Kirk Alyn
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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
Credits
Superman (1978)
as Sam Lane (uncredited)
The Three Musketeers (1948)
as Aramis' Friend (uncredited)
The Eddy Duchin Story (1956)
as Young Man at Wadsworths' Party (uncredited)
You Were Never Lovelier (1942)
as Julia's Groom (uncredited)
When Worlds Collide (1951)
as Rioter Bringing Guns (uncredited)
Action in the North Atlantic (1943)
as Brazilian Gun Captain (uncredited)
A Guy Named Joe (1944)
as Officer in Heaven (uncredited)
The Making of 'Superman: The Movie' (1982)
as Self
Superman's 50th Anniversary: A Celebration of the Man of Steel (1988)
as Self
The Time of Their Lives (1946)
as Dandy at Party (uncredited)
Beginning of the End (1957)
as Bomber Pilot
Time Warp (1981)
Actor
Banning (1967)
as Bidder (uncredited)
Atom Man vs. Superman (1950)
as Superman, alias Clark Kent
No Time to Be Young (1957)
as Mike
Blackhawk (1952)
as Blackhawk
The Girl Who Dared (1944)
as Josh Carroll
The Trap (1946)
as Sgt. Reynolds
Call of the Rockies (1944)
as Ned Crane
Superman (1948)
as Superman, alias Clark Kent
Radar Patrol vs. Spy King (1949)
as Chris Calvert
The Man from the Rio Grande (1943)
as Editor Tom Traynor
Lucky Jordan (1942)
as Pearl's Boyfriend
Mystery Broadcast (1943)
as Young Policeman (uncredited)
The Story of Superman (1989)
as Self / Clark Kent / Superman (archival footage)
Daughter of Don Q (1946)
as Cliff Roberts
Superbman: The Other Movie (1981)
as Pa Cant
Gambling House (1950)
as FBI Man (uncredited)
Swing Shift Maisie (1943)
as Victory Aircraft Official (Uncredited)
Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc. (1949)
as Inspector David Worth
Scalps (1983)
as Prof. Manchen
The Halloween Planet (1981)
as The Watcher
Little Miss Broadway (1947)
as Mel O'Brien
Aerial Gunner (1943)
as Officer in Canteen (uncredited)
Forty Thieves (1944)
as Jerry Doyle
Overland Mail Robbery (1943)
as Tom Hartley
Fast and Loose (1930)
as Man Seated at Table in Speakeasy
Pistol Packin' Mama (1943)
as J. Leslie Burton III
Private Lessons (1934)
as John Humphries