He dealt with drug and alcohol abuse during his NFL career. Reaves' son David found John dead in his home cause of death not immediately known, but his struggle with alcohol and drugs was well-documented by his "His legacy will continue through his many friends, players and fans as well as the rest of the NFL community. From 1997 until 2003, he coached the Atlanta Falcons and led the team to their first Super Bowl appearance in 1999. Reaves, along with several other top sophomores mixed in with a strong group of seniors, helped the Gators go 9-1-1 (the best record in UF history at the time), including an upset of SEC champion Tennessee in the Gator Bowl. All three bullets had been fired from the weapon found at Reeves' feet, though all witnesses agreed they heard only one gunshot, and there was no sign of forced entry or other physical evidence that a second person was in the room. September6, 1892 was the daughter of George Christian Lescher and Eliza Jane McKenzie, she died in a Pasadena hospital on June 18, 1964. The ending of the 1969 season proved bittersweet. He played/coached for Dallas under Landry & went to Super Bowls w/ Denver & Atlanta. Reeves' family released a statement regarding the coach's death. Good reporting by Jack Hairston of the Jacksonville Journal and Buddy Martin of Cocoa Today (now Florida Today) uncovered the story just a couple of days before Reaves threw a touchdown pass to Alvarez to beat Tennessee, 14-13, in the Gator Bowl. Register now! This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. A shot was heard. Reaves was to play for the Orlando Renegades during the USFL's 1986 fall season, but the league dissolved before they could play a game. The cause of death is being investigated. The official finding was suicide, but some believe that he was murdered or the victim of an accidental shooting. Former Florida and NFL quarterback John Reaves, who finished his college career as the NCAA's all-time leading passer and later struggled with drug and alcohol issues, has died. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [9][10] He was picked as number 30 among the 100 greatest Gators from the first century of the Florida football program by The Gainesville Sun in 2006. Reeves died of a gunshot wound to the head in the upstairs bedroom of his home at 1579 Benedict Canyon Drive[34] in Benedict Canyon between 1:30 and 2:00a.m. on June 16, 1959, according to the Los Angeles Police Department report. He was a regular fixture on BBC and BBC Scotland programmes, often portraying what The Guardian called "tough guys, steely villains or stalwart military figures with directness, authenticity and spiky energy".[1]. [17], However, Reeves was inspired by So Proudly We Hail! The half-hour films were shot on tight schedules; at least two shows were made every six days. Reaves caught on with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for one season (1987), and his playing career ended after that. [33] Reeves had been made a "Kentucky Colonel" during a publicity trip in the South, and the sign on his dressing room door was replaced with a new one that read "Honest George, also known as Col. Reeves", created by the show's prop department. 'See thereI told you so! Reeves was apparently scheduled to marry Lemmon on June 19 and then spend their honeymoon in Tijuana. And, oh, there have been tough times for the former Florida All-American quarterback, a former first round draft choice of the Philadelphia Eagles who spent 13 years in the NFL and USFL. George Reeves (born George Keefer Brewer; January 5, 1914 June 16, 1959) was an American actor. Dan Reeves. Ive been there. Former Florida and NFL quarterback John Reaves, who finished his college career as the NCAAs all-time leading passer and later struggled with drug and alcohol issues, has died. Another Superman stage show was scheduled for July[32] with a planned stage tour of Australia. TAMPA, Fla. -- Former Florida and NFL quarterback John Reaves, who finished his college career as the NCAA's all-time leading passer and later struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, has died. He was 67. Reaves was found dead at his home Tuesday, according to the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office. Yeah, he could be stubborn, but he got results. [19] Reaves entered an Atlanta-area substance-abuse rehabilitation program in May 2009. His memory will always be with us.. Gators quarterback John Reaves, right, and head coach Ray Graves prior to 1969 season. I remember watching Reaves play in college and briefly in the NFL. Former Florida and NFL quarterback John Reaves, who finished his college career as the NCAAs all-time leading passer and later struggled with drug and alcohol He will rest in paradise. Robinson High School in Tampa,[3] where he was a star high-school football quarterback for the Robinson Knights. [13] The Bessolo marriage lasted 15 years, ending in divorce, with the couple separating while Reeves was away visiting relatives. No gunpowder residue was found on Reeves' hands. Attempting to showcase his versatility, Reeves sang on the Tony Bennett show in August 1956. Ive made my mistakes in life too many of them, in fact but its not about the mistakes you make, its about what you do when you hit rock bottom, Reaves said. He was 67. Jack Larson and Noel Neill both remembered Reeves as a noble Southern gentleman (even though he was from Iowa) with a sign on his dressing room door that said "Honest George, the people's friend". The series went on the air the following year, and Reeves was amazed at becoming a national celebrity. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Legacy After John Denver's Death. Roves's first notable roles were in films. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Why Felicity Hoffman Sentenced to Only 14 Days in Prison? That '69 Gators team with John and Carlos Alvarez and Tommy Durrance that came within one game of winning our first SEC championship was one of the really special teams in the history of our school.. His first pass attempt for the Florida varsity freshmen were ineligible in those days went for 70 yards and a touchdown to Carlos Alvarez as the Gators upset Houston, 59-38, in the season opener. Arrangements are still to be determined," the statement read. I thought he was easily the best quarterback in the league. Reaves' best years came when he was the quarterback at Florida. [17] He was drafted in early 1943. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. According to the Associated Press, Reaves was found dead at his homeTuesday in [2] He attended T.R. I am sad to hear that reeves died. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Reaves played college football for the University of Florida, and earned All-American honors. [13] He was then traded to the Cincinnati Bengals in 1975,[14] claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Vikings in 1979,[15] and signed to the Houston Oilers in 1981. Henderson, Jan Alan, Speeding Bullet, M. Bifulco, 1999; Helen Roberta Lescher Brewer Bessolo (18921964) - Born in Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois, US. Reaves w During the second season, Reeves appeared in a short film for the Treasury Department entitled Stamp Day for Superman, in which he caught the villains and told children why they should invest in government savings stamps. John was outstanding throwing the ball and directing the team. [42] In 1985, he was posthumously named one of the honorees by DC Comics in the company's 50th anniversary publication Fifty Who Made DC Great. Newspapers and wire-service reports quoted LAPD Sergeant V.A. He also suited up for the Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings, Houston Oilers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers during a largely unassuming career. Your email address will not be published. The first half of the show was a Superman sketch in which Reeves and Neill performed with LeBell as a villain called "Mr. Kryptonite" who captured Lois Lane. You can change your destiny, change your life and turn everything around, Reaves says. National Football League, Historical Players, Philadelphia Eagles first-round draft picks, Philadelphia Eagles starting quarterbacks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting quarterbacks, University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame, List of Florida Gators football All-Americans, List of Philadelphia Eagles first-round draft picks, List of United States Football League players, List of University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame members, Tampa Bay's All-Century Team: No. As one who has had to bounce back from his share of adversity in life, John Reaves knows a thing or two about resilience. According to Wichita Falls Police Department Public Information Officer Sgt. At this time, Reeves and his mother moved from Iowa to Ashland, Kentucky, to stay with relatives for a time[10] and then to her home of Galesburg, Illinois.[11]. All us Gators were sad to hear about the passing of John Reaves, said former UF Heisman Trophy winner and head coach Steve Spurrier, who coached Reaves in the USFL and made him part of his first UF coaching staff in 1990. In their book Hollywood Kryptonite, Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger make a case for the involvement of MGM vice president and fixer Eddie Mannix. He is best known for portraying Superman in the television series Adventures of Superman (19521958). [5] In 2006 he appeared in the BBC docudrama Surviving Disasters, portraying Sir Matt Busby in the story of the Munich air disaster. Perhaps its not the life he envisioned for himself long ago, but hes at peace with himself. We want to remember the good in them, and people are doing that with Reaves. We tend to gloss over peoples faults when they pass away, especially at a relatively early age. After he left the Army he studied at the College of Dramatic Art at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where he won a Gold Medal for acting. He had 1,990 rushing yards and 1,693 receiving yards, and he totaled 42 touchdowns in 8 seasons with the Cowboys. Reeves established his own production company and conceived a TV adventure series called Port of Entry, which would be shot on location in Hawaii and Mexico. Reaves became the No. '"'[35], The official story given by Lemmon to the police placed her in the living room with party guests at the time of the shooting, but hearsay statements from Fred Crane, Reeves' friend and colleague from Gone With The Wind, put Lemmon either inside or in direct proximity to Reeves' bedroom. Reaves starred at Florida and left the school as the NCAAs career passing leader with 7,581 yards and an SEC-record 54 touchdowns. At the same time, I do know this: I don't think anybody will ever realize how much the Florida Gators truly meant to John Reaves.". Except for the second season, the Superman schedule was brief (13 shows shot two per week, a total of seven weeks out of a year), but all had a "30-day clause", which meant that the producers could demand their exclusive services for a new season on four weeks' notice. They also spent part of each year at a condo in Santa Fe, New Mexico. "I'm not a person who wakes up in the morning thinking of doing evil things.". Reeves's 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. Reaves was found dead at his home Tuesday, according to the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office. After the NFL, his pro career continued with the USFL's Tampa Bay Bandits, where he was the starting quarterback for three seasons (1983-85) under Spurrier. Daniel Edward Reeves was a quarterback at South Carolina better known for his running ability than his passing. He retired having participated in a then-record nine Super Bowls. Thomas Johnson "John" Reaves (March 2, 1950 August 1, 2017) was an American college and professional football player who was a quarterback for 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) and three seasons in the United States Football League (USFL) during the 1970s and 1980s. He kept his private life discreet, including a romantic relationship with Toni Mannix, wife of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer general manager Eddie Mannix. Reeves wrote the pilot script himself. My favorite memories of John are when I got a chance to coach him during our time with the Tampa Bay Bandits, Spurrier said. Coach Dickey preferred special teams, defense and running a ball control offense, Reaves says. In 1965, he signed as an undrafted free agent with the Cowboys and initially was asked to try to make the roster on defense, but when the Cowboys had injuries at halfback and decided to give Dan a try at the position, and he flourished. In 1927, Frank Bessolo adopted George at aged 13, as his own son, and the boy took on his stepfather's last name, becoming George Bessolo. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. I could high jump more than six feet and that was a big deal in those days and I could get them some points in the shot and discuss.. [17] Reeves fit the rugged requirements of the roles, and, with his retentive memory for dialogue, he did well under rushed production conditions. The cause of death is being investigated, the office said. Reaves was born in Anniston, Alabama, in 1950,[1] and moved to Tampa, Florida, with his mother and grandmother after his father died when he was 9 years old. He was 67. I know he enjoyed the role, but he used to say, 'Here I am, wasting my life. Learn how your comment data is processed. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. [15] They married on September 22, 1940, in San Gabriel, California, at the Church of Our Savior. He is one of the few coaches in NFL history to have 200 wins. According to Larson, Reeves also said he would feel better about the role if he knew he had any adult fans but never learned that Adventures of Superman had adult fans even during its original broadcast run.[17]. Reaves has learned to smile whenever the 1969 Auburn game is mentioned. Reeves's father married Helen Schultz in 1925. Reaves and the Super Sophs led the Gators to their all-time best season record of 911, and an upset 1413 victory over the Tennessee Volunteers in the 1969 Gator Bowl. The coaching change was unpopular with both players and fans alike. death of former Gators quarterback John Reaves, Video Platform powered by CBS Sports Digital. I dont think his courage is quite appreciated.. Menu. According to Larson, Reeves said that if Mark Sandrich had not died, he would not be there in "this monkey suit". He was involved in 9 Super Bowls as a player, assistant and head coach. [13] In Reaves's two seasons as the Bandits' full-time starting quarterback, however, he threw for over 4,000 yards passing both years (1984 and 1985), and just over 10,000 total yards in his three-season USFL career (198385). Vacio and Neill accompanied him in duets.[30]. He was initially reluctant to take the role because, like many actors of his time, he considered television unimportant and believed few would see his work. According to his family, he died peacefully, early this morning, on January 1st, 2022, surrounded by loved ones, after a long illness. Actors Alan Ladd and Gig Young were reportedly skeptical of the official determination. Globe | November 19, 2018. In the league's final season, 1985, he was 314 for 561, throwing 29 interceptions compared to 25 touchdown passes.[17]. Reaves was found dead at his home Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017, according to the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Florida football program and Reaves family during these most difficult of times. Reaves was found dead at his home Tuesday, according to the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office. Ive done that. He was not drafted by the NFL. I have to do it every single day. "Obviously got to know the family very well. [38] The bullet that killed Reeves was recovered from the bedroom ceiling, and the spent shell casing was found under his body. After being named an All-American quarterback in his senior season, Reaves was a first-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1972. Superman Murder Solved! [5] He also played basketball and baseball and ran track for the Knights,[4] and once scored 52 points in a high-school basketball game. The findings of a second autopsy, conducted at Giesler's request, were the same as the first, except for a series of bruises of unknown origin about the head and body. It's sad to see that John has passed on, but we'll celebrate his life down in Tampa with so many good friends and Gators, Spurrier said. Reaves spent 11 years in the NFL after being a first-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1972 our of the University of Florida. He was [40], Reeves' mother thought the ruling premature and peremptory, and retained attorney Jerry Giesler to petition for a reinvestigation of the case as a possible homicide. "Actress to Wed." Philadelphia Inquirer, September 18, 1940. He had affection for his young fans, and took his role-model status seriously. R.I.P. After his professional career, he became an assistant coach for the Cowboys. The cause of death is being investigated, the office said. The cause of death is not currently known. In 1953, Reeves played a minor character, Sergeant Maylon Stark, in From Here to Eternity. Underrated. We were tied at the hip. In contemporary news articles, Lemmon attributed Reeves' alleged suicide to depression caused by his "failed career" and inability to find more work. Reeves was born five months into their marriage[9] and the couple separated soon after Reeves's birth. During that time he went to two Super Bowls and was part of the winning team in 1971. WebEdmund Reaves (1810-1876) was born in Wayne County, N.C., in 1810. Its hard to talk about it, Alvarez said of Reaves passing. You must be logged in to leave a comment. He was the school's all-time leading passer with 7,581 yards when the Eagles drafted him. John Reaves, a 1972 first-round pick by the Eagles who played quarterback in Philadelphia for three seasons, was found dead at his home Tuesday in Tampa, Fla. 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