George Reeves...Suicide or Murder?

[Brian Damage]

What do you think really happened to Reeves? Was it a suicide or was he really murdered?

[Brian Damage]

Many problems still persist with the suicide theory, such as bullet holes found in the bedroom walls and throughout the living room (where the guests were), bullet casing found underneath Reeves' body, the gun left between his legs, police not being called for 30-45 minutes after the death and the fact that almost no one who knew Reeves can quite bring themselves to believe that he killed himself.

Many people find it hard to believe that Reeves shot himself, as his life seemed to be getting back on track, right up until his death. In 1958, he seemed to give up drinking, only having a glass of champagne at parties, and the producers of Adventures of Superman agreed to revive the series with two seasons' worth of episodes to begin airing in early 1960. He had also ended his affair with Toni Mannix, an actress and wife of studio mogul Eddie Mannix, and, as stated, he and Lemmon were going to be married within three days. That same month, he had signed a five-motion-picture deal with Paramount Pictures, and was filming scenes for the role of doomed detective Milton Arbogast for Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho.

Had he lived until the next day, June 17, he would have fought light-heavyweight boxing champion Archie Moore, and, considering his successful wrestling career in the 1940s, Reeves would not have turned down his shot at fame. These facts of what might have been for Reeves strongly contradict the theory that he killed himself for being typecast as Superman, because with the new, bright future for him in sight, it would be unlikely for him to commit suicide. Not surprisingly, the planned continuation of the Adventures of Superman television series was cancelled after his death.

[Ireneparalegal]

Too many inconsistencies in the "story" and many bullet holes lead me to believe murder.

[tv star collector]

His two former co-stars, Noel Neill (Lois Lane) and Jack Larson (Jimmy Olsen)
disagree on this unsolved mystery. Miss Neill believes murder, while Mr. Larson
believes it was suicide. Having read all the evidence (from various sources), I
am inclined to believe George Reeves was murdered. I am curious to see how
the case is treated in the new theatrical movie "Hollywoodland."

[Mr. Television]

I think he was murdered.

[Cbalducc]

Here’s an article from someone convinced Reeves took his own life. He offers plausible explanations that the “evidence” pointing to Reeves’s “murder” does not actually do so.
http://www.tvparty.com/myssuper3.html
Someone should have gotten to the bottom of this years ago, when the witnesses were still alive. A great opportunity to solve a mystery was lost.

[Charley Knox]

Why would he go up to his room during a party and kill himself? Always seem like most suicides are committed alone. Since heavy drinking was involved, could his death been accidental?

[Cbalducc]

George Reeves was a man whose acting career had likely not gone as he had hoped. He had been in a relationship with a married woman whose husband apparently didn’t mind. Adultery is not a good thing. Then he got engaged to another woman. That relationship was also unhealthy. Reeves was an alcoholic who had recently been hurt in an accident. In short, his life was a mess. It is plausible to me he decided there was no way out of his problems except suicide.

[Cbalducc]

Originally Posted by Charley Knox

Why would he go up to his room during a party and kill himself? Always seem like most suicides are committed alone. Since heavy drinking was involved, could his death been accidental?

It may have been a stretch to call it a party. It seemed like a bunch of miserable people making themselves worse.