Jack Larson, Who Played Jimmy Olson On TV’s ‘Superman’ In ’50s, Dies At 87

Jack Larson, best known for his role on the 1950s show Adventures of Superman, has died at the age of 87.

JACK LARSON DIES

Larson died peacefully in his sleep on Sunday at his home in Brentwood, Calif. Larson had no immediate family, but his dog was by his side when he passed.

“[Larson] was an important friend in my life,” Larson’s friend of 48 years, Alan Howard, told CNN.

Despite his fame as Jimmy Olson on the first show to feature the legendary Superman, Larson was never comfortable in the spotlight. Initially, Larson wanted to perform on Broadway, but was convinced to do the 26-episode series of Adventures of Superman first.

“The casting man and my agent talked to me very seriously about doing this,” he recalled in an interview with the Archive of American Television in 2003. “They said, ‘Look, you’re a very mixed-up kid, do this. It’s 26 shows, it’s a season’s work, and you’ll have enough money to go to New York. It’s probably like doing a Saturday morning serial. No one will ever see it. Take the money and run.'”

Not thinking anything would come of it, Larson took the job, made enough money to get to the Big Apple, and began working in live television. To Larson’s surprise, Adventures of Superman was an instant hit, and he was now being recognized everywhere he went. But fame did not sit well with him.

“I wouldn’t do a magazine interview, I wouldn’t do anything, because I thought everything I do as Jimmy Olsen publicity is just a further nail in my coffin as an actor,” he said. “My life turned upside-down. This was not my idea of a good experience.”

Larson continued to work on the Adventures of Superman until 1959 when George Reeves (who played Superman) died. Larson later appeared on several TV shows such as Kid Monk Baroni, Lois & Clark, Superboy and Law & Order. He also played a bartender in the film Superman Returns.

Mainly, Larson worked as a playwright and producer. His writing credits include the 1996 film The Candied House and the 1998 film The Astronaut’s Tale. He produced the films Mike’s Murder (1984), Perfect (1985) and Bright Lights, Big City (1988).

According to Wikipedia, Larson was born on Feb. 8 in Los Angeles. The year of his birth is uncertain. He often told people it was 1933, but it is believed to be 1928.