Spilsbury had small roles on two episodes of 1978 prime-time television dramas:Suddenly, Love and Lou Grant.
He was selected for the role over several more experienced actors (including Stephen Collins, Nicholas Guest, Bruce Boxleitner and Kurt Russell), partly because producers felt he looked good in the character's domino mask.
A minor scandal erupted because of the studio's treatment of Clayton Moore, star of the popular 1950s TV series, who was prevented through legal action from wearing his black mask during personal appearances.
Spilsbury told Warhol that, before making the movie, he had been an art student married to a rich woman and that they had a baby together.
[11] In 2013, when the reboot film The Lone Ranger starring Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer was released, Spilsbury was sought out by media sources but declined to comment.