Matinee Classics - George Reeves Biography & Filmography

George Reeves ACTOR

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GEORGE REEVES BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

George Reeves was born George Keefer Brewer on January 5, 1914 in Woolstock, Iowa. He is probably most known for his incredible acting in the hit Superman television series during the 1950’s, but he was a talented film and play actor as well. He appeared in many movies and TV shows, playing both supporting and leading roles.

In 1927, he changed his last name to Besselo, due to his mother remarrying. When George was younger, he wanted to be a boxer. His mom did not approve due to the possibility of injury, which would ruin his good looks. He decided he would take up acting, since it was also something he was drawn to. He enrolled at the Pasadena Playhouse, in Pasadena, California. While there, he performed in some plays, and that was ultimately the reason he was discovered. In 1938, he was approached by an agent, who signed him to Warner Brothers Pictures. He debuted his film career with the movie “Ride, Cowboy, Ride” (1939) starring Dennis Morgan and Maris Wrixon, and was featured in some other lesser known films such as “The Monroe Doctrine” (1939) starring Grant Mitchell and Charles Waldron and “Smashing the Money Ring” (1939) starring Ronald Reagan and Margot Stevenson. He was not credited, but furthermore appeared in “The Espionage Agent” and “On Dress Parade” also in 1939.

In his very busy initial year of 1939, Reeves emerged in one of the most memorable movies of all time, “Gone with the Wind” starring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh. He only played a minor role in the opening scene, that of one of Scarlett O’Hara’s potential bachelors, but it was this breakout role that really got him noticed. This was his first part in a movie under the last name Reeves. Over the next ten years he had contracts with Warner Brothers, Fox, and Paramount, and played parts in over three dozen movies. He appeared in several films, not limited to one with Ronald Reagan (“Knute Rockne, All American” 1940) also starring Pat O'Brien, and three with James Cagney (“Torrid Zone” 1940, “The Fighting 69th” 1940, “The Strawberry Blonde” 1941).

It was in 1941 that Reeves starred alongside Merle Oberon in the box-office disappointment “Lydia”. His failure was followed up with a success, though, when he achieved near-stardom with his role in the melodrama “So Proudly We Hail!” (1943) as Claudette Colbert’s military suitor. After this achievement, his acting career was temporarily halted, due to his service in the military during World War II.

While serving, he appeared in the Broadway piece “Winged Victory” (1944). When he returned to civilization and the acting scene in 1945, roles weren’t as available to him. He found spots in lower budget works, such as “Airborne Lifeboat” (1945), “Champagne for Two” (1947), a “Jungle Jim” (1948) movie, and the lead role in a serial called “The Adventures of Sir Galahad” (1949). He was not aware that he was about to enter the limelight, though.

In 1951, he replaced actor Kirk Alyn in a Warner Bros. Superman movie titled “Superman and the Mole Men”. The producer’s of this film were so impressed by his demeanor and talent that they cast him in a Superman television show with a seven year contract. This series was shot throughout 1951 and aired from 1952 to 1958. This television series is what really put Reeves on the map, and it is his most well known contribution to the acting field. While his show broadcasted, he also appeared as some more considerable characters like in “Rancho Notorious” (1952) starring Marlene Dietrich, Arthur Kennedy and Mel Ferrer, “The Blue Gardenia” (1953), and “Forever Female” (1954). He was present in a supporting role in the Oscar-winning feature “From Here to Eternity” (1953) starring Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr, Montgomery Clift, Frank Sinatra, Donna Reed, Ernest Borgnine and Jack Warden, although he received little recognition for this part.

In the meantime, the heroic movie “Superman and the Mole Men” (1952) went to the big screen, and he became known as the Man of Steel. Shortly after, his TV show “Adventures of Superman” 1952-58 was put on the air, and this gave him the fame that the movies failed to give him. The younger viewers of his show loved him. Reeves took his role model position seriously, avoiding being photographed smoking cigarettes or appearing with a lady counterpart, and he even appeared in a Walt Disney movie, “Westward Ho the Wagons!” (1956), which was his very last film. While he received much glory from his role as Superman, he spoke publicly about the harmful effects his typecast as Superman was giving him; it was almost not possible for him to find television or film roles because the public only saw him as that character.

His dilemma might have been getting to him, because on the morning of June 16, 1959, he was found to be shot dead in his Beverly Hills home. While some believe that he was the one who took his life, others stay true to the theory that he was murdered. To this day, George Reeves’ death remains a true Hollywood mystery. He was even brought up in the movie “Hollywoodland” 2006, where Ben Affleck portrays Reeves and it focuses on the conspiracies and controversies surrounding his decease.

Reeves is remembered for more than just his premature demise, though. Under his name he acquired two TV Land award nominations for his role in the famous heroic small screen series, and even has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his involvement in television. While his death still remains a mystery, his life is nevertheless in the hearts of many, and no one can forget his contributions in the television and film industries.