Jinxed Movies

Numerous people believed in curse on objects, places or events. Several celebrities also believed after doing a film or players involved in sports, they were affected by the “jinx” or curse. A curse also known a jinx, hex or execration, is any wish expressed that some form of misfortune will be attach to some other entity or something that exists in itself, actually or potentially, concretely or abstractly, physically or not, one or more persons, a place, or an object. Curse refers to a wish, a prayer or spell, that can harm or hurt a person, that will be inflicted by any supernatural powers, such as an imprecation, an execration, magic, witchcraft, God, a natural force or a spirit. The curse itself or accompanying a ritual, in many beliefs, is considered to result as  cause force, and to remove or reverse a curse or jinx, which is called removal or breaking, is often believed to require equally elaborate rituals or prayers.The study of both folklore and folk religion, has significant part in the study of the forms of curses, example, numerous people believed that celebrities in a certain movie, where they had starred, were said to be affected by the curse or jinx of that movie making. While some believed, that stolen objects from its rightful owners or maybe objects stolen from a sanctuary is called, cursed objects, such as the Hope Diamond which is supposed to bear such a curse, and bring misfortune whoever could own it. Curses varies behind the stories behind why these items are cursed, but they usually are said to bring bad luck or to manifest unusual phenomena related to their presence. The Busby’s stoop chair or the Dead Man’s Chair is an allegedly haunted chair made of oak, that was cursed by the murderer Thomas Busby before he was executed by hanging in North Yorkshire, UK, so that anyone who would sit in that chair would die. A magical spell  usually with malevolent purposes such as curse is called hex, a jinx, in popular superstition and folklore or type of curse placed on a person afflicted with similar curse, and term used when two person say the same thing at the same time. Some curse placed on a person or objects, bring misfortune or bad luck to the individual affected by curse or jinxed. Superstition beliefs can be also referred to jinx or curses, when talking about the future event with confidence, or winning in a competition because it tempts fate thus bring bad luck or misfortune, and so the event itself is referred to as jinx or cursed.

A. Superman curse

The Superman curse referring to a phenomenon or superstition, based on a series of misfortunes or bad luck, that have afflicted suffering, hardship or continuous problems to creative people involved in Superman film adaptations, specially actors who have starred as the role of Superman on television and films. The Superman curse is said to be associated with actor George Reeves, who starred on television series, Adventures of Superman from 1952 to 1958, who died of a gunshot wound at age 45 under disputed circumstances, however his death was ruled our as suicide, and from 1978 to 1987, actor Christopher Reeve, who also starred as the superhero, Superman films, who became paraplegic since his accident in 1995 from horseback riding accident, and died at age 52, after nine years from his accident. Whenever misfortune or bad luck  is experienced by actors and other staffs who work on Superman adaptations, the curse is often invoked, and so some talent agents cite the curse as the reason for the difficulty in casting actors in the Superman role in films, television or theaters.  The following actors who played Superman have sometimes been cited as victims of the “Superman curse”.

Kirk Alyn

Kirk Alyn was born John Feggo, Jr. in Oxford, New Jersey on October 8, 1910 to Hungarian immigrant parents. an American actor, best known for being the first actor to play the character of Superman in the DC Comics on screen in the Superman film series in 1948 and its sequel Atom Man vs. Superman in 1950. Kirk Alyn was also  a vaudaville singer and dancer before he moved in the early 1940′s  to Hollywood to make feature films, where he played bit parts in low-budget films before playing the role of Superman in 1948. Alyn met Virginia O’Brien, dancer and actress when he went to Hollywood, and married in 1942, and had one son, John Feggo, and two daughters Terri O’Brien and Elizabeth Watkins.Their marriage ended in divorce in 1955. Kirk Alyn suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, and later died on March 14, 1999, at age 88 in The Woodlands, Texas, and was survived by three children he had with O’Brien and several grandchildren. Alyn’s ashes were scattered off California. It was believed then, that after playing the character of Superman, he failed to find work, because he was identified with the Superman role and was assign to voice-overs, commercials and uncredited screen roles, and later in 1978′s Superman film as the father of Lois Lane. 

Bud Collyer

Bud Collyer born Clayton Johnson Heermance, Jr. in New York City, to Clayton Johnson Heermance and Caroline Collyer, (June 18, 1908 – September 8, 1969) was an American radio actor and announcer and became one of the nation’s first major TV game show stars, and best remembered for his work as the first host of To Tell the Truth television game show. Bud Collyer became famous in the roles of Superman and Clark Kent on radio and in Superman cartoons series. In the early 1940′s Collyer was best known for his title role on radio in The Adventures of Superman on the Mutual Broadcasting System. Collyer voiced-over of both Superman and his alter ego Clark Kent, a highlight of Clark Kent changed into Superman’s costume, and shifting voices by an octave every time he made his transition. Collyer repeated his role in 1966, as the voice of Superman in the production company Filmation Associates, animated television series The New Adventures of Superman. He was first married to Heloise Law Green from 1936 to 1951 whom he had one child. On September 8, 1969, Collyer died at age 61 from a circulatory ailment also called the cardiovascular system, in Greenwhich, Connecticut, on the same day the program, To Tell The Truth was revived in syndication. At the time of his death, Collyer was married to 1930′s movie actress Marian Shockley (October 10, 1911 – December 14, 1981) with whom he had three children.His son Michael ”Mike” Collyer appeared in 1957, as a guest challenger on To Tell the Truth, using the name Pat Rizzuto. His daughter, Cynthia Collyer, a former television personality and as of February 2009, she is now residing in Mequon, Wisconsin.

Lee Quigley

Lee John Quigley (August 13, 1976 – March 10,1991) was a British actor best known for the film Superman, playing the character ob baby Kal-El . Quigley was born in Lambeth, London to his parents John Quigley and mother Carol. After his parent’s divorce, Lee Quigley lived with his grandparents in Langney, Eastbourne, England. Quigley was seven months old when he played as baby Kal-El, or the younger version of Superman (portrayed by actor Christopher Reeve) which was used later as archival footage for The Curse of Superman 2006 documentary film, and he was uncredited. Quigley died at the age of 14 on March 10, 1991, after inhaling solvents. Quigley  as the infant Superman (baby Kar-El), was the first non-American to portray Superman, while fellow Britt Henry Cavill was the first non-American to portray Clark Kent as the alter ego of Superman.

Christopher Reeve

Christopher D’Olier Reeve  (September 25, 1952 – October 10, 2004) was an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, author, and activist, gained stardom and fame when he portrayed the character of the superhero Superman. On May 27, 1995, Reeve was thrown from a horse during an equestrian competition on May 27, 1995, and due from the accident he  became a quadriplegic in Culpeper, Virginia, and was required a wheelchair for the rest of his life and portable ventilator to breathe. Reeve  try to influence on person or people with spinal cord injuries and for human embryonic stem cell research, and founded the Christopher Reeve Foundation and also the co-founder the Reeve-Irvine Research Center. In April 1992, Christopher Reeve married American actress, singer Dana Morosini. Dana Reeve gave birth to their first child, a son, William Elliot Reeve, born on June 7, 1992. Christopher Reeve also had two children, Matthew Exton Reeve (born 1979) and Alexandra Exton Reeve (born 1983), from his relationship with former model and mental health counselor, Gae Exton, both separated in 1987. Reeve died in October 10, 2004, suddenly of cardiac arrest while co-directing Everyone’s Hero. Since childhood, Christopher Reeve suffered from asthma and allergies. He also began to suffer from alopecia areata (AA), at age 16, a condition in which hair is lost from some or all areas of the body, usually from the scalp and causes bald spots on the scalp. He was able to comb over it and often the problem disappeared for long period of time but later, in life, after he was paralyzed, the condition became more noticeable, and prefer to have shaved his head. Reeve was being treated for an infected pressure ulcer in October 2004 that was causing sepsis,whole-body inflammation caused by an infection, a complication that he had experienced many times before. On the night of October 9, Reeve went into cardiac arrest after given an antibiotic for the infection. He was rush to Northern Westchester Hospital when he fell into a coma, in Mount Kisco, New York. Reeve died of cardiac arrest at age 52, on October 10 after Eighteen hours later. A memorial service for Reeve was held at the Unitarian in Westport, Connecticut, which his wife, Dana Reeve, children, parents attended, and also she headed the Christopher Reeve Foundation after his death. On August 9, 2005, Dana Reeve was diagnosed with lung cancer, and on March 6, 2006, she died at age 44. Christopher and Dana Reeve, were survived by their son, William, and Reeve’s son Matthew and daughter Alexandra, both from his relationship with Gae Exton. Christopher was also survived by his parents and Dana was survived by her father. Matthew Exton Reeve and Alexandra Exton Reeve now serve on the board of directors for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.  

