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Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Birthday
October 8, 1910
Died
March 14, 1999
Place of Birth
Oxford, New Jersey, USA
Kirk Alyn
0.3 Popularity
Biography
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.
Known For
7.4
Self (archive footage)
Superpowered: The DC Story
2023
10.0
Self / Clark Kent / Superman (archival footage)
The Story of Superman
1989
8.5
Self
Superman's 50th Anniversary: A Celebration of the Man of Steel
1988
3.8
Prof. Manchen
Scalps
1983
6.4
Self
The Making of 'Superman: The Movie'
1982
4.3
Time Warp
1981
4.5
The Watcher
The Halloween Planet
1981
0.0
Pa Cant
Superbman: The Other Movie
1981
7.2
Sam Lane (uncredited)
Superman
1978
7.1
Old Man
Battlestar Galactica
1978
Credits
Superpowered: The DC Story
as Self (archive footage)
2023
7.4
The Story of Superman
as Self / Clark Kent / Superman (archival footage)
1989
10.0
Superman's 50th Anniversary: A Celebration of the Man of Steel
as Self
1988
8.5
Scalps
as Prof. Manchen
1983
3.8
The Making of 'Superman: The Movie'
as Self
1982
6.4
Time Warp
1981
4.3
The Halloween Planet
as The Watcher
1981
4.5
Superbman: The Other Movie
as Pa Cant
1981
0.0
Superman
as Sam Lane (uncredited)
1978
7.2
Battlestar Galactica
as Old Man
1978
7.1
Banning
as Bidder (uncredited)
1967
5.6
Dennis the Menace
1959
6.5
Naked City
as Sgt. Muller
1958
5.5
The Donna Reed Show
1958
6.2
No Time to Be Young
as Mike
1957
6.1
Beginning of the End
as Bomber Pilot
1957
3.8
The Eddy Duchin Story
as Young Man at Wadsworths' Party (uncredited)
1956
6.2
Highway Patrol
as Coordinating Officer at Headquarters
1955
5.8
Buffalo Bill Jr.
1955
5.0
Blackhawk
as Blackhawk
1952
6.0
When Worlds Collide
as Rioter Bringing Guns (uncredited)
1951
6.3
The Adventures of Kit Carson
1951
5.3
Gambling House
as FBI Man (uncredited)
1950
6.1
🎬
Lux Video Theatre
as Bill Waterman
1950
6.3
Atom Man vs. Superman
as Superman, alias Clark Kent
1950
5.2
Radar Patrol vs. Spy King
as Chris Calvert
1949
5.0
Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc.
as Inspector David Worth
1949
0.0
A Guy Named Joe
as Officer in Heaven (uncredited)
1949
6.6
The Three Musketeers
as Aramis' Friend (uncredited)
1948
6.7
Superman
as Superman, alias Clark Kent
1948
6.0
Little Miss Broadway
as Mel O'Brien
1947
0.0
The Trap
as Sgt. Reynolds
1946
6.7
The Time of Their Lives
as Dandy at Party (uncredited)
1946
7.1
Daughter of Don Q
as Cliff Roberts
1946
0.0
The Girl Who Dared
as Josh Carroll
1944
5.7
Call of the Rockies
as Ned Crane
1944
6.0
Forty Thieves
as Jerry Doyle
1944
3.5
Pistol Packin' Mama
as J. Leslie Burton III
1943
5.0
Mystery Broadcast
as Young Policeman (uncredited)
1943
6.2
Overland Mail Robbery
as Tom Hartley
1943
0.0
The Man from the Rio Grande
as Editor Tom Traynor
1943
0.0
Swing Shift Maisie
as Victory Aircraft Official (Uncredited)
1943
6.5
Action in the North Atlantic
as Brazilian Gun Captain (uncredited)
1943
7.1
Aerial Gunner
as Officer in Canteen (uncredited)
1943
4.4
You Were Never Lovelier
as Julia's Groom (uncredited)
1942
7.0
Lucky Jordan
as Pearl's Boyfriend
1942
6.0
Private Lessons
as John Humphries
1934
5.0
Fast and Loose
as Man Seated at Table in Speakeasy
1930
4.9