The Mysterious Death of George Reeves, the actor who portrayed Superman on TV in the 1950s, has sparked a debate over whether he died by suicide or was murdered.
A teacher from Midtown School, Scott Nelson, sought answers about the conflicting stories surrounding Reeves' death and whether there was a curse on actors who played Superman.
Here's the scoop.
Firstly, let's clarify that it was George Reeves, not Steve Reeves, who played the iconic superhero.
Steve Reeves was a bodybuilder who gained fame for his role as Hercules in Italian adventure movies during the late 50s and early 60s.
So, let's not confuse the two.
To shed light on this topic, there are several books that delve into Reeves' life and death.
These include “Serial to Cereal” by Gary Grossman, “Speeding Bullet” by Jan Hendersen, and “Hollywood Kryptonite: The Bulldog, the Lady, and the Death of Superman” by Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger.
Before landing the role of Superman, George Reeves had a successful film career, even appearing in “Gone with the Wind.”
He starred in the feature film “Superman and the Mole Men,” which led to the creation of the TV series “The Adventures of Superman” sponsored by Kellogg's cereal.
The show aired from 1952 to 1957 and was one of the first filmed in color, despite the absence of color television at the time.
However, after the series ended, Reeves faced difficulties finding new roles due to being typecast as Superman.
In 1959, there was a glimmer of hope as the producers decided to film another season of the show in 1960.
Reeves was also planning to shoot a film in Spain and was set to marry Leonore Lemmon on June 19, 1959.
Unfortunately, his life took a tragic turn just three days before the wedding.
In the early morning hours of June 16, 1959, George Reeves was found dead with a single gunshot wound to the head.
The official ruling was suicide, but various rumors circulated at the time, mirroring the questions posed by Scott Nelson's students.
The suicide theory centered around Reeves' struggle to find acting jobs outside of the Superman role.
He was known for partying and had been involved in a romantic affair with Toni Mannix, the wife of Eddie Mannix, an MGM executive with alleged mob connections.
Reeves ended the relationship in 1958, leading to months of harassment from Toni Mannix.
These circumstances prompted Reeves to seek legal advice.
On the night of June 15, 1959, Reeves and Lemmon, along with some guests, were drinking and partying at his home until the early hours of the morning.
Reeves went to bed, and shortly after, a gunshot was heard.
He was discovered dead, n^ked on his bed, with a bullet hole in his right temple.
The presence of a high blood alcohol level and the combination of painkillers for injuries from a car accident made suicide seem plausible.
However, Reeves' mother and others believed foul play was involved.
They suspected he was a victim of murder.
Jim Nolt, an expert on George Reeves, appeared on the TV show “Unsolved Mysteries” in 1995, discussing the evidence surrounding Reeves' death.
The lack of fingerprints on the gun, the absence of powder burns on the head wound, and the location of the gun and spent shell raised doubts about suicide.
Several theories emerged over the years:
(1) Reeves was killed by Leonore Lemmon in a fit of passion or argument.
(2) Toni or Eddie Mannix, or someone hired by them, murdered Reeves.
(3) The official ruling was correct, and Reeves did take his own life.
Unfortunately, almost four decades have passed since the tragedy, and those who might know the truth are no longer alive.
Both Toni Mannix and Leonore Lemmon have since passed away.
Regarding the supposed curse on actors who play Superman, it's safe to say that such claims lack credibility.
In conclusion, the circumstances surrounding George Reeves' death remain shrouded in mystery.
While the official ruling was suicide, questions persist, leaving room for speculation and intrigue.
The upcoming film “Hollywoodland,” starring Ben Affleck as George Reeves, explores the possibility of murder but may be more fiction than fact.
