Shortly after, she began her affair with Reeves, who at 10 years her junior, she referred to as the boy. This part directly led to his being contracted to Warner Brothers. [1][2], His death at age 45 from a gunshot remains controversial. Everyone involved is now dead, and little or no evidence from the crime scene remains. As portrayed in films such as Hollywoodland and Hail Ceasar, Eddie had an array of thugs, bent cops, private eyes and mobsters on the payroll. Then check out 48 photos that capture vintage Hollywood. Worst of all occurred on April 8th, when Reeves lost control of his Jaguar and careered into a cement pillar near his home in Benedict Canyon. At the beginning of his life, George Reeves was a Midwesterner by birth but, as he grew older, he made his way out to California with his mother. Hes been murdered. This kind of phone call would not have been out of the ordinary for Lois Lane, the character Coates famously played on TV. Miss Lemmon then made the statement, He is going to shoot himself. Shortly, they heard a dresser drawer being opened upstairs, and Miss Lemmon commented, He is getting the gun out now, and he is going to shoot himself. Moments later, a shot was heard, and they ran upstairs to see what happened. When his mother moved to California to be with her sister, it was said Reeves never saw his father again. The husband of Reeves jilted lover was the infamous Eddie Mannix, a fixer at MGM during the golden age of studios, when his job was to make stars problems vanish. The Mannixs relationship was unusual even by the standards of Hollywood. The story told by those there that night is full of holes, the evidence perplexing and poorly handled. Reeves' friend Rory Calhoun told a reporter "No one in Hollywood believed the suicide story." Reeves was 38 when he first cloaked his rugged all-American looks that were more Clark Kent than strange visitor from another planet in a caped costume. . Had she even pulled the trigger herself? Perhaps the toxic mixture of alcohol and painkillers had led to a fatal misjudgment? Reeves usually had an open door policy, but not after midnight. If anyone could put the heat on Superman it was Eddie. Info Share. George Reeves (born George Keefer . Perhaps fueled by a disbelief that the Man of Steel could ever take his own life, speculation and theories have abounded for more than 50 years that Lemmon, Mannix, her husband or even a hitman were responsible for the death of Superman. The police also appeared to be behaving in a careless manner. On the night of June 15th, 1959, Reeves and Lemmon went out to dinner and the two reportedly drank a great deal. In the early morning hours of June 16, 1959, George Reeves, who was the first to make the superhero an icon when he played the titular role in the inaugural TV series, was found dead in his bedroom, naked with a bullet through his head. George was dressed in a gray Clark Kent Suit from the tv show and his body was taken to Gates/Kingsley/Gates on Sepulveda. Nobody wanted me to work at all. His passing even became the subject of the 2006 biographical docudrama Hollywoodland, in which Ben Affleck plays the Pasadena-bred television star. director Mark Sandrich. 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. Just over a year after the war started, Reeves was called up. In the documentary Look, Up in the Sky: The Amazing Story of Superman, Jack Larson said that when he first met Reeves, he told him that he enjoyed his performance in So Proudly We Hail! 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. However, Superman producers offered him a salary increase, and he returned to the series. Reeves himself was also severely under the influence, with a blood alcohol level of .27 and, because the actor had long enjoyed playing with unloaded weapons, it was thought possible he accidentally shot himself while doing so. Since a 9mm Luger generally ejects its shells to the right, it's hard to conceive what position the actor must have been in when he fired for it to have ended up underneath him. George went to bed at 12:30 AM. Between the first and second seasons of Superman, Reeves got sporadic acting assignments in one-shot TV anthology programs and in two feature films, Forever Female (1953) and Fritz Lang's The Blue Gardenia (1953), but by the time the series was airing nationwide, Reeves found himself so associated with Superman and Clark Kent that it was difficult for him to find other roles. Reeves, who took his acting career seriously and had parts in Gone with the Wind and From here to Eternity, always had mixed feelings about his fame as Superman. On June 16, 1959, Reeves was found dead in his bedroom from a gunshot wound to the head. Larson also thought the prospective return of the Adventures of Superman had filled the actor with dread, Anyone who thinks another season of Superman wouldn't depress George didn't know George, he said. In the 1950s the actor, George Reeves was best known for his portrayal of Superman in the television series, Adventures of Superman. No gunpowder residue was found on Reeves' hands. However, many of his friends and colleagues believe the actor was murdered, his death the stormy culmination of a tangled love life. How do we create a person's profile? 