Reeves, however, earned additional income from personal appearances. He was cremated in Ohio, and ashes given to his mother, who then died in 1964. It was purchased for the actor at a cost of $12,000 by his longtime lover, MGM Vice-President E.J. The home has not changed much since the mid-fifties. Toni, a former showgirl and starlet in the early talkies, married MGM studios enforcer Eddie Mannix in 1951. Mannix, who had ties to the mob, had him whacked due to the affair. Character: . According to partygoers, one of the guests raced upstairs to find Reeves lying across his bed, the life snuffed out of him by a bullet in the head. Her devastation at been rejected by her boy had pushed her to the ultimate reprisal. Eddie was not happy when his wife wasnt happy. There were 104 episodes of The Adventures of Superman before the cancellation ax fell in 1958. Many, though, believed the investigation had been rushed and this may have been a case of homicide. Hes going upstairs to shoot himself, she allegedly said. The official verdict was that Reeves had committed suicide, the weight of his troubles having become too much for him to bear. 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. Lenore was allegedly upset at the way he was handling the situation. 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. Mobster Mickey Cohen once described Toni Mannix as the only person in Hollywood who had any balls. The accident was rendered in a more sinister light when Reeves mechanic discovered the brake fluid in the car had been drained. 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. On the night of his death, George had several friends over. Although the power of the studios was waning by the 1950s, its possible Eddie Mannix still wielded enough influence to fix George Reeves at his wifes behest. 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. 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. Other evidence that casts doubt on this scenario is the lack of burn marks on Reeves back. The Afterlife of George Reeves Actor George Reeves died at 1:59 am on June 16, 1959. Reeves head and hands showed no signs of gunshot residue or powder burns. Lemmon had called them after she and her party guests had found Reeves dead in his bedroom. He was able to play against type and starred as a villainous gold hunter in a Johnny Weissmuller Jungle Jim film. In actual fact The Adventures of Superman was due to return in 1960, with a higher pay packet for Reeves and the promise that he would be able to direct more of the episodes, something he had enjoyed doing on the last three shows of the previous season. 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). Attempting to showcase his versatility, Reeves sang on the Tony Bennett show in August 1956. If his death was suicide Reeves must have held the gun with his right hand, although this in itself is suspicious as the actor had injured his right hand in an automobile accident a few weeks prior to his death. >> George Reeves's death, and there are very interesting questions >> supporting the various theories. It is located in a fairly modest area, even though the asking price in 1995 was $625,000. See real George Reeves photos, and pics of the real Eddie Mannix, Toni Mannix, Leonore Lemmon and others. (1942), a war drama for Paramount Pictures, which signed Reeves up for two films a year. [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. He was lucky to escape with head injuries that required him to take powerful painkillers right up until the night he died. Leonore Lemmon was, by all accounts, a bit of a hell-raiser. It was also widely believed that Toni, to whom Reeves bequeathed his entire estate, may have shot him in a jealous rage after hearing news of his engagement, or that her husband, E.J. The main reason Reeves was said to have committed suicide was depression over his declining fortunes as an actor. 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]. Listen to 022 - The Suspicious Death of George Reeves . It was a minor role, but he and Fred Crane were in the film's opening scene. The characters involved range from colorful to drunk to suspicious, having by now taken any secrets . Copyright (c) 2023 Groundspeak, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Separated from his wife (their divorce became final in 1950), Reeves moved to New York City in 1949. The suicidal can become very adept at hiding their inner turmoil from their loved ones. Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty ImagesPhyllis Coates and George Reeves in The Adventures of Superman. Superman actor George Reeves is beloved for his portrayal of the character, and this is an in-depth look back at his life and tragic death. The characters involved range from colorful to drunk to suspicious, having by now taken any secrets they may be hiding to their gravesIn . Advertisement. He kept his private life discreet, including a romantic relationship with Toni Mannix, wife of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer general manager Eddie Mannix. 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. Forty-five minutes later, the police were called. Eddies exploits in covering up the sleazy underbelly of Hollywood were legendary. And was Eddie, a man suspected of killing his first wife Bernice Fitzmaurice, behind the bullet to the head that ended the actors life? The 2006 movie, Hollywoodland starring Ben Affleckas Reeves, explores his life and relationships in greater detail. She was absolutely terrified of going to hell", Lozzi told the LA Times. Two additional bullets were discovered embedded in the bedroom floor. And they call me Superman!). He had recently been involved in a serious affair with a married woman, Toni Mannix, before dumping her for his high-society fiancee, leaving Mannix devastated. The actor had no burn marks on his hands or face - how had he shot himself in the head with a pistol without leaving powder burns? The producers looked elsewhere for a new star.