Jack Larson who Played Jimmy Olson on the Adventures of Superman Passes Away at 87

The Adventures of Superman starring George Reeves, Phyllis Coates, Noel Neill, John Hamilton, Robert Shayne, and Jack Larson as Jimmy Olson originally aired on TV in the 1950s.  For many years it was shown on WPIX-TV or WWOR TV in New York City.  Believe me I must have seen every episode umpteen times.  Recently the series in seen on the cable channel MeTV Saturdays from 6 - 7 PM.  We usually eat dinner at 6:15 and finish in time to watch the 6:30 episode.

In the comic book Jimmy Olson had red hair and had a special wristwatch to call for Superman when he was in trouble.  In the TV series Lois and Jimmy always got into trouble and Superman had to bail them out.  Poor Jimmy always got into trouble with his boss, Perry White Editor of the Daily Planet.

In later years Jack wrote librettos for operas.  It appeared that he was typecast as Jimmy Olson and had difficulty getting acting gigs.  I remember in the 1990s Jack hosted a marathon of Superman episodes on WWOR-TV.  Now Noell Neill and Phyllis Coates are the only cast members still living.

Article in the New York Times about Jack Larson