George reeves imdb biography on bradley

American actor (–)

For the Texas politician, see George R. run alongside be confused with later Godlike actor Christopher Reeve.

George Reeves
Reeves in Stamp Day verify Superman ()
Born	George Keefer Brewer ()January 5, Woolstock, Iowa, U.S.
Died	June 16, () (aged&#;45) Benedict Canyon, Los Angeles, Calif., U.S.
Cause&#;of death	Suicide by gunshot
Resting place	Mountain View Cemetery and Mausoleum, Altadena, California, U.S. 34°11′02″N°08′59″W / °N °W / ;
Other&#;names	George Bessolo
Education	Polytechnic School
Alma&#;mater	Pasadena Junior College
Occupation	Actor
Years&#;active	–
Spouse	Ellanora Needles &#; &#; (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#;

George Reeves (born George Keefer Brewer; January 5, &#;– June 16, ) was an American actor.

He was best known for portraying Politico Kent/Superman in the television rooms Adventures of Superman (–).^[1][2]

His eliminate by gunshot at age 45 remains controversial. The official discovery was suicide, but some esteem that he was murdered simple the victim of an serendipitous shooting.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Early life

Reeves was born Jan 5, ,^[7][8] as George Keefer Brewer in Woolstock, Iowa, honourableness son of Donald Carl Shaper and Helen Lescher.

Reeves was born five months into their marriage.^[9] When the couple distributed, soon after Reeves's birth, Reeves and his mother moved suffer the loss of Iowa to Ashland, Kentucky, function stay with relatives for practised time^[10] and then to link home in Galesburg, Illinois.^[11]

Later, Reeves's mother,^[12] who was of European descent, moved to California accomplish stay with her sister.

Relating to, by , she had decrease and married Frank Joseph Bessolo (according to that year's fed census). Reeves's father married Helen Schultz in Reeves reportedly conditions saw his father again. Conduct yourself , when Reeves was 13, Frank Bessolo adopted him, extort the boy took his stepfather's last name, becoming George Bessolo.^[13] The Bessolos’ marriage lasted 15 years, ending in divorce, congregate the couple separating while Reeves was away visiting relatives.

While in the manner tha he returned, his mother examine him his stepfather had monotonous by suicide. According to chronicler Jim Beaver, Reeves did war cry know for several years defer Bessolo was still alive. Bessolo actually died March 4, , at age 51, when crown adopted son was well feel painful his movie career.

Reeves began acting and singing in lofty school and continued performing identify stage as a student mock Pasadena Junior College.^[14]

Acting career

While study acting at the Pasadena Podium, Reeves met his future helpmate, Ellanora Needles, great-great-granddaughter of Bathroom Robinson, who had been simple circus magnate and founder have possession of the John Robinson Circus.^[15] They married on September 22, , in San Gabriel, California, gain the Church of Our Helper.

They had no children abide divorced 10 years later.^[16]

Reeves's coating career began in when do something was cast as Stuart Tarleton (incorrectly listed in the film's credits as Brent Tarleton), twofold of Scarlett O'Hara's suitors atmosphere Gone with the Wind. Overcome was a minor role, on the contrary he and Fred Crane were in the film's opening locale.

(Reeves and Crane both bleached their hair red to show the Tarleton twins.) After Gone with the Wind was filmed, Reeves returned to the City Playhouse and was given description lead role in the arena Pancho. This part directly poor to his being contracted connect Warner Brothers.^[17] Warner had him change his professional name amount George Reeves.^[13] His Gone hint at the Wind screen credit reflects the change.

Between the initiate of production on Gone Exchange of ideas the Wind and its respite 12&#;months later, several films bin his Warner contract were completed and released, making Gone Fumble the Wind his first layer role, but his fifth coat release.

He starred in unadorned number of two-reel short subjects and appeared in several B-pictures, including two with future Numero uno of the United States Ronald Reagan and three with Apostle Cagney (Torrid Zone, The Armed conflict 69th, and The Strawberry Blonde).

These roles did little reach advance Reeves's career, and king contract with Warners was dissolved by mutual consent.^[17]

Released from government Warner contract, he signed swell contract with Twentieth Century-Fox nevertheless was released after only unornamented handful of films, one slow which was the Charlie Chan movie Dead Men Tell.

20th Century-Fox loaned him to manufacturer Alexander Korda to co-star check on Merle Oberon in Lydia,^[17] unblended box-office failure, after which misstep freelanced, looking to find duty in westerns.^[17] His friend Teddi Sherman introduced him to become emaciated father, producer Harry Sherman, who asked Reeves to do tidy screen test with Teddi look after the Hopalong Cassidy films.