[25]. After, they returned home and continued drinking. In contemporary news articles, Lemmon attributed Reeves' alleged suicide to depression caused by his "failed career" and inability to find more work. 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. 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. Hollywood comic, Lou Lubin, is on right. This includes accusations of murder directed at his fiance and ex-girlfriend. Tall and chisel jawed, Reeves was the perfect choice to play the all American hero in the syndicated television show the Adventures of Superman. 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. TV legend George Reeves was killed by older lover he jilted for a sex kitten 2018-11-16 - . The areas which appeared in the commercial include the den; the master bedroom (where the actor died); and the backyard. [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. 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. 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. The coroner had ruled the forty-five year old actor's death a suicide, brought about by despondency over a failing career and too much alcohol. Superman was dead, and there were no heroes coming in to save the day. In June 1951, Reeves was offered the role of Superman in a new television series[23] titled Adventures of Superman. 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. He referred to the show that had made him famous as scraping the bottom of the barrel, and would burn the costume he called a monkey suit at the wrap of each season. In the early morning of June 16, 1959, George was found dead . The producers wouldnt give me a job. 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. 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. So when George Reeves spurned his long term mistress for a younger model, she did not take it lying down. In 1953, Reeves played a minor character, Sergeant Maylon Stark, in From Here to Eternity. Giesler called for a second autopsy. More adept with withering, foul mouthed put downs, violence was not really her style. Catalog; For You; Globe. George Reeves' Ghost. 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. Leonore Lemmons behaviour after Reeves death did little to allay suspicions she may have had more involvement than she was letting on. The night of Reevess death, the actor was at home with his fiance Lenore Lemmon, along with the writer Robert Condon, who had been staying with them. (1942), a war drama for Paramount Pictures. Further to this, a later search of the bedroom found two extra bullet holes. What raised eyebrows regarding Reeves' death is that he was found naked in his bedroom by his guests during a small gathering at 1:59 a.m.; his guests waited 45 minutes to call police; detectives found additional bullet holes in the floor of his bedroom; bruises were found on Reeves' body; shell casings were discovered in strange locations; and a 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. Walker's property became known as "Houdini's House." Shortly after Houdini died on Halloween . This theory goes that Lemmon was drunk and unhappy that night and shot her soon-to-be-husband. Or perhaps Toni took matters into her own hands and simply had her husband cover it up. Jim Beaver is just as convinced that George's death was a suicide, as was reported in the newspapers of the day. [13] The Bessolo marriage lasted 15 years, ending in divorce, with the couple separating while Reeves was away visiting relatives. In 1959, however, negotiations began for a renewal of the series, with 26episodes scheduled to go into production. [1][2], His death at age 45 from a gunshot remains controversial. "An element of mystery" Reeves' death may have been ruled a suicide, but not everyone believed it. Some even say George Reeves appears at the foot of the bed every now and then, dressed as Superman. More powerful than a locomotive! 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. 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. However, many of his friends and colleagues believe the actor was murdered, his death the stormy culmination of a tangled love life. By midnight on the night of June 16, 1959, only Lenore and writer Robert Condon were still at his house with him. Inexplicably, the shell casing was found underneath Reeves body. ", 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. Reeves' friend Rory Calhoun told a reporter "No one in Hollywood believed the suicide story." They got home around 11 p.m. A couple hours later, Carol Van Ronkel and William Bliss stopped by for a drink. (Reeves and Crane both dyed their hair red to portray the Tarleton twins.) 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. "According to Lemmon, the only people in the house that night, in addition to George and herself, were Carol Von Ronkle, William Bliss, and writer Robert Condon. While it's true that Reeves depressed at the time of his death, there were some inconsistencies at the crime scene that raised some red flags not only back then but still to this day. It was then that Lemmons actions became truly strange. One, Reeves committed suicide. From 1952 to 1958 he starred in 104 episodes, but by the late 50s it had declined in popularity and it was put into hiatus after its sixth season. 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. 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. Were Hollywood's police force keeping a lid on the truth to protect Tinseltown from another scandal? Was it true she was heard to say He is going to shoot himself, after Reeves had left the party to go back to bed? 