Dana Reeve

Dana Morosini Reeve (March 17, 1961 – March 6, 2006) was an American actress, singer, and activist for disability causes, best known as the wife of actor, Christopher Reeve. The couple had a son, William Elliot “Will” Reeve, born on June 7, 1992, raised in Pound Ridge, New York. Dana Reeve announced on August 9, 2005, that she was diagnosed with lung cancer, although she had never smoked cigarettes. On March 6, 2006, Reeve died at the age of 44, eleven days before her 45th birthday at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Reeve was survived by her son, Will Reeve, her father, her two sisters, and her two stepchildren, Matthew and Alexandra Reeve.The curse has been mentioned regarding the death Dana Reeve, the widow of actor Christopher Reeve, who, despite being a non-smoker, died of lung cancer in 2006 at the age of 44.

George Reeves

George Reeves born George Keefer Brewer on January 5, 1914, in Woolstock, Iowa, the son of Don Brewer and Helen Lescher (in his death certificate, it has error in listing his birthplace as Kentucky). George Reeves was born five months before  their marriage, and so his mother, Helen, subsequently claimed a false birth date in April, which George was not aware until his adulthood. After George was born, his parents, separated and Helen moved back to her home in Galesburg, Illinois, and later moved to her sister in California, where Helen met and married Frank Bessolo. which lasted for 15 years and ended up in divorce. George’s father, Don Brewer, married Helen Schultz in 1925 and had children with her. Don Brewer apparently never saw his son again. Frank Bessolo adopted George as his own son, in 1927, and the boy took on his new stepfather’s last name to become George Bessolo. George Reeves was an American actor best known for his role in June 1951, in Adventures of Superman television program, as Superman.  Reeves’ career as Superman started with Superman and the Mole Men, a film intended as the pilot for television series. Since then Reeves became a national celebrity. However, due to Reeves was much associated with his character as the superhero, Superman, like Alyn, they find difficulties to find other jobs. Reeves has restrictive contracts as Superman, and was prevented from taking other work. Reeves,  had a romantic relationship with a married ex-showgirl Toni Mannix, eight years his senior, wife of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer general manager Eddie Mannix. In 1958, Reeves and Toni Mannix split and Reeves announced his engagement to American socialite who his fiancée Leonore Lemmon (May 11, 1923 – December 30, 1989), until the time of his death, and was apparently scheduled to marry Lemmon on June 19, and be spending their honeymoon in Tijuana. Before his death, Reeves  complained to friends, columnists, and his mother of his financial problems. The previous year, Reeves had plan to direct a low-budget science-fiction film written by a friend from his Pasadena Playhouse, and had discussed the project with his first Lois Lane, Phyllis Coates, but he and his friend failed to find a financier to finance the project, and the film was never made. On June 16, 1959, Reeves was found dead, at age 45, between approximately 1:30 and 2:00 a.m. which according to the Los Angeles Police Department report, Reeves died of a gunshot wound to his head in the upstairs bedroom at his home in Benedict Canyon. The police arrived within the hour.  Witness statements and the examination of the crime scene by The Los Angeles Police led to the official inquiry conclusion that Reeves’ death was a suicide based on the witnesses statement, but some believed he was murdered or a victim of accidental shooting, since there were no fingerprints of Reeves found on the gun. The investigation of Reeves’ death was dramatized by Hollywoodland  which stars actor, Ben Afleck as George Reeves and Adrien Brody as fictional investigator Louis Simo, suggested by real-life detective Milo Speriglio. The movie shows three possible scenarios for the death of George Reeves, as, being shot accidentally by then fiance, Lemmon, being murdered by an unknown hitman under orders from Eddie Mannix, and committing suicide. Toni Mannix suffered from Alzheimer’s disease for many years and died in 1983. Following the arising of the Reeves case by TV shows in 1999, Unsolved Mysteries and Mysteries Scandals, Los Angeles publicist Edward Lozzi, claimed that Toni Mannix had confessed that she was responsible for the death of Reeves, to a Catholic priest in the presence of Lozzi. However, Edward Lozzi’s claim, is unsupported by independent evidence.

Marlon Brando

Marlon Brando, Jr. was born in Omaha, Nebraska, to Marlon Brando, Sr., a pesticide and chemical feed manufacturer, and his wife, Dorothy Julia Pennebaker. Marlon Brando (April 3, 1924 – July 1, 2004) was an American actor and director, and, a cultural icon, and one of the greatest and most influential actors of all time, who became famous in 1954, for his Oscar-winning performances in On the Waterfront, as Terry Malloy and in 1972′s film The Godfather as Vito Corleone, and as the father of Kar-El in Superman as Jor-El and many more. Brando agreed to the role with the assurance that he would be paid to that small part with a large sum of talent fees, need not to read the script beforehand and his lines would be displayed somewhere off-camera. In the 2001 DVD release of the film Superman, it was revealed in a documentary  that Brando was paid $3.7 million for two weeks of work, and he also filmed scenes for the movie’s sequel, Superman II, but Brando denied to give the permission, that the footage would be shown, after producers refused to pay him the same percentage he received for the first movie. However, in 2006, the footage or re-cut of the film Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut and the loose sequel in Superman Returns, was organized, and was used and unused archive footage of Jor-El (Brando’s character) and his voice overs, from the two Superman films, was both remastered for a scene in the Fortress of Solitude  after Brando’s death in 2004. Brando best known for controversies that troubled his family life, and his noticeable obesity attracted more attention than his late acting career. In the mid-1990s he weighed over 300 lbs. (136 kg) and suffered from diabetes. Brando had a history of weight fluctuations, also known for his reputation for being difficult on the set, often unwilling or unable to memorize his lines,less interested in taking instruction, than in confronting the film director with odd demands. Marlon Brando was a longtime close friend of entertainer Michael Jackson and a regular visitor to his Neverland Ranch, resting there for weeks. Miko, Brando’s son, was Jackson’s bodyguard and assistant for several years, and was a friend of the singer. Mico Brando, stated that Jackson helped a lot during the last few years of his father, Marlon Brando, when he had difficulties of breathing in his final days and was on oxygen most of the time. He loved the outdoors, so Michael would invite him over to Neverland, and Jackson got a golf cart for Brando so he could able to go around. Marlon Brando died of respiratory failure from pulmonary fibrosis with congestive heart failure on July 1, 2004, at the UCLA Medical Center, leaving behind 14 children, which two of his children died before him, Tarita Cheyenne Brando (20 February 1970 – 16 April 1995) was a Tahitian model and the daughter of Marlon Brando by his third wife Tarita Teriipaia. Cheyenne committed suicide by hanging in her mother’s home in Tahiti.His other son, Dylan Brando, died in 1988. Brando’s son, Christian Brando, through his marriage to Anna Kashfi, died of pneumonia on January 26, 2008 at age 49. Marlon Brando was survived by his sister Jocelyn, children and over 30 grandchildren. Brando has also suffered from failing eyesight caused by diabetes and liver cancer. Brando’s remains  was cremated and his ashes were put in with those of his childhood friend, comedian and actor Wally Cox  (December 6, 1924 – February 15, 1973) and another longtime friend, Sam Gilman. Their ashes were then scattered partly in Tahiti and in some part of Death Valley in Mojave Desert in Eastern California. Brando died about four months before the death of his Superman co-star Christopher Reeve. Playing the role of Jor-El, was cited as Brando’s misfortune, such as his son, Christian shot his half-sister, Cheyenne’s boyfriend, Dag Drollet on May 1990 and was imprisoned, Brando’s daughter’s suicide in 1995, and later, his illness.

