Jack Larson, Jimmy Olsen on first Superman TV show, dies at 87

LOS ANGELES — Jack Larson, best know for his role as reporter Jimmy Olsen on the first Superman TV show, died Sunday at his home in Brentwood, Calif. He was 87.

Larson played George Reeves' (Clark Kent/Superman) wide-eyed coworker at The Daily Planet — a role he tried, in vain, to escape throughout his career — on "Adventures of Superman" in the 1950s.

Larson appeared on "Superman" for six seasons, beginning in 1951. The series came to a close following Reeves' sudden death in 1959.

Larson was also a playwright; his works include 1966's "The Candied House," based on "Hansel and Gretel"; "Cherry, Larry, Sandy, Doris, Jean, Paul," a comedy about being gay; 1968's "Chuck"; and 1998's "The Astronaut's Tale." Larson wrote librettos for operas, such as Virgil Thomson's "Lord Byron."

He produced several films written and/or directed by his longtime partner, James Bridges, who he met on the set of Ethel Barrymore's final film, "Johnny Trouble," in 1957. Larson produced "The Baby Maker" (1970), "Mike's Murder" (1984) and "Perfect" (1985), among Bridges' other movies, through their production company.

Larson also appeared in the 1991 series "Superboy" as "Old Jimmy Olsen" (an older version of Justin Whalin's character), in an episode of ABC's "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman" and Bryan Singer's "Superman Returns" in 2006.