Kirk Alyn

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 bo…

Movies & TV Shows

1. Superman (1978) — Sam Lane (uncredited)
2. Battlestar Galactica (1978) — Old Man
3. When Worlds Collide (1951) — Rioter Bringing Guns (uncredited)
4. The Three Musketeers (1948) — Aramis' Friend (uncredited)
5. Action in the North Atlantic (1943) — Brazilian Gun Captain (uncredited)
6. You Were Never Lovelier (1942) — Julia's Groom (uncredited)
7. A Guy Named Joe (1944) — Officer in Heaven (uncredited)
8. The Time of Their Lives (1946) — Dandy at Party (uncredited)
9. Scalps (1983) — Prof. Manchen
10. Beginning of the End (1957) — Bomber Pilot
11. The Eddy Duchin Story (1956) — Young Man at Wadsworths' Party (uncredited)
12. Dennis the Menace (1959)
13. Superman (1948) — Superman, alias Clark Kent
14. Superpowered: The DC Story (2023) — Self (archive footage)
15. The Trap (1946) — Sgt. Reynolds
16. The Donna Reed Show (1958)
17. Atom Man vs. Superman (1950) — Superman, alias Clark Kent
18. Gambling House (1950) — FBI Man (uncredited)
19. Naked City (1958) — Sgt. Muller
20. Banning (1967) — Bidder (uncredited)
21. Fast and Loose (1930) — Man Seated at Table in Speakeasy
22. Highway Patrol (1955) — Coordinating Officer at Headquarters
23. No Time to Be Young (1957) — Mike
24. The Making of 'Superman: The Movie' (1982) — Self
25. Lux Video Theatre (1950) — Bill Waterman
26. Mystery Broadcast (1943) — Young Policeman (uncredited)
27. Aerial Gunner (1943) — Officer in Canteen (uncredited)
28. The Girl Who Dared (1944) — Josh Carroll
29. Blackhawk (1952) — Blackhawk
30. Time Warp (1981)
31. Lucky Jordan (1942) — Pearl's Boyfriend
32. Swing Shift Maisie (1943) — Victory Aircraft Official (Uncredited)
33. The Adventures of Kit Carson (1951)
34. Private Lessons (1934) — John Humphries
35. Call of the Rockies (1944) — Ned Crane
36. Forty Thieves (1944) — Jerry Doyle
37. Superman's 50th Anniversary: A Celebration of the Man of Steel (1988) — Self
38. Pistol Packin' Mama (1943) — J. Leslie Burton III
39. Radar Patrol vs. Spy King (1949) — Chris Calvert
40. Overland Mail Robbery (1943) — Tom Hartley