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The 2006 film Hollywoodland, starring Ben Affleck as Reeves and Adrien Brody as a fictional investigator loosely based on actual detective Milo Speriglio, dramatizes the investigation of Reeves' death. The official verdict was that Reeves had committed suicide, the weight of his troubles having become too much for him to bear. Reeves died at the age of 45, from a gunshot wound to the head. Los Angeles Police Department Death Report, June 26, 1959. Actors Alan Ladd and Gig Young were reportedly skeptical of the official determination. The Mysterious Death of Superman. Everyone involved decided that it had been a suicide. The second half of the show was Reeves out of costume as himself, singing and accompanying himself on the guitar. He looked forward to working with So Proudly We Hail! George Reeves mother Helen Bessolo never accepted the official verdict and hired private investigators to to reopen the investigation into his death. [17] Reeves appeared in five Hopalong Cassidy westerns before being cast as Lieutenant John Summers opposite Claudette Colbert in So Proudly We Hail! Had the actor been placed on the bed some time after he was shot? [26] He was reportedly making $5,000 (about $50,000 in today's dollars) per week, but only while the show was in production (about eight weeks each year). Location: California, United States Date Posted: 1/12/2010 6:55:33 PM [28] He appeared as Superman on I Love Lucy (Episode #165, "Lucy and Superman") in 1957. George Reeves former residence is rather small, especially by Hollywood standards. Around 1, two friends came by for a visit. The Ghost of George Reeves | Paul Kupperberg Inexplicably, the shell casing was found underneath Reeves body. . Reeves and Toni Mannix split in 1958 and Reeves announced his engagement to society playgirl Leonore Lemmon. After Gone with the Wind was filmed, Reeves returned to the Pasadena Playhouse and was given the lead role in the play Pancho. They decided that he had not committed suicide. George Reeves (born George Keefer . Reeves himself believed Mannix was behind the succession of sinister events that dogged Reeves in the run up to his death, including silent midnight phonecalls and the kidnapping of his beloved Schnauzer Sam. The official finding was suicide, but some believe that he was murdered or the victim of an accidental shooting. While this may have been the final act for George Reeves Superman, it was the first act in what would become one of the biggest mysteries surrounding the role. He is best known for portraying Superman in the television series Adventures of Superman (19521958). gruesome and unsolved murder of the Black Dahlia. Loved the commercial..how cool! The year before Reeves death he abruptly ended his relationship with Mannix, leaving her for the younger New York socialite Leonore Lemmon. He served as national chairman for the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation in 1955. The recent feature film, "Hollywoodland" is about this questionable death of a popular celebrity. If it was Reeves that pulled the trigger then in all likelihood it was because he had had enough of his life, for whatever reason. His death was officially classified as. Inside the Mysterious Death of George Reeves, the Original Superman GREAT AMERICAN SCANDALS On June 16, 1959, George Reeves, who was the first to make the superhero an icon when he played. Reeves was born five months into their marriage[9] and the couple separated soon after Reeves's birth. Its Superman! The iconic intro blazed into American households on Sept. 19, 1952. The characters involved range from colorful to drunk to suspicious, having by now taken any secrets they may be hiding to their gravesIn . The house where George lived is fairly modest for the area, but the asking price in 1995 was $625,000. Her devastation at been rejected by her boy had pushed her to the ultimate reprisal. The world was shocked to learn that famed Superman actor, George Reeves, had been found dead in his home of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. In June 2021, an episode of the internet series BuzzFeed Unsolved discussed the death of Reeves and possible theories. George Reeves' home in Benedict Canyon On June 16, 1959, Lenore Lemmon served dinner at around 6:30 p.m. at Reeves' Benedict Canyon home. He had a string of B-list movies after that, and was slowly working his way up to leading man status when bombs dropped on Pearl Harbor. However, friends and relatives think Reeves career troubles were exaggerated. The ex-girlfriend who couldn't let go Beginning in 1948, Reeves had a 10-year. Lemmon moved into his house, and they were to be married on June 18. Following an investigation, officers of the Los Angeles Police Department ruled the death a suicide, likely prompted by Reeves' alleged depression over the fact that he was experiencing financial . He kept his private life discreet, including a romantic relationship with Toni Mannix, wife of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer general manager Eddie Mannix. He was born in Woolstock, Iowa but eventually moved to Galesburg, Illinois after his parents separated. A SHOT rang out. He was dead from a single gunshot wound to his right temple. Reeves then apologized, and the group sat around talking. Robert (Bobby) was writing a book about boxer Archie Moore. Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images Phyllis Coates and George Reeves in The Adventures of Superman. After breaking up with his wife, Reeves had engaged in a three-year affair with actress Toni Mannix, who was married to a notorious fixer for MGM Studios. In 1960, Reeves was awarded a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard for his contributions to the TV industry. In typical fashion, Reeves and Lemmon went out for a boozy night on the town. At around 2am that morning, two police officers arrived at 1579 Benedict Canyon, Los Angeles, the house Reeves had been living at with his new fiance Leonore Lemmon during the previous few months. Years later, William Bliss, one of the party guests who had originally told police Leonore Lemmon was downstairs with them when the shot was heard, changed his story. A funeral was held on Wednesday, June 30. On June 16, 1959, Reeves was found dead in his bedroom from a gunshot wound to the head. A noise echoed: See, hes opening the drawer to get the gun. Then a shot: I told you, hes shot himself.. According to publicist Edward Lozzi, who had befriended Toni during her last years as a widow in Beverly Hills, what she had done weighed heavily on the now elderly Mannix. Up in the sky! When Officers Johnson and Korby entered the . [17], Released from his Warner contract, he signed a contract at Twentieth Century-Fox but was released after only a handful of films, one of which was the Charlie Chan movie Dead Men Tell. The official ruling was suicide. Next, read about the gruesome and unsolved murder of the Black Dahlia. Three bullet holes were found in the bedroom, all caused by the Luger that was found resting between the victim's legs. While Reeves was depressed at the time of his death, there were oddities at the crime scene. Cancel OK Your account Lenore was allegedly upset at the way he was handling the situation. Reeves was born five months into their marriage (the reason Reeves's mother subsequently claimed a false April birth date for her son, something he was unaware of until . He died instantly and fell backwards, his feet still hungover the bed and his back on the mattress. George Reeves (born George Keefer Brewer; January 5, 1914 June 16, 1959) was an American actor. A noise was heard upstairs. At approximately 1:20 AM, Reeves excused himself, and went upstairs to bed. Around one in the morning they were joined by two of the neighbors, at which point Reeves, who had already been in bed, stomped downstairs to yell at his guests. Father George Thomas Reeves. The events surrounding his death have been the subject of much conjecture ever since. He had also lined up a science fiction script called Return to Earth, by screenwriter Sidney Fields that he had hoped to direct, possibly with his Superman co-star Phyllis Coates in one of the lead roles. The Day Superman Died, George Reeves Death House 6,369 views Feb 16, 2019 159 Dislike Share Save Michael Thompson's Hidden In Plain Sight 688 subscribers In this video I visit the house where. Despite these suspicions, the Los Angeles Police Department officially ruled the death a suicide, on little more than a cursory investigation. Had Reeves really shot himself three times? His body was later cremated and interred at the Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena, which I blogged about during my Haunted Hollywood theme last year. Or perhaps Toni took matters into her own hands and simply had her husband cover it up. A photo of a smiling Reeves and the sign appears in Gary Grossman's book about the show. He was initially reluctant to take the role because, like many actors of his time, he considered television unimportant and believed few would see his work. He performed on live television anthology programs, as well as on radio. George Reeves Real name: George Keefer Brewer, George Bessolo. Had she even pulled the trigger herself? Would the actor, generally described as an ordinary, straightforward kind of guy, really have killed himself in a house full of guests, especially choosing to do so naked - highly unusual in suicides? Superman had been cancelled and Reeves had struggled to find the serious work he craved. But she was also suffering from alzheimer's at the time of her death, and may have confused fact with the many fictions that had long circulated about the death of her former lover. Army. When his mother moved to California to be with her sister, it was said Reeves never saw his father again. The story told by those there that night is full of holes, the evidence perplexing and poorly handled. Mannix, who had ties to the mob, had him whacked due to the affair. He starred in a number of two-reel short subjects and appeared in several B-pictures, including two with Ronald Reagan and three with James Cagney (Torrid Zone, The Fighting 69th, and The Strawberry Blonde). Bud Collyer had voiced the Man of Steel on the radio from 1940 to 1951, and Kirk Alyn played the role in two 15-part movie serials that ended in 1950. . Superman actor George Reeves is beloved for his portrayal of the character, and this is an in-depth look back at his life and tragic death. She had talked to him days before, and, according to her, he was in a splendid state of mind. She had the body exhumed, and a second autopsy was performed. [1] [2] His death at age 45 from a gunshot remains controversial. There she had met and married Frank Joseph Bessolo by 1927, according to that year's federal census. The Suspicious Death of George Reeves. When the police