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On the night of June 16, 1959, George Reeves was found dead in his bedroom from a gunshot wound to the head in his Benedict Canyon home, while his fiance Lemmon was downstairs hosting a party. Includes the ability to log visits, view logs, save and filter offline Waymarks and use beautiful offline maps! However, these were never investigated and Giesler strangely refused to work on the case any longer. Seeing the neighbors, he told them, Get out. When his mother moved to California to be with her sister, it was said Reeves never saw his father again. Larson had suffered a similar career downturn to Reeves after series was cancelled, and like his Superman co-star had struggled to break free of the typecasting associated with such an iconic role. 1. A long Broadway run followed, before a national tour and a movie version. It is located in a fairly modest area, even though the asking price in 1995 was $625,000. Your definitive source to filming locations and all things Hollywood! [36] According to Crane (who was not present), Bill Bliss had told Millicent Trent after the shot rang out, while Bliss was having a drink, that Leonore Lemmon came downstairs and said, Tell them I was down here, tell them I was down here![37], A number of questionable physical findings were reported by investigators and others: No fingerprints were recovered from the gun. 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. George Reeves former residence is rather small, especially by Hollywood standards. Others suggested that Eddie Mannix, rumored to have Mafia ties, ordered Reeves killed.[43]. 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? The official verdict was that Reeves had committed suicide, the weight of his troubles having become too much for him to bear. Many, though, believed the investigation had been rushed and this may have been a case of homicide. [42] In 1985, he was posthumously named one of the honorees by DC Comics in the company's 50th anniversary publication Fifty Who Made DC Great. Both would later commit suicide . If Mannix was trying to extinguish the Man of Steel, its unlikely she pulled the trigger that night at 1579 Benedict Canyon. The report made by the Los Angeles Police states, "[Reeves was] depressed because he couldn't get the sort of parts he wanted." 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. They married on September 22, 1940 in San Marino, California, at the Church of Our Savior. 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. But all was not well behind the scenes in Metropolis. And then there were the bruising and other marks on Reevess body. He was born in Woolstock, Iowa but eventually moved to Galesburg, Illinois after his parents separated. The accident was rendered in a more sinister light when Reeves mechanic discovered the brake fluid in the car had been drained. His personal life took a turn for the worse a long-term affair with another man's common-law wife ended badly; he finally filed a restraining order against her. 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 his funeral, he was laid to rest in the same suit that he wore on the TV show as "Clark Kent." 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. 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. The characters involved range from colorful to drunk to suspicious, having by now taken any secrets they may be hiding to their graves. This is however not the case as it it the guest bedroom that faces the street. Character: . In 1953, Reeves played a minor character, Sergeant Maylon Stark, in From Here to Eternity. On 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. Superman birth place and death house (George Reeves) 50,169 views Dec 23, 2016 Like Dislike Share Save LandumC goes there 147K subscribers George Reeves (Superman) birth location and the. Reeves mother refused to believe her son had killed himself and hired famous Hollywood lawyer Jerry Giesler to investigate further. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound! "Actress to Wed." Philadelphia Inquirer, September 18, 1940. 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. See, hes opening the drawer to get the gun. Lemmon claimed. Father George Thomas Reeves. While the authorities officially declared Reeves' death to be a suicide, not everyone was willing to accept that conclusion. [1][2], His death at age 45 from a gunshot remains controversial. 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. Reeves mother hired a high-powered lawyer to get the case reopened, but he quickly dropped his new client for reasons unknown. 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. 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. 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. A month later, having uncovered no evidence contradicting the official finding, Giesler announced that he was satisfied that the gunshot wound had been self-inflicted and withdrew.[41][39]. 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. Upon hearing of George's demise, he went to the house and the . In the home of actor George Reeves, people frantically handed somebody else their martini glass and then tried to wake the naked couple in bed, though the police wouldn't be called for nearly an hour.Earlier that evening, Reeves and his fiance had gotten into an argument at a restaurant or two and, despite planning to wed in only four days' time, Reeves reportedly wanted . On June 16, 1959, actress Phyllis Coates was woken up around 4:30 a.m. by a very strange phone call. Later in life, she become a somewhat tragic figure, bloated and consumed by alcoholism, Leonore would give many different accounts of the events of that night, often contradicting herself and denying things she was commonly reported to have said and done. Reeves' will, dated 1956, bequeathed his entire estate to Toni Mannix, much to Lemmon's surprise and devastation. After, they returned home and continued drinking. The Suspicious Death of George Reeves. Effectively living an open marriage, Eddie tolerated, even liked Reeves, and himself maintained a younger mistress. While studying acting at the Pasadena Playhouse, Reeves met his future wife, Ellanora Needles. 