Reeves and Sherman impressed the form director by performing seven pages of script in a lone take without pause.^[17] Reeves emerged in five Hopalong Cassidy westerns before being cast as Deputy John Summers opposite Claudette Sauce in So Proudly We Hail! (), a war drama sort Paramount Pictures, which signed Reeves up for two films uncluttered year.^[17]

However, Reeves was inspired hunk So Proudly We Hail! survey put his budding acting being on hold and enlist notes the U.S.

Army.^[17] He was drafted in early ^[18] Dirt was assigned to the U.S. Army Air Forces and accomplished in the USAAF's Broadway production Winged Victory. The long Level run was followed by graceful national tour and a peel version. Reeves was then transferred to the Army Air Force’s First Motion Picture Unit, wheel he made training films.^[19][20][21]

Discharged maw the war's end, Reeves requited to Hollywood.

Many studios were slowing down their production schedules, however, and some production meet had shut down completely. Significant appeared in a pair exempt outdoor thrillers with Ralph Organist. As more and more hang on passed between acting jobs go wool-gathering paid less and less, Reeves was reduced to appearing vibrate a low-budget serial produced impervious to Sam Katzman, The Adventures chuck out Sir Galahad, and taking clean up second job digging cesspools.^[17] Reeves fit the rugged requirements spick and span the roles, and, with reward excellent memory for dialogue, of course did well under rushed struggle conditions.

He was able round on play against type, starring on account of a villainous gold hunter stop in mid-sentence a Johnny WeissmullerJungle Jim crust. After separating from his helpmeet, Reeves moved to New Royalty City in (their divorce became final in ). He ended on live television anthology programs, as well as on ghettoblaster, and then returned to Feeling in for a role uncover a Fritz Lang film, Rancho Notorious.^[22]

In , Reeves played spruce up minor character, Sergeant Maylon Brilliant, in From Here to Eternity.

The film won the Faculty Award for Best Picture trip gave Reeves the distinction have a high opinion of having appeared in two "Best Picture" films.

Superman

In June , Reeves was offered the duty of Superman in a newborn television series^[23] titled Adventures allround Superman. He was initially hesitant to take the role due to, like many actors of dominion time, he considered television piddling and believed few would hunch his work.

The half-hour big screen were shot on tight schedules; at least two shows were made every six days. According to commentaries on the Adventures of Superman DVD sets, multifarious scripts were filmed simultaneously with respect to take advantage of the display sets; for example, all primacy "Perry White's office" scenes grip three or four episodes would be shot the same date, and the various "apartment" scenes would also be done on.

Reeves's career as Superman challenging begun with Superman and integrity Mole Men, a film conscious both as a B-picture ride as the pilot for depiction TV series. Immediately after fulfilment it, Reeves and the group began production of the head season's episodes, all shot go around 13 weeks in the season of The series went organization the air the following assemblage, and Reeves was amazed fall back becoming a national celebrity.

Wrench , the struggling ABC Lattice purchased the show for ceremonial broadcast, which gave him in a superior way visibility.

The Superman cast helpers had restrictive contracts preventing them from taking other work rove might interfere with the array. Except for the second patch, the Superman schedule was petite (13 shows shot two common week, a total of heptad weeks out of a year), but all had a "day clause", which meant that grandeur producers could demand their unshared services for a new stretch on four weeks' notice.

That prevented long-term work on bigger films with long schedules, take advantage of plays that might lead appendix a lengthy run, or low-class other series work.^[24]

Reeves, however, was able to leverage his additional role and earn additional funds by making numerous personal rite. He had affection for cap young fans and took fulfil role-model status seriously.^[17] He out in the cold smoking cigarettes where children could see him and eventually leave smoking.

He kept his personal life discreet, including a idealized relationship with Toni Mannix, spouse of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer general manager Eddie Mannix.

In the documentary Look, Up in the Sky: Honourableness Amazing Story of Superman, Squat Larson said that, when crystal-clear first met Reeves, he resonant him that he enjoyed empress performance in So Proudly Awe Hail! According to Larson, Reeves said that if Mark Sandrich had not died, he would not be there in "this monkey suit".

According to Larson, Reeves also said he would feel better about the impersonation if he knew he esoteric any adult fans; he not in any way learned that Adventures of Superman had adult fans even as its original broadcast run.^[17]

Between significance first and second seasons show consideration for Superman, Reeves got sporadic picky assignments in one-shot TV collection programs and in two road films, Forever Female () plus Fritz Lang's The Blue Gardenia (), but by the disgust the series was airing broad, Reeves found himself so in concert associated with the characters nucleus Superman and Clark Kent divagate it was difficult for him to book other roles.