did arrive, they found no sign . According to commentaries on the Adventures of Superman DVD sets, multiple scripts were filmed simultaneously to take advantage of the standing sets; for example, all the "Perry White's office" scenes for three or four episodes would be shot the same day and the various "apartment" scenes would be done consecutively. Lemmon and Reeves had a stormy relationship but, at least according to her, were engaged to be married. No one is entirely certain who was even at the house that night. Eddie was not happy when his wife wasnt happy. According to Jim Nolts fabulous Superman-themed The Adventures Continue website, the house has remained largely unchanged since the time Reeves lived there over fifty years ago. Everyone involved is now dead, and little or no evidence from the crime scene remains. Twentieth Century-Fox loaned him to producer Alexander Korda to co-star with Merle Oberon in Lydia,[17] a box-office failure, after which he freelanced, looking to find work in westerns. She had prepared the meal for Reeves and guest Robert Condon, a writer who was there to do an article on Reeves and his upcoming bout with Archie Moore. Reeves' will, dated 1956, bequeathed his entire estate to Toni Mannix, much to Lemmon's surprise and devastation. Conversely, not everyone who is depressed about their career takes their own life. The home is currently a private residence but photos can be easily taken from the street. If the Hollywood stories are to be believed, any death involving a girl and a gun is suspicious. It was an open secret in the business that Reeves had been conducting a long term affair with Toni Mannix, the wife of notorious Hollywood fixer and MGM vice president Eddie Mannix. George Reeves: The Death of Superman | The Unredacted The Superman cast members had restrictive contracts preventing them from taking other work that might interfere with the series. However, these were never investigated and Giesler strangely refused to work on the case any longer. George Reeves' Death Remains Shrouded In Mystery To This Day In 1927, Frank Bessolo adopted George at aged 13, as his own son, and the boy took on his stepfather's last name, becoming George Bessolo. The Mysterious Death of Superman George Reeves - Clever Journeys Toni Lanier Mannix (born Camille Bernice Froomess; February 19, 1906 - September 2, 1983) was an American actress and dancer in early motion pictures filmed with soundtracks, known as "talkies".Going by the name Toni Lanier, she became known in Hollywood circles for her extramarital relationship with future husband MGM studio head Eddie Mannix, who was married at the time to Bernice Fitzmaurice. It was a bullet to the head. According to legend, the house at 1579 Benedict Canyon Drive in Los Angeles where actor George Reeves died of a gunshot wound to the head early in the morning of June 16, 1959 is haunted. This is the house, and home, that Superman actor George Reeves lived Separated from his wife (their divorce became final in 1950), Reeves moved to New York City in 1949. This is however not the case as it it the guest bedroom that faces the street. Mother Victoria Alice Mason. George Reeves Superman Death | Snopes.com Learn about George Reeves death and the true story behind the Hollywoodland movie starring Ben Affleck as TV's Superman. Hes going upstairs to shoot himself, began her callous recital after Reeves left the room. The actor had no burn marks on his hands or face - how had he shot himself in the head with a pistol without leaving powder burns? The police also found two gunshot holes in the carpet as well as the one in the ceiling that they traced to the wound in Reevess head, yet the witnesses claimed to have only heard one shot that night. Hollywood was recovering from the war, but slowly, and Reeves wasnt the only actor trying to make up for lost time with renewed dedication to dreams that were still very much alive but suddenly even further out of reach. U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records 19381946, dated March24, 1943, Speeding Bullet, 2nd Ed, by Jan Alan Henderson, p. 151. A script was commissioned from David Chantler, who had written many of the TV scripts. Died in House - George Reeves, TV's "Superman" Suicide or | Facebook The first half of the show was a Superman sketch in which Reeves and Neill performed with LeBell as a villain called "Mr. Kryptonite" who captured Lois Lane. Reeves also enjoyed playing with an unloaded gun. Piecing Together The Circumstances Of George Reeves - TheFashionBall Your definitive source to filming locations and all things Hollywood! The characters involved range from colorful to drunk to suspicious, having by now taken any secrets . In 1952, the struggling ABC Network purchased the show for national broadcast, which gave him greater visibility. Superman's Curse: The George Reeves Murder-Suicide Was a Hoax [27], His good friend Bill Walsh, a producer at Disney Studios, gave Reeves a prominent role in Westward Ho the Wagons! George Reeves' death was ruled a suicide, . While he and Lemmon were supposed to get married only a few days after his death, Lemmon allegedly had soured on him after she realized the older Superman wasnt quite the loaded Hollywood player she thought he was. After all these years, what happened that night at 1579 Benedict Canyon remains obscure and controversial. Many felt that Reeves was tired of being known as Superman, and that he killed himself out of