The Death of the Original Superman, George Reeves

**Discussion begins at 5:00**

Before there was Henry Cavill, Tom Welling, Dean Cain, or Christopher Reeve… there was the OG Superman… George Reeves was an actor in the 1930s, who’s burgeoning career stalled when he enlisted in WW2.  After the war he struggled to find parts, and in need of money, he begrudgingly accepted the role of Superman in the television series Adventures of Superman. The show was a hit, but led to type casting.  As a result, he had difficulty being taken seriously for other acting opportunities.  Off-screen, Reeves' personal life was tumultuous. He had a long-term affair with Toni Mannix, the wife of MGM executive Eddie Mannix, and later became engaged to a younger woman, Leonore Lemmon.  These overlapping relationships, combined with career frustrations and financial stress, ultimately led to him being found dead of a a gunshot wound to the head in his Beverly Hills home on June 16, 1959 – a home his former girlfriend Toni had bought him.  Was it suicide, as is listed as the official cause of death?  The death was never adequately investigated, and there were discrepancies in the scene.  Witnesses in the house gave conflicting stories, there were delays in calling the police, and multiple bullet holes were reportedly found in the room.  Additionally, Reeves’ fingerprints were not found on the gun, and some friends claimed he was in good spirits in the days leading up to his death.  Who had motive?  Was it his fiancée - annoyed by his behavior that night and frustrated that he wasn't committed to getting married?  Was it his ex, Toni Mannix, who was heartbroken and had been stalking the engaged couple to the point that he had attempted to obtain a restraining order?  Or was it her husband, Eddie Mannix who was to blame? After all, he had mob and police connections as the VP of MGM, and was tired of hearing his wife obsess over George.  

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