1959: Los Angeles police arrive at the home of 45-year-old actor George Reeves, famous for his role as TV's Superman, and find him naked and dead of a gunshot wound to the head. [13] The Bessolo marriage lasted 15 years, ending in divorce, with the couple separating while Reeves was away visiting relatives. He directed the final 13 episodes of the series, and told the Evening Star that he was enthused about doing more.. 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. Warners loaned him to producer Alexander Korda to co-star with Merle Oberon in Lydia, a box-office failure. Further to this, a later search of the bedroom found two extra bullet holes. Others suggested that Eddie Mannix, rumored to have Mafia ties, ordered Reeves killed.[43]. Nosotros, Yahoo, somos parte de la familia de marcas de Yahoo. Her devastation at been rejected by her boy had pushed her to the ultimate reprisal. The . Great article tho. The windows above the living room are the windows to George's bedroom. Superman had been cancelled and Reeves had struggled to find the serious work he craved. A funeral was held on Wednesday, June 30. George Reeves, whose work as TV's Man of Steel would set the Superman screen standard for decades, died in his Benedict Canyon home from a gunshot to the head. [17] He avoided smoking cigarettes where children could see him and eventually quit smoking. 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. Did the 45-year-old actor commit suicide (as was the official finding), was his death accidental, or was he murdered by his vengeful ex-lover or her jealous husband? Advertisement. The series went on the air the following year, and Reeves was amazed at becoming a national celebrity. If they were fired earlier, then at the very least its evidence somebody in the house had a somewhat cavalier attitude to firearms. Reeves death was the first in what would come to be a string of tragedies surrounding the role, in what would come to be known as the Superman curse. '"[29], Reeves, Noel Neill, Natividad Vaco, Gene LeBell, and a trio of musicians toured with a public-appearance show from 1957 onward. [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. As far as Reeves was concerned, one has to wonder if he had any regrets. mostrar anuncios y contenido personalizados basados en perfiles de inters; medir la efectividad de los anuncios y el contenido personalizados, y. desarrollar y mejorar nuestros productos y servicios. He died in June of 1959, not 1958. Gina Dimuro is a New York-based writer and translator. He appeared in a pair of outdoor thrillers with Ralph Byrd. This was before news of Reeves death had gotten out, and it always remained a mystery to Coates how Mannix could have known Reeves was murdered unless she was party to it. No one is entirely certain who was even at the house that night. On June 16, 1959, actress Phyllis Coates was woken up around 4:30 a.m. by a very strange phone call. Waymarkly is the premiere Waymarking app for iOS. Hes going upstairs to shoot himself, she explained to the other guests, who then heard a sound from upstairs. Three bullet holes were found in the bedroom, all caused by the Luger that was found resting between the victim's legs. He is best known for portraying Superman in the television series Adventures of Superman (1952-1958). Last edited on 17 February 2023, at 06:25, Look, Up in the Sky: The Amazing Story of Superman, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "The Death of George Reeves The Original Superman", "The Life and Tragic Death of 'Superman' Star George Reeves Plus the Actor in his Own Words", "7 super things you might not know about George Reeves", "11 Homes That Are Haunted by Dead Celebrities", "Was Superman star George Reeves a suicide or murder victim? [13] His Gone with the Wind screen credit reflects the change. Despite these suspicions, the Los Angeles Police Department officially ruled the death a suicide, on little more than a cursory investigation. Forty-five minutes later, the police were called. The Great Mystery Of George Reeves' Death On June 16, 1959, the actor died in his own bedroom when he was only 45 years old from a shot to the head. But it