Victor Daniels was given the title of "Chief" in an honorary capacity and identified himself as Cherokee although is background is vague. His application for a social security number lists his birth date as April 12, 1899, and his birthplace as Arizona.
Thundercloud was the first of nine children born to Jesus Daniels and Tomaca Daniels (as indicated on his social security application).
But on his marriage record to Mildred Turner in 1925, he said his name was "Victor Vazquez." Raised on a ranch in Arizona, he claimed he was educated at the University of Arizona at Tucson but the Office of the Registrar checked their databases and found no attendance record for a Victor Daniels.
He worked in cattle ranches and rodeos in addition as a mining foreman, boxer and guide before entering movies as a stuntman in 1929. Thundercloud eventually earned screen credit for his Indian tribe members and chiefs, typecast more as evil than good.
He is best known, however, for his creating the role of faithful sidekick "Tonto" in the serial The Lone Ranger (1938) and its sequel The Lone Ranger Rides Again (1939).
He also played the title role of Paramount Pictures' The Story of a Great Enemy (1939). He died at age 56 following surgery for stomach cancer in Ventura County, California on November 30, 1955.
He was survived by wife Frances, a former singer, and their two children. IMDb Mini Biography By: Gary Brumburgh / [email protected]
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