george reeves' death house george reeves' death house

All too often it is those closest to someone who takes their own life who can least understand it. The story told by those there that night is full of holes, the evidence perplexing and poorly handled. 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. The windows above the living room are the windows to George's bedroom. Reeves's career as Superman had begun with Superman and the Mole Men, a film intended both as a B-picture and as the pilot for the TV series. [1][2][3][4][5][6], Reeves was born January 5, 1914,[7][8] as George Keefer Brewer in Woolstock, Iowa, the son of Donald Carl Brewer and Helen Lescher. [17] He was drafted in early 1943. George Reeves Facts. 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]. There were also fresh bruises on the body. Authorities ruled it a suicide, but was it? A shot was heard. A SHOT rang out. Faster than a speeding bullet! 1. "Actress to Wed." Philadelphia Inquirer, September 18, 1940. He was working on creating a fulfilling career for himself. But unable to find work, perhaps George felt he had little choice but to return to a part that clearly caused him much anguish. The producers wouldnt give me a job. By mid 1959, contracts were signed, costumes refitted, and new teleplay writers assigned. However, Superman producers offered him a salary increase, and he returned to the series. Historical Person Search Search Search Results Results George Azer Reeves (1914 - 1945) Try FREE for 14 days Try FREE for 14 days. Whilst its true the actor had a habit of playing dangerous games with his gun, naked in bed at 1am does not seem a very likely time for macabre party tricks. As Reeves returned to his room, Lemmon bizarrely began providing some morbid commentary. Many, though, believed the investigation had been rushed and this may have been a case of homicide. The police had never checked Reeves fingers for residue to see if he pulled the trigger nor did they count the number of bullets remaining in the gun. His relatives believed he was murdered, and disputed the official ruling of suicide. The areas which appeared in the commercial include the den; the master bedroom (where the actor died); and the backyard. The police arrived within the hour. Its a bird! This theory goes that Lemmon was drunk and unhappy that night and shot her soon-to-be-husband. Mannix, who had ties to the mob, had him whacked due to the affair. The brown-shingled bungalow, which was built in 1947, boasts 2 bedrooms, 3 baths, and 1,717 square feet. Why Anton Drexler Was More Responsible For The Nazi Party Than Adolf Hitler, The Gruesome Murders Of Andrei Chikatilo Russia's "Red Ripper", What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch, Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images, Reeves played opposite Vivien Leigh as one of the Tarleton twins in. Reeves was extremely intoxicated when he died, and also pumped full of painkillers to treat the injuries he received in his recent car accident. Shortly after they arrived, Reeves came downstairs to find out what the commotion was. The gun fell to his feet and the shell was found underneath him. Her devastation at been rejected by her boy had pushed her to the ultimate reprisal. George Reeves' Former Home Another location that has long been woven into the fabric of Hollywood lore is George Reeves' former Benedict Canyon bungalow, where in the early morning hours of June 16th, 1958 the Adventures of Superman star was found dead from a single gunshot wound to the head. In the 1950s the actor, George Reeves was best known for his portrayal of Superman in the television series, Adventures of Superman. Over six years and 104 episodes, the actor smiled broadly in pictures, fists planted on hips in the famous Superman power pose, and made appearances to promote the hit television show, including a guest spot in costume on I Love Lucy. [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. Why had Lemmon waited for so long - 45 minutes or so, to call the police? Reeves himself was convinced it was Mannix behind a string of strange incidents that had befallen him in the aftermath of their breakup. But not even Lane could have imagined that the dead boy was none other than Superman George Reeves himself. Its not like my George to do a thing like that, his mother told the press. The film suggests three possible scenarios: accidental shooting by Lemmon, murder by an unnamed hitman under orders from Eddie Mannix, and suicide. He had affection for his young fans, and took his role-model status seriously. This is the house, and home, that Superman actor George Reeves lived and died in. The characters involved range from colorful to drunk to suspicious, having by now taken any secrets they may be hiding to their graves. The Los Angeles county coroner said its was a suicide, but family & friends say it was a love triangle murder. 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. Many felt that Reeves was tired of being known as Superman, and that he killed himself out of anguish. 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. He was also engaged to Leonore Lemmon, a New York showgirl. 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. Warners loaned him to producer Alexander Korda to co-star with Merle Oberon in Lydia, a box-office failure. 