George Reeves, born George Keefer Brewer (January 5, 1914 – June 16, 1959)
Reeves was best known for his role as Superman in the TV series Adventures of Superman. Reeves' film career began in 1939 when he was cast as Stuart Tarleton (incorrectly listed in the film's credits as Brent Tarleton), one of Scarlett O'Hara's suitors in Gone with the Wind. It was a minor role, but he and Fred Crane were in the film's opening scene. He found steady work in the period 1939 to 1943, appearing in over 40 films. In late 1943, during World War II, he joined the US Army Air Force and appeared in several war training films, rising to the rank of Sergeant. In 1951, Reeves starred in the title role in “Superman and the Mole Men” (1951). This film got him noticed, and he was offered the title role in the upcoming television series, “The Adventures of Superman” (1952-1957). Initially he was reluctant to take on the role of Superman, believing that film acting was preferable to television acting. He was surprised when the role became a national hit. However, once the series ended, Reeves found himself typecast and work was difficult to find. In the early hours of July 16, 1959, Reeves was found dead at age 45 from a gunshot to the head. The official finding was suicide, some believe he was murdered or the victim of an accidental shooting. He was cremated, and the remains interred at Mountain View Cemetery and Mausoleum in Altadena, CA.