 Margot Kidder

Margot Kidder, best known as Lois Lane in the film as Superman’’s love interest opposite, Christopher Reeve as Superman. Kidder suffers manic episode and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Kidder went missing for several days in April 1996, and was found by police in a paranoid, delusional state and was placed in psychiatric care. Kidder dismisses the belief of the Superman curse, which was filmed way back in 1978, which she had remarked in an interview in 2002.

Richard Pryor

Richard Pryor born Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor (December 1, 1940 – December 10, 2005) was an American comedian, actor, film director, social critic, satirist, writer, and MC, also best known as one of the most important and influential stand-up comedians of all time. Pryor starred in numerous films as an actor, such as Superman III in 1983, also appeared in comedy films such as Silver Streak in 1976, and sometimes in dramatic roles, such as Paul Schrader’s film in 1978, Blue Collar. Pryor collaborated on many projects with actor Gene Wilder, and also with actor,comedian and writer Paul Mooney. From 1958 to 1960, Richard Pryor served in the U.S. Army, but spent virtually the entire stint in an army prison. According to a 1999 The New Yorker profile, Richard Pryor was imprisoned while stationed in Germany, when a white soldier was over reacted at the racially charged sections of the movie Imitation of Life by Douglas Sirk, and angered Pryor and some other black soldiers beat and stabbed the white soldier, though not fatally. Pryor’s girlfriend gave birth to a girl named Renee during that time. In 1960, Pryor married Patricia Price in 1960, and they had one child together, Richard Jr. They divorced in 1961.  Pryor was married seven times to five different women. In 1967, he married second wife, Shelley Bonis but ended in divorce in 1969. On September 22, 1977, he married Deborah McGuire. They divorced the following year. Pryor married Flynn Belaine in October 1986, and divorced in July 1987, but remarried later on April 1, 1990, but again divorced in July 1991. Pryor married again in August 1981, to Jennifer Lee, divorced October 1982, but remarried later on June 29, 2001 and remained married until the death of Richard Pryor. Pryor had six children. Richard Pryor also had relationships with actresses Pam Grier and Margot Kidder. In early 1990′s, Richard Pryor used a power-operated scooter due to his multiple sclerosis (MS). Pryor suffered a heart attack on December 10, 2005 in Los Angeles, and was rushed to a local hospital after his wife’s attempted to resuscitate him, but failed. Pryor was pronounced dead at 7:58 am PST, at the age of 65. He was cremated and his ashes were given to his family. Richard Pryor played the character of a bumbling computer genius, August “Gus” Gorman, who works for Ross Webster to destroy Superman, but later became a hero when he took the side of the superhero. Richard Pryor has also suffered from drug addiction which led him to near fatal suicide attempt.

Jerry” Siegel

Jerome “Jerry” Siegel (October 17, 1914 – January 28, 1996), an American writer, who also used pseudonyms including Joe Carter,  Jerry Ess,  and Herbert S. Fine, along with partner Joe Shuster, he was the co-creator of  Superman, the superheroes first of the great comic book best known during the 20th century. Siegel was a shy, not popular student, but has achieved fame among his group in society for his popular Goober the Mighty, a parody of Tarzan. While at Glenville, Siegel was about age 16 at that time, he befriended Joe Shuster, who later became his collaborator, whom Siegel described, that they were both shy and wearing spectacles. In 1939, Jerry Siegel married Bella, a shy 18-year-old Glenville High graduat, while Joe . Shuster remained a bachelor. In 1944, Bella gave birth to their son, Michael Siegel. In 1948, Bella and Jerry Siegel divorced after several years of being estranged. Jerry Siegel married Joanne Carter later that year. Siegel and Shuster created a bald telephatic villain referring to as the Superman, and intend on dominating the entire world. In 1933, Siegel published a science fiction magazine from Science Fiction No. 3, where Superman appeared in the short story , The Reign of the Superman. Siegel and Shuster then began searching to find a publisher for their creation for four years.Siegel and Shuster sold the rights to the company in return for $130 and a contract to supply the publisher with material, as part of the deal, when Superman was published in Action Comics. Siegel and Shuster, sued National over rights to the characters in 1946, to produce Superman stories, when the 10 year-contract is about to end. Siegel and Shuster had rejoined editor Sullivan in 1947, who is the founder and publisher of the Magazine Enterprises comic-book company, and there they created Funnyman, the short-lived comical crime-fighter. In the 1950′s, Jerry Siegel continued to become comics art director for publisher Ziff-Davis and in 1959, he  returned to DC to write uncredited Superman stories under the management of Silver Age Superman editor Mort Weisinger. In 1967, he sued DC over the Superman rights again, his relationship with the hero he had co-created was again cut-off. He died on January 28, 1996 at age 81.

 Joe Shuster

Joseph “Joe” Shuster (July 10, 1914 – July 30, 1992) was a Canadian-American comic book artist, best known for co-creating character of Superman in the DC Comics, with writer Jerry Siegel, first published on June 1938 in Action Comics No. 1. Joe Shuster was involved in several legal battles regarding the ownership of the Superman character, but eventually gained recognition for his part as the creator of Superman.However, after Superman, Shuster’s comic book career was unsuccessful, and left the field completely by the mid-1970′s due to partial blindness. Siegel and Shuster created a bald telepathic villain with intention of dominating the world, as the title character in the short story The Reign of the Superman, published in Siegel’s 1933 fanzine Science Fiction #3, where the character was unsucessful, thus Siegel devised the character with more familiar version. Shuster modeled the hero on Douglas Fairbanks Sr. (as character or Robin Hood and Zorro) and his alter ego in spectacles named Clark Kent, (the name Clark Kent derived from actors Clark Gable and Kent Taylor), on a combination of actor/comedian Harold Lloyd and Shuster himself. The character of Lois Lane, was modeled on Joanne Carter, who later became the wife of Jerry Siegel. When the character of Superman first appeared, Clark Kent, Superman’s alter ego worked for the Daily Star newspaper, named by Shuster after his old employer in Toronto, the Toronto Daily Star. Shuster modeled the cityscape as the home city of Superman, Metropolis, from his old hometown. After the comic strip of Superman, received international distribution, the newspaper company changed the name to the Daily Planet. On July 30, 1992, Joe Shuster died at age 78, at his West Los Angeles home of congestive heart failure and hypertension. His remains were cremated. Shuster was almost blind and living in a California nursing home in 1976. Siegel launched a publicity campaign, in 1975, in which Shuster participated, a protests campaign against the treatment of DC Comics with the team, Siegel and Shuster. Due to upcoming Superman movie, and in the face of a great deal of negative publicity over their handling of the affair, the Warner Communications, as DC’s parent company, reinstated the byline dropped (given date and name of writer in an article of newspapers or magazines), more than thirty years earlier and granted the pair a lifetime yearly pension of  $20,000 plus health benefits. On August 1976, the first issue with the restored credit was Superman. Joe Shuster died in July 30, 1992, at age 78, while Jerry Siegel died in January 28, 1996 at age 81.