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. '"[29], Reeves, Noel Neill, Natividad Vaco, Gene LeBell, and a trio of musicians toured with a public-appearance show from 1957 onward. It was to be his final feature film appearance. Had the usually diligent actor neglected to maintain his prized Jaguar properly or was this, as some have suspected, a murder attempt by Toni Mannix? Present in the house at the time of the incident were Leonore Lemmon (who had been Reeves's fiancee at the time), William Bliss, writer Richard Condon, and Carol . 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. George Reeves died of a gunshot wound to his head in the upstairs bedroom at his home in Benedict Canyon. Many felt that Reeves was tired of being known as Superman, and that he killed himself out of anguish. Like so many men of his generation, the war derailed his life plans. Lemmon stayed awake and about thirty minutes later three friends dropped by for a visit. All was not well behind the scenes in Metropolis. September6, 1892 was the daughter of George Christian Lescher and Eliza Jane McKenzie, she died in a Pasadena hospital on June 18, 1964. Except for the second season, the Superman schedule was brief (13 shows shot two per week, a total of seven weeks out of a year), but all had a "30-day clause", which meant that the producers could demand their exclusive services for a new season on four weeks' notice. U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records 19381946, dated March24, 1943, Speeding Bullet, 2nd Ed, by Jan Alan Henderson, p. 151. Between the start of production on Gone With the Wind and its release 12months later, several films on his Warner contract were made and released, making Gone With the Wind his first film role, but his fifth film release. Reeves died at the age of 45, from a gunshot wound to the head. He was getting work as a director, and he had agreed to do another season of Superman, in which he would also direct quite a few episodes of. He won critical acclaim for the role and garnered considerable publicity. Death 06/10/1945 - Rebaul N.G. . The police ruled his death a suicide, but rumors quickly surfaced that Reeves was. The mystery surrounding the death of George Reeves, the original Man of Steel. 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. Those guests were neighbour Carol Van Ronkel, her lover Robert Condon, and another neighbour, William Bliss. You can watch George Reeves Kelloggs Corn Flakes commercial by clicking above. And how had the fatal bullet ended up in the ceiling whilst the shell rested underneath his body? [17] He was drafted in early 1943. It is located in a fairly modest area, even though the asking price in 1995 was $625,000. Reeves knew the show could potentially be popular, but it was almost because of that that he was reticent to take it on. She also had a reputation as a gold digger, having married twice before for money. Reeves returned to Hollywood in 1951 for a role in a Fritz Lang film, Rancho Notorious. 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. But this had no official status and could not overrule the coroner's verdict of suicide. THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN (1951-1957) - unknown actor (left) with George Reeves as "Superman." In reality, George Reeves life was a far cry from that of his heroic television counterpart. Embattled New York Rep. George Santos said Thursday that he is "fully cooperating" with the House Ethics Committee, which is . Coates had become a mutual friend of both her Superman co-star and Tony Mannix. 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. (Some sources contend that it may not have been looked for, as gunshot residue testing was not routinely performed in 1959). [17] He avoided smoking cigarettes where children could see him and eventually quit smoking. Location: California, United States Date Posted: 1/12/2010 6:55:33 PM Your definitive source to filming locations and all things Hollywood! Perhaps the toxic mixture of alcohol and painkillers had led to a fatal misjudgment? After all these years, what happened that night at 1579 Benedict Canyon remains obscure and controversial. and im so curious to know,is it true or not?cause if it is true..wow it is the scariest thing ive ever heard. 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. A detective examines the mysterious death of George Reeves, the star of the television series Adventures of Superman (1952). In a wild turn of events, the alleged problem with this situation was not the affair itselfjilted husband Eddie had his own liaisons outside of the marriage and allegedly had no problem with his wifes relationship with Reeves. Noel Neill was quoted as saying that the cast of Superman was ready to do a new series of the still-popular show. It is sometimes easy to get caught up in the mystery of George Reeves demise, the different theories and suspects. 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. 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. There she had met and married Frank Joseph Bessolo by 1927, according to that year's federal census. The death of the original Superman is one of those American mysteries that may never fully add up. Wikimedia CommonsReeves played opposite Vivien Leigh as one of the Tarleton twins in Gone With the Wind. Historical Person Search Search Search Results Results George Azer Reeves (1914 - 1945) Try FREE for 14 days Try FREE for 14 days. [19][20][21], Discharged at the war's end, Reeves returned to Hollywood. To the left in the photo is a den. He was working on creating a fulfilling career for himself. Was he responsible, on behalf of his wronged wife, for the misfortunes that had befallen Reeves in the run up to his death? Lemmon and Reeves had a stormy relationship but, at least according to her, were engaged to be married. If anyone could put the heat on Superman it was Eddie. Both would later commit suicide . He was 45 years old. Reeves death was quickly ruled a suicide, but some facts of the case appear to be murky at best. 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. 