George Reeves, Steve Reeves, Christopher Reeve: A Trio of Tragic, Ironic Hollywood-Supermen Deaths

Christopher Reeve (left) and George Reeves (right) both played SupermanPhoto byPinterest.com

From 1952 to 1958, George Reeves played Clark Kent/Superman in Adventures of Superman, the syndicated TV series.

Beginning in 1958, bodybuilder-turned-actor Steve Reeves, no relation to George, played Hercules in the big-screen motion picture of the same name, and a sequel the following year. He also appeared in muscle-bound movies based on the mythological figures Goliath, and Sandokan.

Twenty years later, Christopher Reeve (singular) played Clark Kent/Superman in the big-screen Superman feature films, beginning with Superman: The Movie (1978), and ending with Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987).

Steve Reeves played Hercules, and other super strong men, on the big screen.Photo byPinterest.com

Each Super Actor Suffered a Tragic Death

On June 16, 1959, George Reeves was found dead in his bedroom from a gunshot wound to the head. He was 45 years old. The authorities ruled his demise a suicide, but rumors soon surfaced that the actor was murdered. However, no arrests or convictions were made, and his death remains a mystery.

On April 28, 2000, Steve Reeves had exploratory surgery, while being treated for lymphoma. On May 1, 2000, he died from a blood clot.

In May 1995, Christopher Reeves became paralyzed from the neck down when he sustained a severe cervical spinal injury in a horse-riding accident. Nine years later, Reeve died from cardiac arrest on October 10, 2004.

In the End

The tragic deaths of George Reeves, Steve Reeves, and Christopher Reeve, each with similar-sounding names; each playing similar if not the same roles; each physically strong men in their prime, is nothing less than a sad, ironic Hollywood trilogy.