Max Fleischer

Max Fleischer  (July 19, 1883 – September 11, 1972) was an Polish Jewish American animator, inventor, film director and producer, a pioneer in the animated cartoon development and serving as the Fleischer Studios’ head. Fleischer brought to movie screen such animated characters as Betty Boop, Koko the Clown, Popeye and Superman and was responsible for a number of technological innovations such as the Rotoscope  (animation technique). Born to a Jewish family in Kraków then part of the Austrian-Hungarian province of Galicia. Max Fleischer was the second oldest of six children of an Austrian immigrant tailor, William Fleischer. Fleischer devised a concept to simplify the process of movement of an animation by tracing frames of live action film. In 1915, Fleischer’s patent for the Rotoscope was granted, although since 1914, Max and his brother Dave Fleischer made their first cartoon using the system. David “Dave” Fleischer (July 14, 1894 – June 25, 1979) was an American animation film director and film producer, best known as a co-owner of Fleischer Studios with his two older brothers Max and Lou Fleischer ((May 18, 1889 － October 16, 1976) was an American animator and composer). Dave Fleischer was asked by the studio to put Superman, the popular comic book and radio hero into a cartoon series while working at Paramount. Superman became successful cartoons, despite the high budgets that came from the series, triple the budget of typical Popeye motion picture of cartoon or comedy. In 1967, Fleischer and his wife Essie Goldstein, moved to the Motion Picture Country House. On September 11, 1972, Max Fleischer died from heart failure, after a period of poor health. Max Fleischer was cited as a great pioneer who invented an industry, and was named Dean of Animated Cartoons by Time magazine on the day of his death. His son Richard Fleischer (December 8, 1916 – March 25, 2006) was an American film director, entered the film industry in the 1940s, and worked on merchandising Betty Boop during his retirement. Tom Kneitel, his grandson, is a prolific writer on electronics and an avid amateur radio operator (K2AES), was the founding editor of Popular Communications magazine.

Dave Fleischer

David “Dave” Fleischer (July 14, 1894 – June 25, 1979)a native of New York City, was an American animation film director and film producer, also one of the co-owner of Fleischer Studios with his two older brothers Max Fleischer and Lou Fleischer. Dave Fleischer was famous during the rotoscope model with his brothers for their first character, Koko the Clown, until he became director and producer of the studio’s output, and supervised cartoon series, such as Talkartoons, Betty Boop Cartoons, Popeye the Sailor, which is the top rival of Mickey Mouse, and Color Classics and several other cartoon series. Dave Fleischer also supervised two animated features released through Paramount Pictures in 1939′s Gulliver’s Travels and 1941′s Mr. Bug Goes to Town. Brothers Max and Dave Fleischer had a quarrel both producers of the Paramount Superman cartoons and their studio started to suffer financial difficulties. On May 24, 1941, the Fleischer brothers, was forced to give the studio to Paramount after they were indebted after their unsuccessful career. The new owners of the Paramount Studios fired the two brothers. However, the brothers still remained in charge of Fleischer Studios for a time. On June 25, 1979, Dave Fleischer died of a stroke at age 84, in Woodland Hills, California after his retirement over a decade. One of the Fleischer brothers, died in poverty. 

Bryan Singer

Bryan Jay Singer is an American film director, producer and screenwriter known for his critical acclaim for his work on The Usual Suspects and his work on the films of X-Men and Superman Returns. Singer is also known for other films he directed such as Apt Pupil, Valkyrie and Jack the Giant Slayer. In mid-2004, Singer was in negotiations with Fox, to direct X-Men: The Last Stand, however Fox and Singer could not meet an agreement and was offered to direct Superman Returns for Warner Bros, after an extended détente. Singer was also offered the chance to direct the new Superman film, which was already set. Singer had signed with Warner Bros to direct  Superman Returns on July 19, 2004 according to Variety report. In retaliation, Fox terminated their production deal with Singer’s production company, Bad Hat Harry Productions. In 2005, Superman Returns was filmed in Australia and was released on June 28, 2006, which he claims he had always admired the character and identified the character to himself, and said he and Superman are both orphans. Singer who have dated both men and women in the past, is openly bisexual, and has said that his experiences in life as growing up as a minority influenced his work on movies. It was confirmed Singer was expecting a child with actress Michelle Clunie in October 2014. The Superman curse was cited after three people involved in the creation of the DVD of the Superman Returns, suffered injuries. Bryan Singer stated that “My DVD crew absorbed the curse for us”, after one fell down the flight of stairs, another crew was beaten up and was mugged and the third crew, smashed into a glass window. 

Kate Bosworth

Kate Bosworth born Catherine Ann Bosworth, is an American actress, actress, model and singer, known for her portrayal as Sandra Dee in 2004′s Kevin Spacey‘s Beyond the Sea. Bosworth played the character of Lois Lane in 2006′s Superman Returns, and  blackjack drama film 21. In 2008, Bosworth became new model for both Calvin Klein Jeans and spokeswoman for new luxury bags for Coach. Bosworth starred along with actor Kevin Spacey in the film Beyond the Sea and also her co-star in Superman Returns as Lex Luthor as well as newcomer actor Brandon Routh as Superman. The film received positive reviews and was a box office success. However, Bosworth’s performance was not well received among critics. Bosworth began dating American director Michael Polish in mid 2011, whom she had met when he directed her in the film Big Sur. In August 2012, Bosworth and Polish announced their engagement, and married on August 31, 2013 in Philipsburg, Montana. Bosworth was in long term relationship with Orlando Bloom until they both split up, which she blames on the alleged Superman curse after her portrayal as Lois Lane in Superman Returns.

However there were actors who have portrayed Superman but are not affected or associated with the Superman curse such as the following actors:

Dean Cain

Dean George Cain born Dean George Tanaka  is an American actor, and best known for his role as Superman in the popular American television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Dean Cain is of French Canadian, Irish, Welsh and Japanese from his paternal grandfather descent. Cain was born on July 31, 1966 as Dean George Tanaka in Mount Clemens, Michigan to father Roger Tanaka and mother actress, Sharon Thomas. Cain’s mother, Sharon, married film director Christopher Cain in 1969, and adopted Dean and his brother musician Roger Cain, they became his sons and the family moved to Malibu, California. Sharon later gave birth to their daughter, actress Krisinda Cain, Dean Cain’s half sister. Dean Cain turned to screenwriting and then acting, shooting dozens of commercials such as a volleyball-themed spot for Kellogg’s Frosties and appeared on popular television shows like Grapevine, A Different World and Beverly Hills, 90210.  In 1993, Dean Cain starred in his biggest role as Superman in the Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman television series, which ran for four seasons, ending in 1997. Cain became engaged in 1997, to American country music singer, Mindy McCready (who was found dead on her front porch from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on February 17, 2013 one month after former boyfriend David Wilson, shot himself on the same spot). Cain and McCready broke up the following year. Dean Cain has a son named Christopher Dean Cain (born June 11, 2000) with former girlfriend and Playboy Playmate, Samantha Torres, named after his father, film director Christopher Cain. While promoting the Ripley’s Believe It or Not television show, Cain said on the Howard Stern Show on January 10, 2001, that his biological father lied to the National Enquirer, when his father stated that Cain’s mother left him while he was serving in the Vietnam War.  Dean Cain stated that his father never served in the war but instead cheated on his mother, which was the real reason they divorced. Dean Cain who was best known as Superman/ Clark Kent in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman during the 1990′s, appeared in some television shows such as Frasier and Law & Order and cameo roles in Smallville. 