anguish. Gay History: Jack Larson, Gay Actor Tormented by Jimmy - timalderman [24] As for Port of Entry, Reeves was never able to gain financing for the project, and the show was never made. George Reeves | Unsolved Mysteries Wiki | Fandom Reeves would later recall the impact Sandrich's death had on his career. Hollywoodland (2006) - IMDb However, many of his friends and colleagues believe the actor was murdered, his death the stormy culmination of a tangled love life. But his business manager and mother, among others, said that while it was true he was disappointed in the way things were going, his feelings werent strong enough to explain a suicide. Who killed Superman? The sinister true story behind the death of George A classically trained actor who already had some impressive credits to his name, including the 1939 classic Gone With the Wind, Reeves was reluctant to take on the role because in televisions early days, it was considered to be a rather undignified medium that was far inferior to film. The . Many studios were slowing down their production schedules, however, and some production units had shut down completely. Reeves himself was convinced it was Mannix behind a string of strange incidents that had befallen him in the aftermath of their breakup. Tall and chisel jawed, Reeves was the perfect choice to play the all American hero in the syndicated television show the Adventures of Superman. Hes going upstairs to shoot himself, she explained to the other guests, who then heard a sound from upstairs. His work on the show would earn him fame as the Original Superman, even though that wasnt technically true. The police did not treat the house as a crime scene, and Lemmon was able to return shortly after they had left, have the bloody sheets washed, retrieve $4000 in travellers cheques and leave Los Angeles for New York, never to return again, not even for Reeves funeral. The film suggests three possible scenarios: accidental shooting by Lemmon, murder by an unnamed hitman under orders from Eddie Mannix, and suicide. (1942), a war drama for Paramount Pictures. The accident was rendered in a more sinister light when Reeves mechanic discovered the brake fluid in the car had been drained. Leonore Lemmons behaviour after Reeves death did little to allay suspicions she may have had more involvement than she was letting on. Honorary pallbearers included Alan Ladd and Gig Young. The house was bought in the early 1950's for $12,000. According to Larson, Reeves said that if Mark Sandrich had not died, he would not be there in "this monkey suit". Advertisement. Lemmon had called them after she and her party guests had found Reeves dead in his bedroom. [17] Reeves fit the rugged requirements of the roles, and, with his retentive memory for dialogue, he did well under rushed production conditions. [39] Despite the unanswered questions, Reeves' death was officially ruled a suicide, based on witness statements, physical evidence at the scene, and the autopsy report. George Reeves' Mysterious Passing at 45 Has People Doubting - AmoMama But this wasn't the conclusion of the police officers who arrived at 1579 Benedict Canyon, Los Angeles, in the early hours of June 16, 1959. Jack Larson, who died at 87 on Sunday, was a gifted writer and gay man whose talents and personal struggles were overshadowed by his role as . . While the authorities officially declared Reeves' death to be a suicide, not everyone was willing to accept that conclusion. And that was the scene that was set on June 15, 1959. Suicide or murder? Reeves a Hollywood victim - TODAY.com Even after almost a half-century, the mystery surrounding the untimely death of actor George Reeves remained such a potent and fascinating piece of Hollywood legend - it had been the subject of countless articles, books, and one film, the neo-noir "Hollywoodland" (2006) - that one could easily forget that the man himself as well as his long time acting career prior to his demise. In contemporary news articles, Lemmon attributed Reeves' alleged suicide to depression caused by his "failed career" and inability to find more work. George Reeves - Biography The Superman Scandal: How George Reeves' Death Rocked Hollywood Reeves had also hoped to direct a low-budget science-fiction film written by a friend from his Pasadena Playhouse days, and he had discussed the project with his first Lois Lane, Phyllis Coates, the previous year. Lois & Clark - The New Adventures of Superman, Superman/Shazam! Mobster Mickey Cohen once described Toni Mannix as the only person in Hollywood who had any balls. The findings of a second autopsy, conducted at Giesler's request, were the same as the first, except for a series of bruises of unknown origin about the head and body. Shortly after their arrival, Reeves came downstairs to hang out with the group and then once again retired to his room at around 1:20. The same cast was very quickly taken on for a television series, The Adventures of Superman, sponsored by Kellogg's cereal, which began airing late in 1952. [40], Reeves' mother thought the ruling premature and peremptory, and retained attorney Jerry Giesler to petition for a reinvestigation of the case as a possible homicide. Inside the Mysterious Death of George Reeves, the Original Superman Eddie Mannix wasnt just a heavy in Hollywood, he was also rumored to have mob connections. The story told by those there that night is full of holes, the evidence perplexing and poorly handled.