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 George Reeves was born George Keefer Brewer in Iowa in 1914five months into his parents' marriage. Reeves fit the rugged requirements of the roles and, with his retentive memory for dialogue, he did well under rushed production conditions. THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN (1951-1957) - unknown actor (left) with George Reeves as "Superman." Then check out 48 photos that capture vintage Hollywood. . Reeves died of a gunshot wound to the head in the upstairs bedroom of his home at 1579 Benedict Canyon Drive[34] in Benedict Canyon between 1:30 and 2:00a.m. on June 16, 1959, according to the Los Angeles Police Department report. George Reeves (born George Keefer Brewer in 1914) began his Hollywood career in a variety of bit parts in the late 1930s, including a small role in the epic film Gone with the Wind, and worked . Were Hollywood's police force keeping a lid on the truth to protect Tinseltown from another scandal? 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. The Superman cast members had restrictive contracts preventing them from taking other work that might interfere with the series. Superman was dead, and there were no heroes coming in to save the day. 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. Reeves' friend Rory Calhoun told a reporter "No one in Hollywood believed the suicide story." Entering the house from the street side, you walk into the living room. Later, Reeves's mother,[12] who was of German descent, moved to California to stay with her sister. In 1959, however, negotiations began for a renewal of the series, with 26episodes scheduled to go into production. (1956), in which Reeves wore a beard and mustache. Hes going upstairs to shoot himself, she explained to the other guests, who then heard a sound from upstairs. Upstairs, they found the homeowner naked and sprawled across his bed. 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. Tall and chisel jawed, Reeves was the perfect choice to play the all American hero in the syndicated television show the Adventures of Superman. 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. The roles just werent coming his way. There was no doubt that he had enjoyed a few libations that evening, but even drunk it stretches the imagination that someone would strip before committing suicide. He was contracted to Warner Brothers at the time, and the actor's professional name became "George Reeves" and his GWTW screen credit reflects the change. '"'[35], The official story given by Lemmon to the police placed her in the living room with party guests at the time of the shooting, but hearsay statements from Fred Crane, Reeves' friend and colleague from Gone With The Wind, put Lemmon either inside or in direct proximity to Reeves' bedroom. 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. 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 series went on the air the following year, and Reeves was amazed at becoming a national celebrity. "An element of mystery" Reeves' death may have been ruled a suicide, but not everyone believed it. He was dead from a single gunshot wound to his right temple. But it wasnt just Reeves career that was going through a dramatic turn. Seeing the neighbors, he told them, Get out. 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. Three bullet holes were found in the bedroom, all caused by the Luger that was found resting between the victim's legs. The show was a smashing success, drawing huge audiences each episode. [17] He avoided smoking cigarettes where children could see him and eventually quit smoking. Copyright (c) 2023 Groundspeak, Inc. All Rights Reserved. While many of Reeves friends doubted the suicide verdict, Jack Larson, who played cub reporter Jimmy Olsen in the show, always accepted that his friend took his own life. At this time, Reeves and his mother moved from Iowa to Ashland, Kentucky, to stay with relatives for a time[10] and then to her home of Galesburg, Illinois.[11]. Newspapers and wire-service reports quoted LAPD Sergeant V.A. Leonore Lemmons behaviour after Reeves death did little to allay suspicions she may have had more involvement than she was letting on. Around 1, two friends came by for a visit. Lemmon and Reeves had a stormy relationship but, at least according to her, were engaged to be married. [31] However, Reeves and his partner failed to find financing, and the film was never made. He directed the final 13 episodes of the series, and told the Evening Star that he was enthused about doing more.. But even more importantly, The Adventures of Superman was marketed mostly towards a younger audience. According to Larson, Reeves said that if Mark Sandrich had not died, he would not be there in "this monkey suit". I was depressed, and I accepted instantly that he had committed suicide, Larson told Unsolved Mysteries in 1995. Reeves and Sherman impressed the casting director by performing seven pages of script in a single take without pause. Lemmon stayed awake and about thirty minutes later three friends dropped by for a visit. There were 104 episodes of The Adventures of Superman before the cancellation ax fell in 1958. Reeves established his own production company and conceived a TV adventure series called Port of Entry, which would be shot on location in Hawaii and Mexico. If the Hollywood stories are to be believed, any death involving a girl and a gun is suspicious. He appeared in a pair of outdoor thrillers with Ralph Byrd and in a Sam Katzman-produced serial, The Adventures of Sir Galahad. The accident was rendered in a more sinister light when Reeves mechanic discovered the brake fluid in the car had been drained. At around1 am, William Bliss and Carol Van Ronkel came by for an impromptu meeting. Was Lemmon with Reeves when he shot himself? Two people who might