Person Biography:
Victor Daniels, also known as "Chief Thundercloud", was an American actor and stuntman of Cherokee descent. He was born on April 12, 1899, in Arizona, and was the eldest of nine children to Jesus Daniels and Tomaca Daniels. Daniels' background was somewhat vague, and he claimed to have been educated at the University of Arizona, although the university's records did not confirm his attendance.
Daniels began his career as a stuntman in the film industry in 1929, and by 1935, he had gained the professional name "Chief Thundercloud" and was appearing in acting roles, mostly uncredited. He played strong, grim roles in numerous "B" westerns, often typecast as an evil tribe member or chief. Some of his notable roles include "Cyclone of the Saddle" (1935),"Ramona" (1936),"The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok" (1938),"Young Buffalo Bill" (1940),"North West Mounted Police" (1940),"The Law Rides Again" (1943),"Romance of the West" (1946),"Davy Crockett, Indian Scout" (1950),and "Santa Fe" (1951).
Daniels is perhaps best known for creating the role of "Tonto" in the serial "The Lone Ranger" (1938) and its sequel "The Lone Ranger Rides Again" (1939). He also played the title role in Paramount Pictures' "Geronimo" (1939). In addition to his film work, Daniels appeared in several television programs, including "Death Valley Days", "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin", "My Little Margie", and "Buffalo Bill, Jr.".
Daniels died at the age of 56 on November 30, 1955, following surgery for stomach cancer in Ventura County, California. He was survived by his second wife, Frances, a former singer, and their two children. He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Los Angeles area.
Note: It is worth noting that Chief Thundercloud is not to be confused with noted Chief Thunder Cloud (1856-1916),a Blackfoot tribe member and Army scout who performed with P.T. Barnum and his Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.