wasnt just Reeves career that was going through a dramatic turn. Includes the ability to log visits, view logs, save and filter offline Waymarks and use beautiful offline maps! Mannix was devastated by the rejection, made all the more humiliating for the fact Reeves had moved Lemmon into a house in Los Angeles she owned. Some even say George Reeves appears at the foot of the bed every now and then, dressed as Superman. The recent feature film, "Hollywoodland" is about this questionable death of a popular celebrity. There were 104 episodes of The Adventures of Superman before the cancellation ax fell in 1958. The report made by the Los Angeles Police states, "[Reeves was] depressed because he couldn't get the sort of parts he wanted." Reeves would frequently bemoan the role he felt so trapped in, with particular disdain reserved for the crude and repetitive scripts that often required little more of him than to turn up at the end and have the villains bullets bounce off his chest. However, many of his friends and colleagues believe the actor was murdered, his death the stormy culmination of a tangled love life. A script was commissioned from David Chantler, who had written many of the TV scripts. Reeves's film career began in 1939 when he was cast as Stuart Tarleton (albeit incorrectly listed in the film's credits as Brent Tarleton), one of Vivien Leigh's suitors in Gone with the Wind. This theory goes that Lemmon was drunk and unhappy that night and shot her soon-to-be-husband. [17] His friend Teddi Sherman introduced him to her father, producer Harry Sherman, who asked Reeves to do a screen test with Teddi for the Hopalong Cassidy films. Two people who might have had strong motives were Toni and Eddie Mannix. Robert (Bobby) was writing a book about boxer Archie Moore. She also hired private investigators to investigate his death. [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. The sinister true story behind the death of George Reeves By Gaby Wood 13 March 2016 12:18pm Reeves, star of the Fifties TV show The Adventures of Superman, was shot in 1959. For decades friends, family and strangers alike have speculated on his mental state and whether he was the type of person to commit suicide or not, but the truth is only George Reeves himself knew what was truly going on in his mind. See real George Reeves photos, and pics of the real Eddie Mannix, Toni Mannix, Leonore Lemmon and others. [17] Warner changed his professional name to George Reeves. The accident was rendered in a more sinister light when Reeves mechanic discovered the brake fluid in the car had been drained. Its impossible to ever know whats truly going on in someones head, especially on a night of heavy drinking, but it did seem that Reeves was taking steps to fix his situation. Reeves blood alcohol content that night was .27 percent. He died instantly and fell backwards, his feet still hungover the bed and his back on the mattress. George Bessolo Reeves lived in a modest house in Benedict Canyon in Los Angeles, California up until the time of his death on June 15, 1959. This is the house, and home, that Superman actor George Reeves lived and died in. 1579 Benedict Canyon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. And then there were the bruising and other marks on Reevess body. 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. Flickr CommonsThe costume Reeves donned as Superman on TV. According to Condon, Lemmon was in an combative mood that night, and had made somewhat of a scene in the restaurant. At around1 am, William Bliss and Carol Van Ronkel came by for an impromptu meeting. Its Superman! The iconic intro blazed into American households on Sept. 19, 1952. [17] He was drafted in early 1943. In the early hours of June 16, Mannix called Coates; she was hysterical and told her friend that Reeves had been murdered. More powerful than a locomotive! The Los Angeles county coroner said its was a suicide, but family & friends say it was a love triangle murder. 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. Character: . Reeves new girlfriend, who had since moved in, was a New York socialite named Leonore Lemmon, with whom he was rumored to be engaged. The mystery surrounding the death of George Reeves, the original Man of Steel. As more and more time passed between acting jobs paying less and less, Reeves was reduced to appearing in a low-budget serial produced by Sam Katzman, The Adventures of Sir Galahad, and taking a second job digging cesspools. Like an optical illusion, from one angle the details clearly show a man who, in a moment of distress, made a tragic decision. Reeves fit the rugged requirements of the roles and, with his retentive memory for dialogue, he did well under rushed production conditions. 