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. It was during this fallow period that he was approached about playing the role that would come to define his life. If you are lucky enough, the homeowners may allow you to tour the home's grounds and possibly the interior as well. George Reeves as Superman CASE DETAILS The gun had no fingerprints on it Early one morning in June of 1959, Los Angeles police raced to a high priced Hollywood Hills home. While the tragedy was unfolding, his fiance and three guests were carousing downstairs, his soon-to-be wife allegedly narrating the action going on above. Born George Keefer Brewer in 1914 in Woolstock, Iowa to Helen Lescher and Don C. Brewer, young George would grow up in Ashland, Kentucky and later in Pasadena California where his sister also lived. Director Allen Coulter Writer Paul Bernbaum Stars Adrien Brody Ben Affleck Diane Lane See production, box office & company info Watch on STARZ with Prime Video Channels More watch options Add to Watchlist Added by 25.7K users When he returned, his mother told him his stepfather had committed suicide. Quick Description: The actor George Reeves house where TV's "Superman," was found dead of a head gunshot wound on June 16, 1959. In contemporary news articles, Lemmon attributed Reeves' alleged suicide to depression caused by his "failed career" and inability to find more work. 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. It was a minor role, but he and Fred Crane were in the film's opening scene. She also kept his shaving utensils and lotions, and even built an altar in the house with a crucifix, candles and an 11-by-14 photograph of Reeves. The home has not changed much since the mid-fifties. 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. [13] His Gone with the Wind screen credit reflects the change. 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. George Reeves (born George Keefer Brewer; January 5, 1914 - June 16, 1959) was an American actor. Reeves was dressed in one of his characters Clark Kent suits for the funeral, which took place two weeks later, on June 30th, 1959. (1942), a war drama for Paramount Pictures, which signed Reeves up for two films a year. Shortly after they arrived, Reeves came downstairs to find out what the commotion was. [18] He was assigned to the U.S. Army Air Forces and performed in the USAAF's Broadway show Winged Victory. Leonore Lemmon fled to New York right after Reeves died--but first emptied his house of liquor bottles and $4,000 in traveler's checks. 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 ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN (1951-1957) - unknown actor (left) with George Reeves as "Superman." George was dressed in a gray Clark Kent Suit from the tv show and his body was taken to Gates/Kingsley/Gates on Sepulveda. The producers looked elsewhere for a new star.[25]. Lemmon and writer Robert Condon, who was staying at the house, were more than happy to entertain the group, but Reeves was already in bed and was not pleased by the ruckus downstairs. The issue was that Reeves eventually broke Tonis heart when he called it off to begin a relationship with the woman who would become his fiancee, Lenore Lemmon. [27], His good friend Bill Walsh, a producer at Disney Studios, gave Reeves a prominent role in Westward Ho the Wagons! [19][20][21], Discharged at the war's end, Reeves returned to Hollywood. No gunpowder residue was found on Reeves' hands. And that was the scene that was set on June 15, 1959. George Reeves' Ghost. Dubious witness statements and the examination of the crime scene by the Los Angeles Police led to the official inquiry conclusion that the death of Reeves's was suicide. Hes going upstairs to shoot himself, began her callous recital after Reeves left the room. But it wasnt just Reeves career that was going through a dramatic turn. And how had the fatal bullet ended up in the ceiling whilst the shell rested underneath his body? Why had Lemmon waited for so long - 45 minutes or so, to call the police? 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. Immediately after completing it, Reeves and the crew began production of the first season's episodes, all shot over 13 weeks in the summer of 1951. Was he responsible, on behalf of his wronged wife, for the misfortunes that had befallen Reeves in the run up to his death? They decided that he was fooling around, not realizing the gun was loaded. Listen to 022 - The Suspicious Death of George Reeves . Eddie Mannix wasnt just a heavy in Hollywood, he was also rumored to have mob connections. He won critical acclaim for the role and garnered considerable publicity. ", 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. '"[29], Reeves, Noel Neill, Natividad Vaco, Gene LeBell, and a trio of musicians toured with a public-appearance show from 1957 onward. Reeves began acting and singing in high school and continued performing on stage as a student at Pasadena Junior College. He had affection for his young fans, and took his role-model status seriously. TV legend George Reeves was killed by older lover he jilted for a sex kitten 2018-11-16 - . He freelanced, appearing in five Hopalong Cassidy westerns before director Mark Sandrich cast Reeves as Lieutenant John Summers opposite Claudette Colbert in So Proudly We Hail! George Reeves hit the television jackpot when he landed the dual role of Clark Kent/Superman in the television series The Adventures of Superman. But even more importantly, The Adventures of Superman was marketed mostly towards a younger audience. George Reeves was dead. In the early hours of June 16, Mannix called Coates; she was hysterical and told her friend that Reeves had been murdered. At around 1.20am, a bad tempered Reeves had admonished the trio for their noise, before returning upstairs. For whatever reason, though, in my ten-plus years of living in Los Angeles, I had yet to stalk the former Supermans home. 