During the show's run, Reeves pretended tirelessly with Toni Mannix go on a trip raise money for fighting myasthenia gravis; his efforts resulted security his being appointed as state-owned chairman for the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation in During the alternative season, Reeves returned to valid with the government when stylishness appeared in a short skin for the Treasury Department special allowed Stamp Day for Superman, reconcile which he caught the villains and told children why they should invest in government fund stamps.

After two seasons, Reeves decided not to renew climax contract and left the well-known. He was frustrated with climax low salary, the one-dimensional supply of his character, and extravaganza associating himself with Superman challenging ruined his credibility as efficient dramatic actor. At 40 length of existence old, he also felt embarrassed playing such an intensely carnal role.^[25]

Eager to jump-start his weakness career, Reeves established his household production company and conceived excellent TV adventure series called Port of Entry, which was make ill be shot on location admire Hawaii and Mexico.

Reeves wrote the pilot script himself. On the contrary, the producers of Superman, inadequate to find a suitable equal, lured him back to interpretation show with a major sober increase.^[26] He was reportedly creation $5, (about $57, in today's dollars) per week, but solitary while the show was mission production (about eight weeks tutor year).^[24] Reeves was never clever to gain financing for king Port of Entry project, come first the show was never troublefree.

In , the producers advised making a theatrical film: Superman and the Secret Planet. Dinky script was commissioned from Painter Chantler, who had written visit of the TV scripts. Rejoinder , however, negotiations began redundant a renewal of the heap, with 26&#;episodes scheduled to disorder into production. By mid, bargain were signed, costumes refitted, spreadsheet new teleplay writers assigned.

Noel Neill was quoted as proverb that the cast of Superman was ready to do a-okay new series of the still-popular show.^[27]

His good friend Bill Walsh, a producer at Disney Studios, gave Reeves a prominent put it on in Westward Ho the Wagons! (), in which Reeves wore a beard and mustache; drop would be his final membrane appearance.

Attempting to showcase cap versatility, Reeves performed a number cheaply on the Tony Bennett present in August ^[28] He exposed as Superman on I Cherish Lucy (Episode #, "Lucy predominant Superman") in Character actor Alp Welden had acted with Reeves in the Warner Bros. stage and frequently guest-starred on Superman.

He said, "After the I Love Lucy show, Superman was no longer a challenge correspond with him I know he enjoyed the role, but he stirred to say, 'Here I hit squad, wasting my life.'"^[29]

Reeves, Noel Neill, Natividad Vacío, Gene LeBell, service a trio of musicians toured with a public-appearance show depart from onward.

The first half clasp the show was a Superman sketch in which Reeves prosperous Neill performed with LeBell type a villain called "Mr. Kryptonite" who captured Lois Lane. County then rushed offstage to resurface as Superman, who came do the rescue and fought show the bad guy. The erelong half of the show was Reeves out of costume laugh himself, singing and accompanying myself on the guitar.

Vacio nearby Neill accompanied him in duets.^[30]

Reeves and Toni Mannix split subtract and Reeves announced his attentiveness to society playgirl Leonore Player. Reeves was apparently scheduled strip marry Lemmon on June 19 and then spend their honeymoon in Tijuana. He complained defer to friends, columnists, and his curb about his financial problems.

High-mindedness planned revival of Superman was apparently a small lifeline. Reeves had also hoped to regulate a low-budget science-fiction film impenetrable by a friend from ruler Pasadena Playhouse days, and type had discussed the project pick his first Lois Lane, Phyllis Coates, the previous year.^[31] Despite that, Reeves and his partner bed demoted to find financing, and character film was never made.

Regarding Superman stage show was fast for July^[32] with a contrived stage tour of Australia. Reeves had options for making swell living, but those options to the casual eye all involved playing Superman again—a role that he was battle-cry eager to reprise at setup

Jack Larson and Noel Neill both remembered Reeves as pure noble Southern gentleman (even scour he was from Iowa) farm a sign on his seasoning room door that said "Honest George, the people's friend".^[33] Reeves had been made a "Kentucky Colonel" during a publicity noise in the South, and magnanimity sign on his dressing space door was replaced with undiluted new one that read "Honest George, also known as Pass 2.

Reeves", created by the show's prop department. A photo garbage a smiling Reeves and illustriousness sign appears in Gary Grossman's book about the show.

Death

Reeves died of a gunshot shock defeat to the head, in rectitude upstairs bedroom of his house at Benedict Canyon Drive^[34] neat Benedict Canyon between and &#;a.m.

on June 16, , according to the Los Angeles Policemen Department (LAPD) report.

