianThe Virginian · 1962
The Virginian
6.51962
SeriesWesternDrama
The Shiloh Ranch in Wyoming Territory of the 1890s is owned in sequence by Judge Henry Garth, the Grainger brothers, and Colonel Alan MacKenzie. It is the setting for a variety of stories, many more based on character and relationships than the usual western.
CannonCannon · 1971
Cannon
6.71971
SeriesDrama
Cannon is a CBS detective television series produced by Quinn Martin which aired from March 26, 1971 to March 3, 1976. The primary protagonist is the title character, private detective Frank Cannon, played by William Conrad. He also appeared on two episodes of Barnaby Jones. Cannon is the first Quinn Martin-produced series to be aired on a network other than ABC. A "revival" television film, The Return of Frank Cannon, was aired on November 1, 1980. In total, there were 124 episodes.
Daniel BooneDaniel Boone · 1964
Daniel Boone
7.01964
SeriesWestern
Daniel Boone is an American action-adventure television series starring Fess Parker as Daniel Boone that aired from September 24, 1964 to September 10, 1970 on NBC for 165 episodes, and was made by 20th Century Fox Television. Ed Ames co-starred as Mingo, Boone's Cherokee friend, for the first four seasons of the series. Albert Salmi portrayed Boone's companion Yadkin in season one only. Dallas McKennon portrayed innkeeper Cincinnatus. Country Western singer-actor Jimmy Dean was a featured actor as Josh Clements during the 1968–1970 seasons. Actor and former NFL football player Rosey Grier made regular appearances as Gabe Cooper in the 1969 to 1970 season. The show was broadcast "in living color" beginning in fall 1965, the second season, and was shot entirely in California and Kanab, Utah.
RawhideRawhide · 1959
Rawhide
7.21959
SeriesWesternDrama
The tale of trail boss Gil Favor and his trusty foreman Rowdy Yates as they drives cattle across the old west. Along the way they meet up with adventure and drama.
The Lone RangerThe Lone Ranger · 1949
The Lone Ranger
6.81949
SeriesWestern
The Lone Ranger is an American western television series that ran from 1949 to 1957, starring Clayton Moore with Jay Silverheels as Tonto. The live-action series initially featured Gerald Mohr as the episode narrator. Fred Foy served as both narrator and announcer of the radio series from 1948 to its finish and became announcer of the television version when story narration was dropped there. This was by far the highest-rated television program on the ABC network in the early 1950s and its first true "hit".
Wanted: Dead or AliveWanted: Dead or Alive · 1958
Wanted: Dead or Alive
7.01958
SeriesWestern
Wanted: Dead or Alive is an American Western television series starring Steve McQueen as the bounty hunter Josh Randall. It aired on CBS for three seasons from 1958–61. The black-and-white program was a spin-off of a March 1958 episode of Trackdown, a 1957–59 western series starring Robert Culp. Both series were produced by Four Star Television in association with CBS Television. The series launched McQueen into becoming the first television star to cross over into comparable status on the big screen.
BrandedBranded · 1965
Branded
6.81965
SeriesWestern
Branded is an American Western series which aired on NBC from 1965 through 1966, sponsored by Procter & Gamble in its Sunday night 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time period, and starred Chuck Connors as Jason McCord, a United States Army Cavalry captain who had been drummed out of the service following an unjust accusation of cowardice.
The Brady BunchThe Brady Bunch · 1969
The Brady Bunch
6.71969
SeriesComedy
When widower Mike Brady marries a lovely lady widow Carol Ann, their two families become one. These are the misadventures of this new couple, their six children, a dog named Tiger, and quirky housekeeper Alice.
GunslingerGunslinger · 1961
Gunslinger
6.31961
SeriesWesternDrama
Gunslinger was a Western television series starring Tony Young that aired on the CBS television network from February 9 until May 18, 1961 on Thursdays from 9 to 10 p.m. EST. The series theme song was sung by Frankie Laine. Young played Cord, a young gunfighter who works undercover for the local army garrison commander, acting as a secret law enforcement agent in the territory. The series lasted for only twelve episodes. Gunslinger was the successor to Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater.
Pistols 'n' PetticoatsPistols 'n' Petticoats · 1966
Pistols 'n' Petticoats
7.61966
SeriesComedyWestern
Pistols 'n' Petticoats is an American Western sitcom