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. [38] The bullet that killed Reeves was recovered from the bedroom ceiling, and the spent shell casing was found under his body. In 1959, however, negotiations began for a renewal of the series, with 26episodes scheduled to go into production. Reeves worried he would be typecast as a childrens actor. For some reason Reeves had contorted his head so it was tilted upwards at the point of firing, as the bullet was found embedded in the ceiling. If you are lucky enough, the homeowners may allow you to tour the home's grounds and possibly the interior as well. Michael Hayde firmly believes that George Reeves was murdered. Many photos shown in various magazines in the past indicated that George's bedroom windows could be seen from the street. According to Larson, Reeves also said he would feel better about the role if he knew he had any adult fans but never learned that Adventures of Superman had adult fans even during its original broadcast run.[17]. Another Superman stage show was scheduled for July[32] with a planned stage tour of Australia. Those guests were neighbour Carol Van Ronkel, her lover Robert Condon, and another neighbour, William Bliss. ", Death of Superman may not have been a suicide, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=George_Reeves&oldid=1139854102, Credited erroneously onscreen as playing Brent Tarleton (see above), This page was last edited on 17 February 2023, at 06:25. wow..thats a great articleby the way, Ive read those article in other site about his deathit is written that a ghostly phenomena has been reported at the former Reeves house ever since his death? 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. Seeing the neighbors, he told them, Get out. The 45-minute delay in getting help, in this scenario, was the time it took for her and her house guests to cover up the murder. Conversely, not everyone who is depressed about their career takes their own life. However, many studios were slowing down their production schedules, and some production units had shut down completely. It seems the dark secret haunted her for the rest of her life. Location: California, United States Date Posted: 1/12/2010 6:55:33 PM I have been researching a full-scale Many believe that the ghostly appearances by the actor lend credence to the idea that he was murdered. She continued, 'He's opening a drawer to get the gun.' He appeared in a pair of outdoor thrillers with Ralph Byrd and in a Sam Katzman-produced serial, The Adventures of Sir Galahad. Authorities ruled it a suicide, but was it? [1] [2] His death at age 45 from a gunshot remains controversial. No charges were ever brought against anyone in connection to the case. 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. His work on the show would earn him fame as the Original Superman, even though that wasnt technically true. The night Superman died and an enduring mystery was born. Peterson as saying: "Miss Lemmon blurted, 'He's probably going to go shoot himself.' On the night of his death the pair had gone for dinner with writer Richard Condon, who was staying with the couple whilst he worked on a biography of Archie Moore, the prizefighter Reeves had been due to fight in a celebrity boxing match later that year. Reeves was dressed in one of his characters Clark Kent suits for the funeral, which took place two weeks later, on June 30th, 1959. Quick Description: The actor George Reeves house where TV's "Superman," was found dead of a head gunshot wound on June 16, 1959. 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. At his funeral, he was laid to rest in the same suit that he wore on the TV show as "Clark Kent." There were also bruises on Reeves head and body. Separated from his wife (their divorce became final in 1950), Reeves moved to New York City in 1949. I know he enjoyed the role, but he used to say, 'Here I am, wasting my life. The house where George lived is fairly modest for the area, but the asking price in 1995 was $625,000. Amazingly, George Reeves shot part of a Kelloggs Corn Flakes commercial (the cereal company was the sponsor of Adventures of Superman) inside of his actual Benedict Canyon home. While the authorities officially declared Reeves' death to be a suicide, not everyone was willing to accept that conclusion. He left the bulk of his estate to Toni Mannix. Reeves also enjoyed playing with an unloaded gun. I don't know what happened to George. It was to be his final feature film appearance. George's fiancee Lenore Lemmon claims that in . (Reeves and Crane both dyed their hair red to portray the Tarleton twins.) 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).