George Reeves' Mysterious Death

[The Voice of Reason]

There has been a great deal of speculation since George Reeves died on June 15, 1959. The LA Police ruled the case a suicide, while close friends and some fans believe Reeves met with foul play.

Personally I think that Reeves and then girlfriend Leonore Lemmon got into a heated argument and she accidently shot and killed Reeves.

Why I don't buy the theory that Reeves killed himself is because he was about to start filming more episodes of the "Adventures of Superman" which he was going to direct a number of those shows. Also he formed a production company and was in the process of getting Phyllis Coates, the first Lois Lane, to star in a new show.

Now there is always the chance that Reeves, having too much to drink, or having a bad reaction to the pain medication he was on, decided in a depressed state of mind to just "end it."

The irony is that Reeves wanted to be a known star. And here we are nearly 60 years after the debut of Superman on TV and George Reeves is still remembered by thousands of fans. Just imagine where his career might have gone had he not accepted the role of Superman?

Anyone else have a theory as to Reeves death, or what might have happened to his career had he lived beyond 1959?

 

[landtuna]

Anyone else have a theory as to Reeves death, or what might have happened to his career had he lived beyond 1959?

I'm old enough to remember his "Superman" TV series as well as read about his surprising death in the morning newspaper.

Given what I've read about Reeves and his career I am in agreement with you on the possible cause of his death. While he wasn't very happy he was typecast as "Superman" there was some break-out work, however minor, in the works at the time of his death. Seems unlikely he would shoot himself at that particular moment - and especially with others in the house.

As for what might have been....I suspect his career would have followed that of a great many 1950's kids TV characters and gone pretty much nowhere. Most of the actors who made kids shows back then completed their careers hosting supermarket openings and the like.

It is interesting that Reeves had a history of minor roles in major motion pictures before the Superman gig. "Gone With The Wind" probably being the most notable. His parts were often throw-away however.

 

[Mark Giardina]

It is interesting that Reeves had a history of minor roles in major motion pictures before the Superman gig. "Gone With The Wind" probably being the most notable. His parts were often throw-away however.

Reeves co-starred with Claudette Colbert and Paulette Goddard in a very good movie "So Proudly We Hail." which was released in 1943.

The director of that movie, Mark Sandrich, promised Reeves that once his stint in the Army ended following World War 2 that George would get better acting roles. Unfortunately Sandrich died before Reeves tour of duty ended.

Jack Larson, who played Jimmy Olsen, has said in numerous interviews that Reeves told him had Sandrich lived, he (Reeves) "wouldn't be wearing this monkey suit" ....referring to the Superman outfit.

 

[bpatrick]

Jack Larson has also said that "anyone who thinks George was happy
about playing Superman again didn't know George." Reeves might have
made his way to Italy and "spaghetti Westerns," but I think that if we
look at what happened to Adam West, we could easily conclude that
Reeves' career would have met the same fate post-'59.

Which would have been a shame; IMHO, Reeves was ten times the
actor West is.

 

[RicoGregg]

The death of George Reeves is the subject of the 2006 film, Hollywoodland, in which Ben Affleck portrays Reeves.

The movie shows people and incidents in Reeves' life just before the time of his passing, but does not come to a definitive conclusion. Just a lot of speculation.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427969/

 

[Mark Giardina]

The death of George Reeves is the subject of the 2006 film, Hollywoodland, in which Ben Affleck portrays Reeves.
The movie shows people and incidents in Reeves' life just before the time of his passing, but does not come to a definitive conclusion. Just a lot of speculation.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427969/

I saw Hollywoodland, which in my opinion was a disappointment; not that Ben Affleck played George Reeves, but Adrian Broody's character of the detective didn't gel with me.

Anyways there have always been three scenarios regarding Reeves' death. One is that he shot himself. Two; his girlfriend killed him during an argument; and three is his former girlfriend's mobbed-up husband put out a hit on Reeves.

The police in 1959 didn't have anything close to the tools today's authorities have when it comes to solving crimes. That and plus the fact that tabloid TV and cable news would have been all over a story like this. Back in Reeves day, one believed what the cops told them. Since all the major players in this case are long dead, we will never know the truth.

 

[Ultimajock]

...actor Jim Beaver (Ellsworth on Deadwood, Bobby Singer on Supernatural) was a technical advisor on Hollywoodland has been working on his own book about Reeves' death for several years now. Hopefully, he'll get the thing published not too horribly long from now...