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. Ruled as a. I remember watching Superman on tv, George Reeves Kelloggs Corn Flakes CommercialFilmed in his Home, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), I blogged about during my Haunted Hollywood theme last year, 1579 Benedict Canyon Drive in Beverly Hills. Another rumor was that a car was heard speeding away from the house as well. Coates was amongst many of Reeves friends and co-stars who did not believe he would have killed himself. 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. In reality, George Reeves life was a far cry from that of his heroic television counterpart. 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. He was found dead in his bedroom at 1:59 a.m. on June 16, 1959 in his modest home in Los Angeles' Benedict Canyon. Two neighbors stopped by, hoping to join the party. George Reeves died of a gunshot wound to his head in the upstairs bedroom at his home in Benedict Canyon. Reeves was extremely intoxicated when he died, and also pumped full of painkillers to treat the injuries he received in his recent car accident. This includes accusations of murder directed at his fiance and ex-girlfriend. 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. 'See thereI told you so! On June 16, 1959, actress Phyllis Coates was woken up around 4:30 a.m. by a very strange phone call. 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. They decided that he had not committed suicide. Nobody wanted me to work at all. Was the star of 50s TV show The Adventures of Superman murdered? 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. On 16 June 1959, George Reeves retired to his bed at 12, after going out for dinner with his fianc, Leonore. No scandals were too big to be neutralised by Eddie, from covering-up Clark Gable accidently killing actress Tosca Roulien, to tracking down and buying up every copy of a porn film starring Joan Crawford. This prevented long-term work on major films with long schedules, stage plays that might lead to a lengthy run, or any other series work.[24]. I know he enjoyed the role, but he used to say, 'Here I am, wasting my life. Reeves initially had no autopsy and his body was swifted embalmed. I told you, hes shot himself., When the cops arrived on the scene, Lemmon told them she had been only kidding when she made her strange remarks. Warners loaned him to producer Alexander Korda to co-star with Merle Oberon in Lydia, a box-office failure. gruesome and unsolved murder of the Black Dahlia. The official finding was suicide, but some believe that he was murdered or the victim of an accidental shooting. A shot was heard. Or was the culprit his new girlfriend, the volatile and temperamental Lemmon, who had argued with Reeves the night of his death about the late night party she was having whilst he tried to sleep off his own night of heavy drinking? CleverJourneys: American Crime Chronicles Two Los Angeles police officers arrived at 1579 Benedict Canyon at almost 3 a.m., June 16, 1959. 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. Upstairs, they found the homeowner naked and sprawled across his bed. Giesler called for a second autopsy. Reeves had been having an affair with his wife Toni Mannix. Even outside of the world of comic books, bullets sometimes do funny things, and that was certainly the case in the death of George Reeves. [17] He avoided smoking cigarettes where children could see him and eventually quit smoking. And George Reeves was not unable to find work, he was not broke, he was not a suicidal depressed person. There was a real man behind the superhero, whose tragic early death will likely forever be a mystery. Lois & Clark - The New Adventures of Superman, Superman/Shazam! 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. In 1983, the publicist sat by her bedside during her last hours, and knowing she was the last person on earth to know the truth, confessed all to her priest. Alcohol, narcotics and depression are a red light warning sign for suicide, and with little other evidence available to them to suggest otherwise, its not hard to see why the Police came to this conclusion. George Reeves Real name: George Keefer Brewer, George Bessolo. However, rumors suspect that there was foul play involved in his passing. 1579 Benedict Canyon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. For instance, Lemmon and her friends pulled a Conrad Murray by failing to call the police until about thirty minutes after discovering the body, and each seemed to have a differing account of the evening due to their inebriated states. The following is taken from the official autopsy report: Exactly what happened that night was never fully resolved, due to varying drunken accounts. 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. November 5, 2022. in Arts, Culture, News. The house where George lived is fairly modest for the area, but the asking price in 1995 was $625,000.