Brandon James Routh

Brandon James Routh is an American actor and former fashion model. Brandon Routh grew up in Norwalk, Iowa about 160 km south of Woolstock, the hometown of the first Superman on television, George Reeves, and moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, and in early 2000, he subsequently appeared on multiple television series. In 2006, Routh was best noted for his role as the superhero in Superman Returns in 2006. Routh also had a recurring role as Daniel Shaw in the TV series Chuck, and had supporting roles in the films, Zack and Miri Make a Porno and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. He also portrayed the eponymous protagonist in 2010, of another comic book Dylan Dog: Dead of Night film. Routh has said many people has often told that he bore a physical resemblance to late actor Christopher Reeve, who had portrayed Superman in a film series previously.Before Routh was casts as Superman in the Superman Returns film, the Warner Bros had spent over a decade and developed a plan to relaunch the franchise of Superman films with possible stars such actors Nicolas Cage, Josh Hartnett, Brendan Fraser, Paul Walker, Henry Cavill, James Marsden, Ashton Kutcher, Keanu Reeves, Will Smith and James Caviezel and for directors, Warner Bros planned for Tim Burton, Wolfgang Petersen, McG, Brett Ratner and Shekhar Kapur. Director Bryan Singer was chosen for the project, and he insisted an unknown actor be cast in the part, in the tradition of the casting of the best-known actor Christopher Reeve in the film Superman series. In February 2005, the filming for Superman Returns began in Sydney, and was released on June 28, 2006 in the U.S. and impressed critics, but the film was a box-office disappointment, with gross of only $200 million in the US, compared to $270 million, its estimated film making budget.Brandon Routh was signed on to appear in two sequels to the film, but because of low box office results, the film never happened. Routh has stated he feared for his performance would resemble similar to that of actor, Christopher Reeve, and commented that he hopes to “remind people of Christopher Reeve, and at the same time making the people  feel like they’re seeing a totally new Superman.” Warner Bros, officially announced in August 2008, that they intended to reboot the franchise of Superman films, and that Brandon Routh was still set to reprise the role, according to DC Comics president Paul Levitz. However, in 2009, Routh’s contract to portray as Superman in another film expired, but he says he would like to return if given the chance. However, in the reboot of the series, Man of Steel, British actor Henry Cavill was cast to play Superman. On November 24, 2007, Brandon Routh married his girlfriend of three years, actress Courtney Ford, at the El Capitan Ranch in Santa Barbara. On August 10, 2012, the couple welcomed their first child, a son, Leo James Routh. Routh dismiss a belief of the Superman curse, and stated that what happened to one person who was involved in Superman films, will not happen to everyone, and does not live in fear.

Bob Holiday

Bob Holiday (born 1932) in an american actor, best noted for portraying the character of Superman in the 1966 It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Superman! Broadway musical. Bob Holiday was the next actor who played in “live-action” Superman after George Reeves. Holiday has played Superman more than any other actor, having played the role in over 140 performances, as well as Superman in several live appearances. Holiday is also the eldest Superman surviving, in live-action performance. Bob Holiday attended the revival of the show in New York City Centre and met with the cast on March 23, 2013. Holiday stated that the idea of a Superman Curse is silly, and also said from playing Superman it makes him good and better person.

Henry Cavill

Henry William Dalgliesh Cavill is a British actor, began his acting career in 2002′s film adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo playing the role as Albert Mondego, and soon starred in television shows in minor and supporting roles such as The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, Midsomer Murders and The Tudors on BBC, before appearing to more mainstream Hollywood films such as Tristan & Isolde, Stardust and Immortals. In 2013, Cavill gained international fame playing the superhero Superman in the reboot film Man of Steel, which became a box-office hit and highest grossing and commercial success Superman film of all time, a role that Henry Cavill will be reprising in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League. Cavill began dating British equestrian rider Ellen Whitaker in 2009, after they met at the Olympia London International Horse Show. In May 2011, the couple became engaged however terminated their engagement in May 2012. Cavill starred, in the film The Cold Light of Day in 2012 alongside actor Bruce Willis. It was announced on January 30, 2011, that Henry Cavill had been cast in director Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, in the role of Clark Kent/Superman, which director Snyder named Cavill “the perfect choice to don the cape and S shield.” Cavill will reprise the role of Superman in a 2016′s sequel Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice which will feature a crossover with Batman and Wonder Woman. Cavill has stated that he does not believe there is a Superman curse, and that incidents thought to be explained by bad luck.

B.  Poltergeist curse

The “Poltergeist curse” is a rumored curse associated to the Poltergeist trilogy and its crew, which was derived from the fact that four cast members died in between the six years after the releases of the first and third films. The curse rumor is often associated by the props used during the filming, the fact that real skeletons were used in various scenes of Poltergeist and Poltergeist II. In the 2002 episode of E! True Hollywood Story, the curse rumor and the surrounding deaths were explored which was titled Curse of Poltergeist. The franchised Poltergeist, is believed by some people to be cursed or jinxed, due to several cast and crew involved with the film with their premature deaths, a notion that was the focus of an episode on E! True Hollywood Story. A remake of the film and a reboot or to discard all continuity in an established series in to recreate its characters, timeline and back story from the start of the Poltergeist film series, which started production in late 2013, and is expected to be released in theaters July 24, 2015.

Dominique Dunne

Dominique Ellen Dunne (November 23, 1959 – November 4, 1982) was an American stage, film and television actress, known for her appearances in 1970′s to 1980′s several television movies and series. In 1982, Dunne played the older daughter in the horror film Poltergeist, her only film role. Dunne met sous-chef John Thomas Sweeney at the restaurant Ma Maison in a 1981 party, and after few weeks dating, the couple moved at Rangely Avenue, a one bedroom house in West Hollywood. However their relationship became stormy, due to Sweeney’s extreme jealousy and possessiveness. On September 26, 1982, the two had a heated argument in their home, where Sweeney grab Dunne’s throat, threw her into the floor and strangled Dunne. A housemate of the couple heard ran into the room where the couple are fighting, and Dunne told the friend, that Sweeney was attempting to kill her, which Sweeney denied, and asked Dunne to go back to bed. Dunne went back to their room but sneaked out of the bathroom’s window, and stayed with her mother and sometimes with her friends. Dunne later called Sweeney to end up their relationship.  After Sweeney left their house, Dunne moved back to her Rangely Avenue home, and changed the door locks. On October 30,some weeks after their breakup, Dunne was doing some rehearsals for her miniseries V, with actor David Packer, while speaking with a friend on the phone, Sweeney interrupted into the conversation, and after ten minutes, Sweeney showed up. Dunne spoke to Sweeney through the locked door, and after that, she agreed to talk to him outside the porch while actor Packer was inside. Dunne and Sweeney started to argue. David Packer said he heard a thud, screams and smacking sounds, and called the police, but was told her residence is out of their jurisdiction, so Packer called a friend. Packer left Dunne’s home through the back door, and while approaching the driveway, he saw Sweeney bending low in a nearby bushes. Sweeney asked Packer to call the police, and surrendered, admitting killing his girlfriend when police arrived. Dominique Dunne was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, and palced under life support, but never regained consciousness. Doctors performed brain scans, and found out Dunne had no brain activity due to oxygen deprivation. After she was declared brain dead five days later, her parents removed her from life support on November 4, and later died at age 22.Dunne was interred in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, where her Poltergeist co-star, Heather O’Rourke was buried in 1988. Dominique Dunne was born in Santa Monica, California, the youngest child of Ellen “Lenny” Griffin, a ranching heiress, and her father, Dominick Dunne, film producer/writer and two older brothers, Alex and Griffin Dunne. John Sweeney was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to six years in prison, however was paroled after he served his term at a medium security prison in Susanville, California, and was released in September 1986 after serving his three years, seven months and twenty-seven days of his 6½ year sentence. Three months after his release, Sweeney was hired as head chef at The Chronicle, an upscale restaurant in Santa Monica, California after three months he was released from prison. Soon Griffin Dune , Dominique’s brother and her mother Lenny found out where Sweeney was working they began handing flyers about Sweeney, and accused them of harassing him. Sweeney left and moved out of Los Angeles. Dominick Dunne, Dominique’s father, said that he once hired the services of private investigator Anthony Pellicano,  and reported, that John Thomas Sweeney has moved to the Pacific Northwest and changed his name to John Maura, according to Dunne’s father.

