tv star collector
05-04-2006, 06:37 PM
I was watching again this morning the A&E BIOGRAPHY of the late George Reeves (TV's "Superman"). What do you folks think REALLY happened to him?
Was it suicide? Murder? If murder, whodunit? There are several theories that
have been explored in books (and in a soon-to-be-released movie starring Ben
Affleck). In 1959, we kids accepted as fact that Reeves shot himself. But in
the years since, there is a lot of evidence to support the theory that he was,
in fact, murdered. For example, some time prior to his death, Reeves was
involved in a near-fatal car accident .. that was no "accident," someone had
tampered with his brakes. Reeves was receiving death threats by way of his
unlisted phone number. When he had the number changed, the threats still
continued. Some suspect Toni Mannix, his former galpal (and wife of Eddie
Mannix, a Hollywood bigshot who some say had ties with the Mafia). Others
suspect his fiancee Lenore Lemmon who had predicted that "he'll probably
shoot himself." His friend, actor Gig Young, believes there was no way George
would take his own life. Why should he? At the time of his death, everything
was going his way. Two women were fighting over him, he was planning a
honeymoon in Australia, he had signed a new contract to continue playing
Superman for a lot more money and had inked a deal to direct and star in
a major motion picture. To end his life when his career was soaring makes
no sense.
And then there are the clues left behind at the death scene. There were no
powder burns on Reeves' hands or his face. The killer would have had to hold
the gun at least twenty feet from his head. We may never know, and the
man who--to a whole generation--was Superman may never rest in peace.
Was it suicide? Murder? If murder, whodunit? There are several theories that
have been explored in books (and in a soon-to-be-released movie starring Ben
Affleck). In 1959, we kids accepted as fact that Reeves shot himself. But in
the years since, there is a lot of evidence to support the theory that he was,
in fact, murdered. For example, some time prior to his death, Reeves was
involved in a near-fatal car accident .. that was no "accident," someone had
tampered with his brakes. Reeves was receiving death threats by way of his
unlisted phone number. When he had the number changed, the threats still
continued. Some suspect Toni Mannix, his former galpal (and wife of Eddie
Mannix, a Hollywood bigshot who some say had ties with the Mafia). Others
suspect his fiancee Lenore Lemmon who had predicted that "he'll probably
shoot himself." His friend, actor Gig Young, believes there was no way George
would take his own life. Why should he? At the time of his death, everything
was going his way. Two women were fighting over him, he was planning a
honeymoon in Australia, he had signed a new contract to continue playing
Superman for a lot more money and had inked a deal to direct and star in
a major motion picture. To end his life when his career was soaring makes
no sense.
And then there are the clues left behind at the death scene. There were no
powder burns on Reeves' hands or his face. The killer would have had to hold
the gun at least twenty feet from his head. We may never know, and the
man who--to a whole generation--was Superman may never rest in peace.