Kirk Alyn
Kirk Alyn (1910–1999) was an American actor, best known for being the first actor to play Superman in live-action in Superman serial and Atom Man vs. Superman as well as Blackhawk in the Blackhawk serial, and Sam Lane in Superman: The Movie. Alyn started as a chorus boy for Broadway plays, appearing in notable musicals such as Girl Crazy, Of Thee I Sing, and Hellzapoppin' during the 1930s. He also worked as a singer and dancer in vaudeville before relocating to Hollywood during the early 1940s to act for feature movies, but he was successful only in gaining bit parts for low-budget movies before obtaining the role of Superman in 1948. During World War II he served in the United States Navy. Alyn also featured in movie serials, including Federal Agents Vs. Underworld Inc., Radar Patrol Vs. Spy King and Blackhawk. Alyn played Superman for the first live-action Superman movie serial, released in 1948. The serial consisted of 15 episodes which recounted Superman’s arrival on Earth, getting a job as a reporter at the Daily Planet newspaper, and meeting Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen. After playing Superman, he again suffered casting problems. Apart from featuring in some similar comic book-type serials, he had few roles in television series and movies, some even uncredited, until he retired.
Filmography · 47
The Donna Reed Show
1958
Highway Patrol
1955 · Coordinating Officer a...
Naked City
1958 · Sgt. Muller
Dennis the Menace
1959
Superman
1978 · Sam Lane (uncredited)
Battlestar Galactica
1978 · Old Man
The Adventures of Kit Carson
1951
Superpowered: The DC Story
2023 · Self (archive footage)
Buffalo Bill Jr.
1955
The Three Musketeers
1948 · Aramis' Friend (uncred...
When Worlds Collide
1951 · Rioter Bringing Guns (...
You Were Never Lovelier
1942 · Julia's Groom (uncredi...
The Eddy Duchin Story
1956 · Young Man at Wadsworth...
Action in the North Atlantic
1943 · Brazilian Gun Captain...
Banning
1967 · Bidder (uncredited)
The Time of Their Lives
1946 · Dandy at Party (uncred...
A Guy Named Joe
1944 · Officer in Heaven (unc...
The Trap
1946 · Sgt. Reynolds
The Girl Who Dared
1944 · Josh Carroll
The Making of 'Superman: The Movie'
1982 · Self
Time Warp
1981
Superman
1948 · Superman, alias Clark...
Atom Man vs. Superman
1950 · Superman, alias Clark...
Gambling House
1950 · FBI Man (uncredited)
Beginning of the End
1957 · Bomber Pilot
Swing Shift Maisie
1943 · Victory Aircraft Offic...
Radar Patrol vs. Spy King
1949 · Chris Calvert
Lucky Jordan
1942 · Pearl's Boyfriend
Scalps
1983 · Prof. Manchen
Aerial Gunner
1943 · Officer in Canteen (un...
Forty Thieves
1944 · Jerry Doyle
Daughter of Don Q
1946 · Cliff Roberts
Superman's 50th Anniversary: A Celebration of the Man of Steel
1988 · Self
Mystery Broadcast
1943 · Young Policeman (uncre...
Fast and Loose
1930 · Man Seated at Table in...
Call of the Rockies
1944 · Ned Crane
No Time to Be Young
1957 · Mike
Little Miss Broadway
1947 · Mel O'Brien
The Halloween Planet
1981 · The Watcher
Overland Mail Robbery
1943 · Tom Hartley
The Man from the Rio Grande
1943 · Editor Tom Traynor
Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc.
1949 · Inspector David Worth
Pistol Packin' Mama
1943 · J. Leslie Burton III
Superbman: The Other Movie
1981 · Pa Cant
Blackhawk
1952 · Blackhawk
Private Lessons
1934 · John Humphries
The Story of Superman
1989 · Self / Clark Kent / Su...