Julian Beck

Julian Beck (May 31, 1925 – September 14, 1985) was an American Actor, director, poet and painter, best known as the co-founder and director of The Living Theatre, and also known as the evil preacher, Henry Kane in the 1986 Poltergeist II: The Other Side movie. Julian Beck met Judith Marlina (born 1926) in 1943, and quickly came to share her passion for theater, and in 1947 they founded The Living Theatre. Beck and Malina were life partners in an open marriage, and Julian Beck had a long-term relationship with a male actor in the company, Ilion Trova.  Julian Beck and partner Judith Malina shared a lover, a bisexual shipyard worker, Lester Schwartz, who was the third husband of American artist Andy Warhol and attendant Dorothy Podber (married three times and her last husband was Lester Schwartz also a bisexual). Julian Beck and Malina had two children, Garrick and Isha whom the couple kept away from public. In 1983, Beck was diagnosed with stomach cancer, and died two years later Beck died at age 60 at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Beck was survived by his wife, Marlina, and their two children, Garrick and Isha, and a brother, and was interred at Cedar Park Cemetery, in Emerson, New Jersey. Beck was posthumously inducted in 1983 at the American Theater Hall of Fame, 18 years after his death. That same year, Judith Malina was also inducted to the Hall of Fame.

Will Sampson

Will Sampson (September 27, 1933 – June 3, 1987) was a Native American Muscogee (Creek) born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, an American actor and artist. Sampson, was best known for his roles in the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest as Chief Bromden and in horror film Poltergeist II as Taylor the Medicine Man. He had a recurring role on the Vegas$ TV series as Harlon Twoleaf and also starred in the movies Fish Hawk, The Outlaw Josey Wales and Orca. On June 3, 1987, Sampson died at age 53, of post operative kidney failure and pre-operative malnutrition, after undergoing a heart and lung transplant at Houston Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas. He was interred at Graves Creek Cemetery in Hitchita, Oklahoma. Many believed that Sampson was the third victim of the legendary Poltergeist Curse. In 1986′s film Poltergeist II: The Other Side, where Sampson was starred, and during the filming of the horror movie, Sampson allegedly claimed that the production was haunted, and he supposedly used rituals of the Native American to bless the sets and locations, to casts off the curse. Other victims of the Poltergeist curse named were actress Dominique Dunne, who was murdered by her boyfriend shortly after the release of Poltergeist in 1982, Julian Beck  who died of stomach cancer during filming of Poltergeist II, and child actress Heather O’Rourke, who died of complications from Crohn’s Disease before the released of Poltergesit III in 1988.

Heather O’Rourke

Heather O’Rourke (December 27, 1975 – February 1, 1988) was an American child actress who was discovered at age five by director Steven Spielberg, while with her mother eating lunch at the MGM commissary. Spielberg cast her as Carol Anne Freeling in the horror film Poltergeist in 1982, and would go on to reprise the role in the second and third film series.   In addition to her roles in the Poltergeist series, From 1982 to 1983, O’Rourke also had a recurring role on television series Happy Days, and made several guest appearances on television. In early 1987, O’Rourke became ill and was misdiagnosed of having Crohn’s disease by doctors at Kaiser Permanente Hospital, and was prescribed cortisone to treat the disease, which according to report, the medication caused her cheeks to appear puffy and large. O’Rourke suddenly became ill again, on January 31, 1988, after vomiting and unable to keep anything down. She collapsed the next morning while preparing to leave for the hospital and her stepfather called paramedics. O’Rourke suffered a cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital, and after resuscitation she was airlifted by helicopter to San Diego at the Rady Children’s Hospital, where she died later that day at age 12 of cardiac arrest and septic shock caused by misdiagnosed intestinal stenosis in February 1, 1988. Vincent Bond, a hospital spokesman announced that O’Rourke died during surgery to repair an acute bowel obstruction, caused by congenital stenosis of the intestine, complicated by septic shock , which this report was corroborated on February 3, by the San Diego County coroner’s office, two days after her death, but was reported later,the specific cause of death was changed to cardiac arrest caused by septic shock brought on by the intestinal stenosis. O’Rourke’s death (and the deaths of four others) has been associated with the supposed horror film, Poltergeist curse and those associated with them, that this urban legend supposedly stems from the first Poltergeist film, using a real human skeleton used as a prop.

Zelda Rubinstein

Zelda Rubinstein  (May 28, 1933 – January 27, 2010) was an American actress and human rights activist, known for her activism for little people, best known for her role as the eccentric medium, Tangina Barrons in the film series Poltergeist. Playing ‘Ginny’, Rubinstein was a regular cast on David E. Kelley’s Picket Fences an Emmy Award winning television series, playing as Ginny, for several seasons. In 1996, Rubinstein has also made guest appearances in the TV show Poltergeist: The Legacy, as Christina the seer, and voiced over of Skittles candies in their long-running ad campaign,Taste the Rainbow. Rubinstein was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Jewish immigrant parents from Poland, the youngest of three children and the only little person in her family. Zelda Rubinstein was the narrator of Scariest Places on Earth, the horror television series, which was aired on ABC Family in the U.S. and on YTV in Canada. On January 27, 2010, Rubinstein died at the age of 76, in Los Angeles, California. According to Eric Stevens, agent of Rubinstein, for the past four years, the actress suffered mild heart attack and had never recovered, which he said left her a patient at Barlow Respiratory Hospital in Los Angeles.

Beatrice Straight

Beatrice Whitney Straight (August 2, 1914 – April 7, 2001) was an American theater, film and television actress and made her Broadway debut in The Possessed in 1939 also known for her role in the 1953 production of The Crucible for her role as Elizabeth Proctor. Straight also won an Emmy Award nomination for the 1978 The Dain Curse miniseries. In 1959, Straight also appeared in The Nun’s Story as Mother Christope and in 1982′s horror film Poltergeist as the paranormal investigator Dr. Martha Lesh. Straight was married twice, first to Frenchman Louis Dolivet, a left-wing activist who became editor of United Nations World magazine and later became a film producer. Straight and Dolivet divorced in 1949, and she married film and Broadway actor/producer Peter Cookson, with whom she had two sons, Gary and Tony Cookson. In her latest years, Straight reportedly suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. On April 7, 2001, Straight died from pneumonia at age 86, in Los Angeles.  

Richard Lawson

Richard Lawson  (born March 7, 1947) is an American actor who has starred in movies and on television, and noted for his role as Ryan in the 1982 horror movie Poltegeist and as Dr. Ben Taylor in the hit 1983 NBC’s V miniseries (or V: The Original Miniseries) is a two-part science fiction TV miniseries). In 1971, Lawson’s first feature film role (uncredited) in a classic movie Dirty Harry, playing the role a gay man targeted for murder. Lawson’s first ongoing starring role in 1977′s Hotel Story, a television series was in Australian drama, however, before the first episode was aired, the series was cancelled. In 1980′s he later starred in the Chicago Story series, and also took the ongoing role of Nick Kimball in Dynasty, a night time soap opera from 1986 to 1987, appeared as Detective Nathaniel Hawthorne in The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd from 1989 to 1991, and play the role as Lucas Barnes in All My Children, the day time soap opera from 1992 to 1994. Lawson has one child, with actress Denise Gordy, a daughter also an actress Bianca Lawson. Richard Lawson survived a USAir Flight 405 plane crash, in March 1992, after take-off from LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York City. Some thought that Lawson survived the Poltergeist curse. 

