Jack Larson

In his one-hour interview, Jack Larson (1928-2015) speaks in great detail about the role for which he is most well-known, cub reporter "Jimmy Olsen" in the 1950s television series Adventures of Superman. He discusses the ways he played the character, the kinds of comedy and stunts he did for the series, the one-take filming schedule, and his work with the regular cast and guest stars. He also discusses the popularity of "Superman" and why he thinks it has become a franchise phenomenon. Larson speaks candidly about the difficulties he had coping with instant celebrity and his struggles later on when he found that he was typecast. Additionally, he talks about his earlier career, screen testing for the feature film Fighter Squadron and landing a contract with Warner Bros., as well as his work in "live" television in New York. Finally, Larson talks about his guest appearances in then-recent years on such series as Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Karen Herman conducted the interview on August 17, 2003 in Burbank, CA.