George Reeves 100 -- January 5, 2014

Actor George Reeves, who was most famous for playing Superman on television, was born 100 years ago, on 05-January-1914.  I grew up watching reruns of Superman. 

His first film was Gone With the Wind, where he played a small part.  He appeared in a variety of shorts and features until he was drafted in 1943.  The US Army Air Forces Broadway show Wings of Liberty earned him attention, but when the war was over and he was discharged, he found things slow in Hollywood.  He appeared in live television shows and had small parts in movies like From Here to Eternity. 

In 1951, he became Superman, first in a movie/television pilot Superman Vs the Mole Men, then in the half-hour series.  The Adventures of Superman premiered on ABC in 1952.  The show became popular, and Reeves was very good with the fans, trying to be a role model, but he became tired and felt restricted. 

In 1959, Reeves died of a gunshot wound.  The coroner ruled it was a suicide, but many people suspect he might have been murdered. 

The photo of George Reeves and Noel Neill, who played Lois Lane after the first season, is from the wonderful site LucyWho (http://www.lucywho.com).