A sports-related curse is a superstitious belief of some power or evil, that is used to explain the failures or misfortunes of specific sports teams, players, or even cities, which often cite a curse or jinx for many negative things, such as their unexpected injuries or inability to win a sports championship.

C.   Andretti Curse

The Andretti Curse, sometimes referred to as Andretti Luck, is referred to as the bad luck which can not be explained, with  the Andretti racing family has experienced in their efforts to win the Indianapolis 500. Mario Andretti, the patriarch and auto racing legend won the race in 1969, only once. In victory lane, Prolific car owner Andy Granatelli planted a kiss in a victory lane, on cheeks of the young Mario Andretti. Following the win, Mario Andretti never win in the great race for a second time by his retirement in 1994. The Indianapolis misfortune, with a cumulative total post in 2014 of 69 starts as drivers, has known extended to his sons Michael and Jeff Andretti, and his nephew John Andretti and grandson Marco, and to an in-direct extent, to his twin brother Aldo Andretti, father of John, and former car owner and actor, Paul Newman.   Mario Gabriele Andretti , is a retired Italian American world champion racing driver, one of the most successful sportsman in American history of sport. Mario Andretti is one of only two drivers to win races in Formula One, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR, and the other champion is American racing driver, Dan Gurney. Since Andretti’s victory at the Dutch Grand Prix in 1978, no Americans has won a Formula One race. Mario Andretti has also won races in midget cars and sprint cars. In 1964, Andretti became a naturalized American citizen. On November 25, 1961, Mario married Dee Ann, a native of Nazareth who taught English to Andretti in 1961. Mario and his wife Dee Ann live in a mansion in Bushkill Township, Pennsylvania, near their grandson Marco. Andretti’s sons, Michael and Jeff, were auto racers. Michael followed his father’s footsteps also won the IndyCar title, with Mario’s nephew John Andretti, joining the series in 1988, which makes the Andretti’s four relatives who became the first family to compete in the same series. Mario Andretti’s grandson, Marco Andretti, completed his first full season in the 2006 Indy Racing League (IRL), driving for his father Michael’s Andretti Green Racing team.

D.   Sports Illustrated cover jinx

The Sports Illustrated cover jinx is an urban legend stating that any individuals or teams who appeared on the Sports Illustrated magazine cover will subsequently be jinxed or experience bad luck or misfortune. Sports Illustrated (SI), stated their own opinions in a 2002 issue, on the allegedly cover jinx that featured a black cat on the cover. Most notables by jinxed cover magazine in random examples were:

Jill Kinmont

Jill Kinmont Boothe (February 16, 1936 – February 9, 2012, at age 75 )  In early 1955, Kinmont was the reigning national champion in 1955, in the slalom (an alpine skiing and alpine snowboarding discipline, a skiing between poles or gates), and a top prospect for a medal at the Winter Olympics in 1956, a year away. On January 31, 1955, while competing, in the giant slalom at the age of 18, at the Alta, Utah’s prestigious Snow Cup, Kinmont suffered a near-fatal accident which resulted in paralysis from the neck down. That same week, after her accident in January 31, 1955, she had been featured in a cover of Sports Illustrated magazine. Kinmont was the subject of two movies in 1975′s The Other Side of the Mountain and in 1978, The Other Side of the Mountain Part 2, with both films which was starred by actress Marilyn Hassett as Jill Kinmont. In November 1976, Kinmont, age 40 that time, married trucker John Boothe, and lived in Bishop until shortly before her death. On February 9, 2012, Jill Kinmont Boothe died February 9, 2012, at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center as confirmed by senior deputy coroner of Carson City, Ruth Rhines, but could not confirm a cause of death which according to reports that Boothe died of complications related to surgery. Jill Kinmont lived a paralyzed victim from ski accident for the past 57 years.

Bob Sweikert

Robert Charles ‘Bob’ Sweikert (May 20, 1926 – June 17, 1956) was an American racing driver, best known as the Indianapolis 500 winner and the National Champion in 1955, also winner for the Midwest Sprint car championship also in 1955, the only racer driver sweeping all three in a single season. Sweikert was featured on the May 28, 1956 Sports Illustrated magazine cover. Earlier that day during the race and Sweikert’s Indy 500 win was over-shadowed by the fatal crash of two-time winner Bill Vukovich. The following May, Bob Sweikert finished sixth at Indianapolis, but a week  later he died, at age 30, on June 17, 1956 after crashing a Sprint car at Salem Speedway. Bob Sweikert married Marion Edwards in early 1948, and had grand wedding in West L.A. Marion, filed divorce in the late 1952. Bob Sweikert filed a suit for custody of their young daughter. Grace Sweikert, Bob’s mother, often visited Bob’s first-born child, until his mother,Grace died. Sweikert recently had reacquainted with his high school sweetheart, divorcee Dorie who had two children from previous relationship, and in January 1953, bob Sweikert married Dorie. The family settled in Indiana, to be close to the Speedway where Sweikert hoped to race and win. After Indy 500 winner, Bob Sweikert was featured in Sports Illustrated magazine cover of  May 28, 1956 issue, he died in a sprint car crash less than three weeks.

Pat O’Connor

Pat O’Connor (born on October 9, 1928 born in North Vernon, Indiana – died May 30, 1958 in Indianapolis, Indiana) was an American race car driver.In May 1958, O’Connor was on the Sports Illustrated magazine cover, adding to the legend of the Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx. Pat O’Connor was killed after his car rolled catching fire on the first lap of the 1958 Indianapolis 500, sustaining a head injury in a 15-car pileup. Race car drivers, Dick Rathmann and Ed Elisian started the race on the front row, with Jimmy Reece on the outside of the front row. Ed Elisian’s car spun in turn 3 times of the first lap, and hitting Dick Rathmann, sending them both into the wall, and starting a 15-car pileup. According to retired American Anthony Joseph ”A. J.“ Foyt, Jr., Pat O’Connor’s car hit Jimmy Reece’s car, sailed fifty feet in the air, landed upside down, and burst into flames. Medical officials said that O’Connor was probably killed instantly from a fractured skull despite of O’Connor was burnt completely. Ed Elisian was suspended by USAC for the accident (reinstated a few days later),  who was blamed for the accident and was shunned by many in the racing community. Ed Elisian (born Edward Gulbeng Eliseian born on December 9, 1926 in Oakland, California – died on August 30, 1959 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) was an American racing driver, mainly competing in the National Championship. Elisian died at age 32, in a crash at the Milwaukee Mile. Jimmy Reece (born on November 17, 1929 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma– died on September 28, 1958 in Trenton, New Jersey) was an American race car driver.  Jimmy Reece was killed during a USAC  Champ Car race held at Trenton Speedway on Sept 28, 1958, at age 28, after his car crashed having ejected its pilot, who died inside the ambulance of multiple injuries.

Laurence Owen

Laurence Rochon “Laurie” Owen May 9, 1944 – February 15, 1961) was a Hall of Fame American figur skater, best known as the 1961′s US National Champion and represented the United States at the Winter Olympics in 1960, where she won the 6th place. Laurie was the daughter of American skater and coach, Maribel Vinson and Canadian figure skater Guy Owen and the sister of American figure skating, Maribel Owen. On February 15, 1961, Maribel Owen died, along with her mother Maribel, sister Laurie and the entire United States Figure Skating team, in the Sabena Flight 548 crash en route to the 1961 World Figure Skating Championships. Laurie Owen, was featured on the Sports Illustrated magazine cover on February 13, 1961 with a feature story describing her as America’s most exciting girl skater. Laurie Owen died at age 16, with her mother, Maribel Vinson at age 49 and sister, Maribel Owen at age 20, from a plane crash on February 15, 1961.

