Ed Gross at CloserWeekly.com has published an article dedicated to the memory of George Reeves and his role as Superman in the 1950s “Adventures of Superman” TV series, which includes direct quotes from the actor himself.
For several generations, George Reeves is the definitive Superman, having played the character on the big screen in the 1951 film Superman and the Mole Men, and then on the small from 1952 to 1958 in the syndicated Adventures of Superman. So powerful was the connection with his fans that he felt trapped, stifled by the part, and lost in the sense that his career was over, while being unaware of the impact that he was having and would continue to have for years to come.
In a 1956 interview with the Akron Beacon Journal, George confirmed, “The only rub in playing Superman is that I have a tough time finding other roles. Most movie producers feel I’m too closely identified with Superman, so won’t use me.”
“George never fully realized how loved he was,” offers Jim Nolt, webmaster of the long-running site devoted to both Reeves and the series, The Adventure Continues. “He wanted to be admired for his talent and never knew the recognition he would have received if he had been around just a little while longer.”
I think that if George had lived we would have seen how much the kids who grew up on his show would remember him into their adulthood and appreciate him as an actor and how new generations would find it he would have felt much less like being on tv was the “bottom of the barrel”. Taking on directing would have probably given him another avenue creatively.