The Mysterious Death of the First Superman
In the realm of American mysteries, the death of the original Superman remains an enigma that may never be fully solved.
The accounts from that fateful night are riddled with gaps, leaving behind perplexing and mishandled evidence.
The individuals involved in the incident range from eccentric to intoxicated to suspicious, taking any hidden secrets they may have had to their graves.
On the early morning of June 16, 1959, George Reeves, renowned for his portrayal of the iconic superhero in the inaugural television series, was discovered lifeless in his bedroom.
n^ked and with a bullet wound to his head, the circumstances surrounding his demise were shrouded in mystery.
As tragedy unfolded, Reeves’ fiancée and three guests reveled downstairs, with his soon-to-be wife providing a heartless narrative of the events occurring above.
Her callous recital began with the chilling words, “He’s going upstairs to shoot himself,” moments after Reeves left the room.
After a gunshot rang out, they waited a staggering 45 minutes before contacting the authorities.
Although the death was speedily classified as a suicide, many close to the actor strongly believed that he would never have taken his own life.
Their suspicions were not solely fueled by grief and denial; the evidence itself was puzzling.
Like an optical illusion, the details seemed to paint a picture of a man who, in a moment of distress, made a tragic decision.
Yet, from another perspective, George Reeves’ death bore a striking resemblance to murder.
Trouble Lurked Behind the Scenes in Metropolis
“Faster than a speeding bullet!
More powerful than a locomotive!
Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!
Look!
Up in the sky!
It’s a bird!
It’s a plane!
It’s Superman!”
This iconic introduction blared into American households on September 19, 1952.
At the age of 38, Reeves donned the role of the superhero, bringing to life the character’s alter ego, Clark Kent, with his rugged all-American looks.
Over six years and 104 episodes, he flashed a broad smile in photographs, striking the famous Superman power pose with his fists on his hips.
Reeves also made guest appearances to promote the hit television show, including a memorable stint in costume on I Love Lucy.
(The punchline: “Ricardo, do you mean to say that you’ve been married to her for 15 years?…
And they call me Superman!”)
His performance on the show propelled him to fame as the “Original Superman,” despite the existence of previous portrayals.
Bud Collyer had voiced the Man of Steel on the radio from 1940 to 1951, and Kirk Alyn had played the role in two 15-part movie serials that concluded in 1950.
However, it was Reeves who truly brought the soaring superhero to widespread popularity on the screen.
Yet, behind the scenes in the fictional city of Metropolis, all was not well.
While being chosen to play a renowned superhero may be considered a pinnacle of an actor’s career today, Reeves accepted the role out of sheer desperation.
The Iowa-born actor caught his big break when he was cast as one of Scarlett O’Hara’s suitors in the 1939 film Gone with the Wind.
Following that, he appeared in a series of B-list movies, gradually working his way up to leading man status.
However, the outbreak of World War II disrupted his progress.
Although he returned unharmed, his life took a detour from that point onward.
Reeves struggled to revive his career, as Hollywood slowly recovered from the war.
He was not the only actor attempting to make up for lost time and striving to reignite dreams that remained tantalizingly out of reach.
The desired roles eluded him.
It was during this period of stagnation that Reeves was approached with the opportunity to play the role that would define his life.
He recognized the potential popularity of the show, but hesitated due to certain reservations.
Firstly, television had just become a ubiquitous presence in households across the country, yet it was still considered a lesser medium compared to the artistic realm of film.
Moreover, The Adventures of Superman predominantly targeted a younger audience.
Reeves worried that accepting the role would forever cement him as the beloved superhero of children, potentially hindering his chances of being seen as a serious leading man by both the world and casting directors.
His concerns were not unfounded.
In a 1958 article for the Evening Star aptly titled “No Work for Superman,” Reeves openly discussed the challenges he faced.
When asked why he took on the role, he simply replied, “I was hungry.”
However, after six years, he found it increasingly difficult to propel his career forward.
“The producers wouldn’t give me a job.
They’d take one look at me and say it was impossible.”
It wasn’t solely career frustrations that plagued Reeves.
Despite his fame as Superman, the role did not bring him substantial wealth.
The actors were poorly compensated, and even after receiving a raise following an unsuccessful attempt to leave the show after three seasons, Reeves struggled financially.
He couldn’t secure the roles he truly desired, and the demanding nature of his commitments to Superman left him with limited time and energy.
Some individuals close to Reeves claimed that profound depression and frustration with his career led to the events of that fateful night.
However, his business manager and mother, among others, insisted that while he was undoubtedly disappointed with the trajectory of his career, his feelings were not strong enough to warrant suicide.
“It’s not like my George to do a thing like that,” his mother expressed to the press.
Understanding what transpired within someone’s mind, especially during a night filled with heavy drinking, remains an impossible task.
Nevertheless, it appeared that Reeves was taking steps to address his situation.
Like countless women throughout Hollywood history, Reeves turned to directing, producing, and writing when he struggled to secure desired roles.
He aspired to forge a fulfilling career for himself, and had already directed the final 13 episodes of the series.
In an interview with the Evening Star, he expressed his enthusiasm for future projects, stating, “I’m excited about doing more.”
However, the dramatic turns in Reeves’ life were not confined to his career alone.
His personal life lacked the glamour associated with red carpets and champagne.
Following his separation from his wife, Reeves embarked on a three-year affair with actress Toni Mannix, who happened to be married to Eddie Mannix, a notorious fixer for MGM Studios.
Eddie was not only a prominent figure in Hollywood but was also rumored to have connections to organized crime.
Interestingly, the issue at hand did not revolve around Reeves’ affair with Toni.
Eddie, who had his own extramar