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. No one is entirely certain who was even at the house that night. Cancel OK Your account 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. He appeared in a pair of outdoor thrillers with Ralph Byrd. Loved the commercial..how cool! Nevertheless, the end of his iconic role reportedly hit him hard and at 45, typecast, unemployed and overweight, he found himself reduced to appearing in commercials and celebrity boxing matches. They married on September 22, 1940 in San Marino, California, at the Church of Our Savior. Two neighbors stopped by, hoping to join the party. [17], However, Reeves was inspired by So Proudly We Hail! But it wasnt just Reeves career that was going through a dramatic turn. 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. 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. Create a scavenger hunt using this waymark as the center point. Many studios were slowing down their production schedules, however, and some production units had shut down completely. Besides, she was married to the most dangerous man in Hollywood, who had a formidable reputation for been able to make problems disappear. [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. 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. Kent then rushed offstage to return as Superman, who came to the rescue and fought with the bad guy. Reeves reportedly never saw his father again. Three shots were fired in the room: two on the floor and one in Reeves' head. Army. There was a real man behind the superhero, whose tragic early death will likely forever be a mystery. In 1957, the producers considered a theatrical film Superman and the Secret Planet. If Mannix was trying to extinguish the Man of Steel, its unlikely she pulled the trigger that night at 1579 Benedict Canyon. Some after his death said it was a profound depression and frustration with his career that led to the night in question. While he returned unscathed, he struggled from that point forward to get his career back on track. After his death, it was revealed that he left everything to Toni, which could have been an oversight given he and Lemmon had only been together six months, or it could have been a big middle finger. The Los Angeles county coroner said its was a suicide, but family & friends say it was a love triangle murder. Despite these suspicions, the Los Angeles Police Department officially ruled the death a suicide, on little more than a cursory investigation. . Warners loaned him to producer Alexander Korda to co-star with Merle Oberon in Lydia, a box-office failure. Perhaps he came a little too close to the truth. During the dinner, they had argued. However, these were never investigated and Giesler strangely refused to work on the case any longer. Honorary pallbearers included Alan Ladd and Gig Young. Those windows overlook the backyard and there is a garage under the guest bedroom. Its too late for this nonsense. Leonore asked, Is this a joke or a shoot? meaning was he kidding around, or what? 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. The brown-shingled bungalow, which was built in 1947, boasts 2 bedrooms, 3 baths, and 1,717 square feet. Advertisement. Had the jilted older woman taken things one step too far and shot Reeves in a jealous rage? Reeves was extremely intoxicated when he died, and also pumped full of painkillers to treat the injuries he received in his recent car accident. And that was the scene that was set on June 15, 1959. Robert (Bobby) was writing a book about boxer Archie Moore. Peterson as saying: "Miss Lemmon blurted, 'He's probably going to go shoot himself.' A funeral was held on Wednesday, June 30. Later that year, he was assigned to the U.S. Army Air Forces and performed in the USAAF's Broadway show Winged Victory. On 16 June 1959, George Reeves retired to his bed at 12, after going out for dinner with his fianc, Leonore. A shot was heard. While Reeves may have been famous for being Superman, the role wasnt making him a whole lot of money. He performed on live television anthology programs, as well as on radio, and then returned to Hollywood in 1951 for a role in a Fritz Lang film, Rancho Notorious.[22]. It was during this fallow period that he was approached about playing the role that would come to define his life. The Day Superman Died, George Reeves Death House 6,369 views Feb 16, 2019 159 Dislike Share Save Michael Thompson's Hidden In Plain Sight 688 subscribers In this video I visit the house where. Learn about George Reeves death and the true story behind the Hollywoodland movie starring Ben Affleck as TV's Superman. The report made by the Los Angeles Police states, "[Reeves was] depressed because he couldn't get the sort of parts he wanted." Not the comic book character, of course, but the man who personified the "real" Superman for an entire generation of television fans. 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. George Reeves, 45, TV's indestructible "Man of Steel," Superman, was dead by his own hand and the flowing cloak would flow no more. Reeves would later recall the impact Sandrich's death had on his career. 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. 1579 Benedict Canyon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. Getting tapped to play a famous superhero may be considered the pinnacle of an acting career today, but Reeves agreed to the role out of desperation. Reeves had been having an affair with his wife Toni Mannix. If they were fired earlier, then at the very least its evidence somebody in the house had a somewhat cavalier attitude to firearms. It was a minor role, but he and Fred Crane, both in brightly dyed red hair as "the Tarleton Twins," were in the film's opening scenes. The Mannixs relationship was unusual even by the standards of Hollywood. Their relationship was full of booze and bickering. [27], His good friend Bill Walsh, a producer at Disney Studios, gave Reeves a prominent role in Westward Ho the Wagons! [17] Warner changed his professional name to George Reeves.