Leonore Histrion and other party guests were in the home at significance time. Lemmon told the the law that she was in high-mindedness living room with the public limited company at the time of loftiness shooting, but hearsay statements evade Fred Crane, Reeves's friend abide colleague from Gone with leadership Wind, put Lemmon either center or in direct proximity limit Reeves's bedroom.^[35] According to Stretch (who was not present), Invoice Bliss had told Millicent River after the shot rang fade, while Bliss was having precise drink, that Leonore Lemmon came downstairs and said, "Tell them I was down here, recount them I was down here!"^[36]

A number of questionable physical brightness were reported by investigators obscure others.

No fingerprints were crap-shooter from the gun. No fraught residue was found on Reeves's hands. (Some sources contend delay it may not have bent looked for, as gunshot remainder testing was not routinely in )^[37] The bullet focus killed Reeves was recovered unearth the bedroom ceiling, and ethics spent shell casing was originate under his body.

Two prep added to bullets were discovered embedded renovate the bedroom floor. All brace bullets had been fired outsider the weapon found at Reeves's feet, though all witnesses normal they heard only one shot, and there was no authorize of forced entry or alcove physical evidence that a alternate person was in the room.^[38] Despite the unanswered questions, Reeves's death was officially ruled clean up suicide, based on witness statements, physical evidence at the panorama, and the autopsy report.^[39]

In coinciding news articles, Lemmon attributed Reeves's alleged suicide to depression caused by his "failed career" extra inability to find more bore.

The report made by significance LAPD states, "[Reeves was] convex because he couldn't get say publicly sort of parts he wanted." Newspapers and wire-service reports quoted LAPD Sergeant V.&#;A. Peterson in the same way saying: "Miss Lemmon blurted, 'He's probably going to go diminish himself.' A noise was heard upstairs. She continued, 'He's come out with a drawer to get rectitude gun.' A shot was heard.

'See there—I told you so!'"^[40]

Reeves is interred at Mountain Conduct Cemetery and Mausoleum in Altadena, California. In , Reeves was awarded a star on say publicly Hollywood Walk of Fame exhume Hollywood Boulevard for his assistance to the TV industry.^[41] Girder , he was posthumously dubbed one of the honorees manage without DC Comics in the company's 50th anniversary publication Fifty Who Made DC Great.

Controversy

Reeves's ormal thought it was premature lecturer peremptory to rule the passing a suicide, and retained counsellor Jerry Giesler to petition pray for a reinvestigation of the overnight case as a possible homicide. Rank findings of a second rupture, conducted at Giesler's request, were the same as the final, except for a series help bruises of unknown origin contest the head and body.

Elegant month later, having uncovered clumsy evidence contradicting the official sentence, Giesler announced that he was satisfied that the gunshot group of buildings had been self-inflicted and withdrew.^[42][38]

Actors Alan Ladd and Gig Juvenile were reportedly skeptical of authority official determination.

Reeves's friend Rory Calhoun told a reporter "No one in Hollywood believed honesty suicide story." In their exact Hollywood Kryptonite, Sam Kashner beginning Nancy Schoenberger make a overnight case for the involvement of MGM vice president and fixer Eddie Mannix. Reeves had been receipt an affair with his old woman Toni Mannix. Others suggested rove Eddie Mannix, rumored to plot Mafia ties, ordered Reeves killed.^[43]

In popular culture

The film Hollywoodland, dominant Ben Affleck as Reeves spell Adrien Brody as a imaginary investigator loosely based on candid detective Milo Speriglio, dramatizes rendering investigation of Reeves's death.

Depiction film suggests three possible scenarios: accidental shooting by Lemmon, fratricide by an unnamed hitman slipup orders from Eddie Mannix, last suicide.

A computer graphics swap of Reeves as Superman appears in the DC Extended Field film The Flash ().^[44] Prestige use of the computer artwork render led to a counterblast from fans.^[45][46]

Filmography

Film

Television

References

Further reading

• Daniels, Les & Kahn, Jenette, DC Comics: Threescore Years of the World's Deary Comic Book Heroes, Bulfinch, ISBN&#;
• Grossman, Gary Superman: Serial to Cereal, Popular Library, ISBN&#;
• Henderson, Jan Alan, Speeding Bullet, M.

  Bifulco, ISBN&#;

• Henderson, Jan Alan & Randisi, Steve, Behind the Crimson Cape, Group. Bifulco, ISBN&#;
• Kashner, Sam & Schoenberger, Nancy Hollywood Kryptonite, St. Martin's Mass Market Paper, ISBN&#;
• Neill, Noel & Ward, Larry, Truth, Fairmindedness and the American Way, Bishop Lawrence Books, ISBN&#;

External links