have had strong motives were Toni and Eddie Mannix. Carol lived in the neighborhood. However, rumors suspect that there was foul play involved in his passing. Advertisement. That position was taken over by Frank . She continued, 'He's opening a drawer to get the gun.' George was dressed in a gray Clark Kent Suit from the tv show and his body was taken to Gates/Kingsley/Gates on Sepulveda. Create a scavenger hunt using this waymark as the center point. To this day, there are three possible scenarios that explain the death of George Reeves. Sandrich felt that Reeves had the potential to become a major star, but unfortunately died while Reeves was still in uniform. See real George Reeves photos, and pics of the real Eddie Mannix, Toni Mannix, Leonore Lemmon and others. After all, it was she who had made the early morning phone call to Coates, before anyone outside of Reeves home could have known about his death. At his funeral, he was laid to rest in the same suit that he wore on the TV show as "Clark Kent." [18] He was assigned to the U.S. Army Air Forces and performed in the USAAF's Broadway show Winged Victory. 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. The Mysterious Death of Superman. Talking to friend Millicent Trent, Bliss said Lemmon had actually rushed down the stairs after the gunshot and urged them to Tell them I was down here! He kept his private life discreet, including a romantic relationship with Toni Mannix, wife of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer general manager Eddie Mannix. It may have seemed like an open and shut case: Man found upstairs, gun on the floor, a single bullet wound in his head. The subsequent police report seem to accept the whole story at face value. [13] The Bessolo marriage lasted 15 years, ending in divorce, with the couple separating while Reeves was away visiting relatives. Reeves was drafted into the U.S. Army in early 1943. 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. . Had Reeves, drunk, unhappy and smarting at another argument with his new girlfriend Leonore Lemmon, pulled the trigger on his Luger whilst plumbing some dark trough of self pity? Forty-five minutes later, the police were called. All three bullets had been fired from the weapon found at Reeves' feet, though all witnesses agreed they heard only one gunshot, and there was no sign of forced entry or other physical evidence that a second person was in the room. And so, almost forty years later, we are left wondering. Not the comic book character, of course, but the man who personified the "real" Superman for an entire generation of television fans. The second half of the show was Reeves out of costume as himself, singing and accompanying himself on the guitar. Quick Description: The actor George Reeves house where TV's "Superman," was found dead of a head gunshot wound on June 16, 1959. The coroner ruled it suicide. [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. When they returned home, they continued to kick back the alcohol until around 12:30 p.m., at which point Reeves retired to his bedroom. 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. 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 . George Reeves may not be the first actor that springs to mind when you think of Superman, but the star's untimely death put him at the centre of a conspiracy theory malestrom.. Reeves was actually . 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. . Reeves was transferred to the Army Air Forces' First Motion Picture Unit, where he made training films. 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? In their book Hollywood Kryptonite, Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger make a case for the involvement of MGM vice president and fixer Eddie Mannix. The following is taken from the official autopsy report: Exactly what happened that night was never fully resolved, due to varying drunken accounts. Reeves was dressed in one of his characters Clark Kent suits for the funeral, which took place two weeks later, on June 30th, 1959. He left the bulk of his estate to Toni Mannix. Robert (Bobby) was writing a book about boxer Archie Moore. 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. And they call me Superman!). However, many studios were slowing down their production schedules, and some production units had shut down completely. She also hired private investigators to investigate his death. George Reeves (born George Keefer Brewer; January 5, 1914 June 16, 1959) was an American actor. Their suspicions werent entirely fueled by grief and denialthe evidence was puzzling. 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. 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? Some after his death said it was a profound depression and frustration with his career that led to the night in question. Reeves worried he would be typecast as a childrens actor. 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. Reeves blood alcohol content that night was .27 percent. Multiple gunshot suicides are rare, so if these shots were contemporary to Reeves death, it seems unlikely he was the shooter. The official verdict was that Reeves had committed suicide, the weight of his troubles having become too much for him to bear. Many studios were slowing down their production schedules, however, and some production units had shut down completely. Advertisement. 