Characters found across The Lone Ranger franchise:
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The Lone Ranger
Played by: John L. Barrett (radio), George Seaton (radio), James Jewell (radio), "Jack Deeds" (radio), Earle Graser (radio), Brace Beemer (radio), Fred Foy (radio), Lee Powell (The first Republic serial), Robert Livingston (The second Republic serial), Clayton Moore (1949 series, 1956 film, The Lone Ranger and the City of Gold), John Hart (1952-53),Tex Hill (Return of the Lone Ranger), Klinton Spilsbury (The Legend of the Lone Ranger), Chad Michael Murray (2003 film), Armie Hammer (2013 film), Michael Rye (1966 cartoon), William Conrad (1980 cartoon)
The eponymous hero of the Lone Ranger franchise, the sole survivor of a contingent of Texas Rangers who now works to protect the innocent as a masked hero with a strict code of honor.
- Arch-Enemy: Butch Cavendish, the man who murdered his brother and wiped out his squad of Texas Rangers.
- Celibate Hero: The Lone Ranger has no time for romance, and neither does Tonto. This was actually written into the show's "bible" back in the earliest days.
- Cool Mask/Domino Mask: Never seen without it. Quite possibly the Trope Codifier.
- The Faceless: He was never seen without his mask or something else covering his face.
- The Friendly Texan: Beloved not only for his commitment to justice, but also for his friendly demeanor.
- Humble Hero: People normally figured out it was he who solved their problems only after he left.
- Improbable Aiming Skills: How the Lone Ranger avoided ever having to kill anyone.
- Master of Disguise: Beyond that fiendishly clever domino mask, that is.
- Nephewism: Dan Reid Jr., the son of the Ranger's murdered brother.
- Nice Guy: Kind, humble, courageous, a loyal friend and an outstanding role model for kids. They just don't come any nicer than the Lone Ranger.
- Never Gets Drunk: Not only did the Lone Ranger never drink, but the saloons otherwise typical of the setting were all replaced with cafes.
- No Full Name Given: "Reid's" given name is never mentioned in the radio or TV series, though some ancillary material indicates it may be "John".
- The name Reid was first associated with the Ranger's brother and fellow Texas Ranger, Captain Reid, killed in the first episode. The Ranger himself is referred to as Reid in the second episode by an old friend and retired Ranger who works the silver mine where the Ranger gets the silver for his bullets and living expenses. The name also belongs to his nephew Dan, who in later episodes traveled with him to learn about his heritage, almost as a kind of Robin figure. Trendle later established that Dan was the father of Brit Reid, the Green Hornet.
- Sole Survivor: The only survivor of a squad of Texas Rangers, as the name implies.
Tonto
Played by: John Todd (radio), Jay Silverheels (1949 series), Ivan Naranjo (The Tarzan/Lone Ranger Adventure Hour), Michael Horse (The Legend of the Lone Ranger), Johnny Depp (2013 film)
The Lone Ranger's faithful companion who nursed him back to health after the ambush that killed his companions. He frequently rides a horse named Scout.
- Clean Dub Name: In the Spanish translations, this character was renamed as "Toro" ("Bull"), because Tonto means "fool" in that language.
- Hidden Depths: John Todd's portrayal often had him listening to the Ranger and just saying "Hmmm." The way Todd intoned it, it gave the impression that Tonto didn't say much because he was thinking intently. Silverheels also gave the impression of Tonto as very intelligent.
- Magical Native American: Possibly.
- Now, Let Me Carry You: As a child, Tonto's village was massacred and he was nursed back to health by a young Lone Ranger. Years later, he finds the Ranger again after the massacre in the canyon and nurses him back to health.
Silver
The Lone Ranger's horse.
- Cool Horse: "A fiery horse at the speed of light!"
- White Stallion: Always white.
Dan Reid, Jr.
Played by: Ernest Winstanley, Bob Martin, Clarence Weitzel, James Lipton, and Dick Beals (radio), Chuck Courtney (1949 series), Bryant Prince (2013 movie)
The son of the Ranger's brother Dan. Also the father of Britt Reid, The Green Hornet.
- Kid Sidekick: A younger addition to the main cast.
- Put on a Bus: He was sent east to get an education.
- Young Gun: He's good with a gun, much like his uncle, but inexperienced and impetuous.
Butch Cavendish
The man responsible for the death of Reid's fellow ranger and pushed Reid into becoming the Lone Ranger.
- Adapted Out: He doesn't appear in either cartoons series.
- Arch-Enemy: As the man who killed Reid's fellow Texas Rangers (and in some versions his brother), he is this to the Lone Ranger. He doesn't tend to last long, but without him, there wouldn't be a Lone Ranger.
- Break Out Villain: He appears in both film versions, the comic books, and the NES game as the main villain.
- Starter Villain: He tends to be the first villain Lone Ranger faced in his career.
- Token Motivational Nemesis: He tend to not reappear after being defeated.
- You Killed My Brother: In most versions, Reid's brother is among Butch's victims, giving an extra impetus for him to seek justice.
