Kirk Alyn

Known for ActingBorn 1910-10-08Died 1999-03-14Oxford, New Jersey, USA

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.Read more

Movies & web series

The Story of Superman

Daughter of Don Q

Overland Mail Robbery

Superman's 50th Anniversary: A Celebration of the Man of Steel

Superpowered: The DC Story

Little Miss Broadway

The Man from the Rio Grande

Radar Patrol vs. Spy King

Superman

Battlestar Galactica

Lucky Jordan

The Time of Their Lives

Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc.

You Were Never Lovelier

Action in the North Atlantic

The Making of 'Superman: The Movie'

Pistol Packin' Mama

The Three Musketeers

The Trap

Swing Shift Maisie

Lux Video Theatre

Dennis the Menace

A Guy Named Joe

Mystery Broadcast

The Donna Reed Show

No Time to Be Young

When Worlds Collide

The Eddy Duchin Story

Call of the Rockies

Gambling House

Blackhawk

Superman

Highway Patrol

Buffalo Bill Jr.

The Girl Who Dared

The Adventures of Kit Carson

Banning

Private Lessons

Naked City

Atom Man vs. Superman

Fast and Loose

Forty Thieves

Aerial Gunner

The Halloween Planet

Time Warp

Scalps

Beginning of the End

Superbman: The Other Movie