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. June 16, 1959. Who all was in the house that night? And that was the scene that was set on June 15, 1959. I know he enjoyed the role, but he used to say, 'Here I am, wasting my life. George Reeves hit the television jackpot when he landed the dual role of Clark Kent/Superman in the television series The Adventures of Superman. [1][2], His death at age 45 from a gunshot remains controversial. George lived at 1579 Benedict Canyon Drive, in the Beverly Hills area. But in a franchise that's seen its share of tragedy George Reeves's reported suicide, Christopher Reeve's spinal injury the woes of the actor who played Jimmy in the 1950s went underreported. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture and gave Reeves the distinction of appearing in two "Best Picture" films. 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. Actors Alan Ladd and Gig Young were reportedly skeptical of the official determination. Climbing Back Up Almost immediately after the case was closed, questions about the truth began to arise. If anyone could put the heat on Superman it was Eddie. Superman had been cancelled and Reeves had struggled to find the serious work he craved. How do we create a person's profile? When he returned, his mother told him his stepfather had committed suicide. 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. George Reeves (born George Keefer . 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). The Mannixs relationship was unusual even by the standards of Hollywood. The book was published as 'The Archie Moore Story, as told to Bob Condon'. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound! But from another, the death of George Reeves looks a lot like murder. His work on the show would earn him fame as the Original Superman, even though that wasnt technically true. She even commissioned a second autopsy, which concluded that Reeves was possibly murdered. [13] His Gone with the Wind screen credit reflects the change. The . 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. After hearing a gunshot, they waited 45 minutes before calling the police. The woman on the other end of the line was a woman named Toni Mannix. Separated from his wife (their divorce became final in 1950), Reeves moved to New York City in 1949. Two neighbors stopped by, hoping to join the party. Reeves had options for making a living, but those options apparently all involved playing Superman againa role that he was not eager to reprise at age 45. Is her confession credible? They decided that he had not committed suicide. 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. 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. 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. It was purchased for the actor at a cost of $12,000 by his longtime lover, MGM Vice-President E.J. Up in the sky! SUPERMAN MURDER SOLVED! As TVs original Superman, George Reeves was the ultimate hero to millions of children. Reeves was then transferred to the Army Air Forces' First Motion Picture Unit, where he made training films. George Reeves' Ghost. Conspiracy theories abound and Reeves death has remained the stuff of Hollywood legend for over five decades since. Finally, a single shot rang out. Other evidence that casts doubt on this scenario is the lack of burn marks on Reeves back. Had Reeves really shot himself three times? Info Share. (The punchline: Ricardo, do you mean to say that youve been married to her for 15 years? [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. Bessolo actually died March 4, 1944, at age 51, when his adopted son was well into his movie career. On June 16, 1959, Reeves died from a single gunshot wound in the bedroom of his Benedict Canyon home. How he came to meet this grisly end is a story as disputed and controversial today as it was when the scandal rocked Hollywood at the height of the actor's fame. Lois & Clark - The New Adventures of Superman, Superman/Shazam! There she had met and married Frank Joseph Bessolo by 1927, according to that year's federal census. If they were fired earlier, then at the very least its evidence somebody in the house had a somewhat cavalier attitude to firearms. 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 suicidal can become very adept at hiding their inner turmoil from their loved ones. Nobody wanted me to work at all. 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. Eddies exploits in covering up the sleazy underbelly of Hollywood were legendary. The police ruled his death a suicide, but rumors quickly surfaced that Reeves was. 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. Just over a year after the war started, Reeves was called up. They divorced 10 years later and had no children. Reeves then apologized, and the group sat around talking. 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 found himself unemployable. It seems the dark secret haunted her for the rest of her life. On 16 June 1959, George Reeves retired to his bed at 12, after going out for dinner with his fianc, Leonore. He is best known for portraying Superman in the television series Adventures of Superman (1952-1958). When Officers Johnson and Korby entered the . The home is currently a private residence but photos can be easily taken from the street. 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 . The death of the original Superman is one of those American mysteries that may never fully add up. (1942), a war drama for Paramount Pictures. The actors were poorly paid, and even after Reeves received a raise after trying and failing to leave the show after three seasons, he found himself struggling for money, unable to get the roles he really wanted, and taxed for time given the all-consuming nature of his Superman commitments.