RIP Jack Larson: Jimmy Olsen in The Adventures of Superman

Jack Larson, Jimmy Olsen From 'Superman' TV Shows, Dies

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The man who made a mark in America as a cub reporter has died: actor Jack Larson, who played a sidekick to Superman's alter-ego Clark Kent at the fictional Daily Planet newspaper, has died at age 87.

The actor and playwright died at his home in Brentwood, Calif., according to CBS Los Angeles, Variety and multiple news outlets. A cause of death was not mentioned.

Larson rose to prominence in the 1950s, when The Adventures of Superman sidetracked his dreams of being a stage actor on Broadway. The runaway success of that show, starring George Reeves, made it hard for Larson to find new work; he eventually found success in writing plays and librettos.

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The guy had a varied career and an interesting life.

Prior to Larson's Jimmy Olsen, the character was a device to move the dialogue along on the Superman radio show. After the success of the Superman TV series, National Periodicals (DC Comics) launched their Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane series. Those series outsold the vast majority of superhero comics for the majority of the Silver Age.