Ken Norton

Kenneth Howard “Ken” Norton, Sr. (August 9, 1943 – September 18, 2013) was an American heavyweight boxer, best known as a former WBC world heavyweight champion. In 1973, Ken Norton became famous when he became the second boxer to defeat Muhammad Ali, and during the fight, Norton broke the champion’s jaw in the process. Norton ended up fighting Muhammad Ali three times, but he lost the latter two bouts. Ken Norton was married to, first wife, Jeannette Norton from 1966 to 1968, and together had a child, then Norton married second wife, Jacqueline Halton in 1977 and together they had two children, then, Norton married his third wife Rose Conant. His children, were Brandon Norton, Ken Norton, Jr., Kenisha Norton, Keith Norton and Kenejon Norton. Ken Norton Jr. his son, is a UCLA football player and had a long successful career in the NFL. While Keith Norton, his other son, was once the weekend KPRC sports anchor in Houston, Texas. On september 18, 2013, Ken Norton died at a care facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, at age 70. Norton had suffered a series of strokes in later life. On June 27, 1976, Ken Norton was featured on the Sports Illustrated magazine cover before his third fight with Muhammad Ali, and lost a highly disputed decision. On  June 6, 1978, again Ken Norton was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine, this time before his first title defense against Larry Homes, and Norton was defeated in a split decision by one single point.

Marion Jones

Marion Lois Jones  also known as Marion Jones-Thompson, is a former world track and field champion athlete, a former professional WNBA basketball player for Tulsa Shock. In 2000, Marion Jones, won 3 gold medals at the Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, but after admitting using dope, she was later stripped of the titles, and after her admission and following guilty plea, and she was one of the most famous athletes to be linked to the BALCO Scandal (a scandal involving the use of banned, performance-enhancing substances or in sports is commonly referred to as doping by professional athletes). The Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO) was a company in San Francisco Bay Area that supplied anabolic steroids to professional athletes, which this incident surrounds a 2002 US Federal government investigation of the laboratory. The BALCO case covered more than 20 top level athletes including shot putter C.J. Hunter, Marion Jones’ ex-husband (1998-2002) and 100m sprinter Tim Montgomery, the father of Jones’ first child, Tim Montgomery Jr. Marion Jones was born in Los Angeles, California, to African-American George Jones and mother, Marion a native from Belize. Marion Jones holds dual citizenship with the United States and her mother’s home country, Belize. Jones gave birth on June 28, 2003, to a son,Tim Montgomery Jr. with then-boyfriend world class sprinter Tim Montgomery. Jones missed the 2003 World Championships because of her pregnancy, but spent a year preparing for the 2004 Olympics. Tim Montgomery, did not qualify for the 2004 Olympic Track and Field team because of poor performance, and he was charged by USADA, as part of the investigation into the BALCO doping scandal, and sought a four-year suspension. On February 24, 2007, Marion Jones married Obadele Thompson a sprinter from Barbados and 2000 Olympic bronze medalist, 100 m sprint. In July 2007, their first child together, son Ahmir, was born, and their daughter, Eva-Marie, was born in June 2009. Marion Jones was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine on October 2, 2000, following her Olympic successes. Jones was later implicated in the BALCO Scandal and was stripped of her medals, and her achievements were annulled prior to that cover year.

Dale Earnhardt, Sr.

Dale Earnhardt, Sr. (April 29, 1951 – February 18, 2001) was an American race car driver and team owner, best known for his involvement in NASCAR stock car racing, started his car racing career in 1975. He is also known as The Intimidator because of Earnhardt aggressive style of driving. Earnhardt was given a second nickname, The Man in Black, owing to the black paint scheme in which the No. 3 car was painted during the 1988 season  with a new sponsor, GM Goodwrench, which replaced Wrangler Jeans, was also called Darth Vader more than once because of the black uniform and car. Earnhardt was considered one of the best race car driver of NASCAR of all time, Earnhardt won a total of 76 races over the course of his career, including 1998′s victory in Daytona 500, achieved 7 NASCAR Winston Cup Championships, which is tied for the most all time with Richard Petty, nicknamed The King. Dale Earnhardt was involved in a last-lap crash and died of a basilar skull fracture, on February 18, 2001, at Daytona International Speedway while driving in the 2001 Daytona 500. Dale Earnhardt was age 17, when he married his first wife, Latane Brown, in 1968, and in 1969, Brown gave birth to Earnhardt’s first son, Kerry Earnhardt. In 1970, Earnhardt and Brown divorced. Earnhardt married his second wife, Brenda Gee, in 1971, the daughter of Robert Gee, NASCAR car builder. Earnhardt and Gee, had two children together, a daughter, Kelley King born in 1972, and a son, Dale Earnhardt Jr. born in 1974. However, Dale Sr. and Brenda Gee divorced not long after Dale Jr. In 1982, Earnhardt Sr. then married his last wife, Teresa Houston, niece of Tommy Houston.  In November 1988, Teresa gave birth to their daughter, Taylor Nicole. Race car driver Dale Earnhardt Sr. was featured on Sports Illustrated magazine cover in December 6, 2000, with his son Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Sr. died on February 18, 2001, at age 49, two months later on the final lap of the Daytona 500.

Tiger Woods

Eldrick Tont ”Tiger“ Woods is an American professional golfer who is among the most successful golfers of all time, and has been one of the highest-paid athletes in the world for several years. On October 5, 2004, Woods married former Swedish model Elin Nordegren, a Swedish former model and daughter of Barbro Holmberg former minister of migration and radio journalist Thomas Nordegren, at the Sandy Lane resort in Barbados, and lived at Isleworth, a community in Windermere, a suburb of Orlando, Florida. In 2007, Nordegren gave birth to their first child, a daughter, Sam Alexis Woods, since Tiger Woods’ father used to call him Sam. In 2009, their son, Charlie Axel Woods,was born. On March 2, 2009, professional golfer Tiger Woods was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine details about his infidelity to bring disgrace to the image of his family and as a result losing several lucrative endorsement contracts. The National Enquirer a supermarket tabloid, published a story on November 25, 2009, a story claiming that Woods had an extramarital affair with Rachel Uchitel, a New York City nightclub manager, a claim she denied. On November 27, 2009, two days later, around 2:30 a.m., Woods left home in his Cadillac Escalade SUV and collided with a fire hydrant, a tree, and several hedges. Tiger Woods was treated for minor facial lacerations and received a ticket for careless driving. Several companies re-evaluated their relationships with Tiger Woods, following his admission of infidelity him, such as Accenture, AT&T, Gatorade and General Motors completely ended their sponsorship deals, while Woods advertising by Gillete was suspended. In December 2009, TAG Heuer dropped Woods from advertising and in August 2011, when Woods’ contract ended, they officially ended their deal.

Deron Williams

Deron Michael Williams is an American professional basketball player who currently plays on the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the team Brooklyn Nets. Deron Williams married Amy Young, and together they have four children. Williams have known Young since second grade and had dated since high school. Soon after Deron Williams was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine, on December 2012, Williams struggles and gets injured in the off season, and one of the worst streaks of his career in NBA. On November 10, 2014, Kentucky forward, Alex Poythress was one of 5 different players to have been featured on a cover in Sports Illustrated magazine for a college basketball season preview. Poythress suffered a torn ACL during a team practice on December 11, 2014, while on an uncontested breakaway layup, ending his season after 10 games.

Jonas Gray

Jonas Gray  is an American football running back for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). Gray  was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent and later was a Baltimore Ravens practice squad member. On November 24, 2014, New England Patriots running back Jonas Gray was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine, after a 201-yard, 4-touchdown performance. After he was featured, that Friday, Jonas Gray, he was sent home because he is late for practice, and is advised he will not start. In the next game, Gray does not have a single carry and coach Bill Belichick focus on newly-signed LeGarrette Blount.