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Kirk Alyn

Born · October 8, 1910

Died · March 14, 1999 (88 years old)

Known For: Acting

Place of Birth: Oxford, New Jersey, USA

Bio

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

Superman

Superman

Battlestar Galactica

Battlestar Galactica

When Worlds Collide

When Worlds Collide

The Three Musketeers

The Three Musketeers

The Story of Superman

Self / Clark Kent / Superman (archival footage)

1989

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

Self

1988

Scalps

Prof. Manchen

1983

Superbman: The Other Movie

Pa Cant

1981

Time Warp

1981

The Halloween Planet

The Watcher

1981

The Making of 'Superman: The Movie'

Self

1980

Superman

Sam Lane (uncredited)

1978

Battlestar Galactica

Old Man · (1 episode)

1978

Banning

Bidder (uncredited)

1967

Dennis the Menace

(1 episode)

1959

Naked City

Sgt. Muller · (1 episode)

1958

The Donna Reed Show

(2 episodes)

1958

No Time to Be Young

Mike

1957

Beginning of the End

Bomber Pilot

1957

The Eddy Duchin Story

Young Man at Wadsworths' Party (uncredited)

1956

Highway Patrol

Coordinating Officer at Headquarters · (1 episode)

1955

Buffalo Bill Jr.

(2 episodes)

1955

Blackhawk

Blackhawk

1952

When Worlds Collide

Rioter Bringing Guns (uncredited)

1951

The Adventures of Kit Carson

(1 episode)

1951

Gambling House

FBI Man (uncredited)

1950

Lux Video Theatre

Bill Waterman · (1 episode)

1950

Atom Man vs. Superman

Superman, alias Clark Kent

1950

Radar Patrol vs. Spy King

Chris Calvert

1949

Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc.

Inspector David Worth

1949

The Three Musketeers

Aramis' Friend (uncredited)

1948

Superman

Superman, alias Clark Kent

1948

Little Miss Broadway

Mel O'Brien

1947

The Trap

Sgt. Reynolds

1946

The Time of Their Lives

Dandy at Party (uncredited)

1946

Daughter of Don Q

Cliff Roberts

1946

The Girl Who Dared

Josh Carroll

1944

Call of the Rockies

Ned Crane

1944

Forty Thieves

Jerry Doyle

1944

A Guy Named Joe

Officer in Heaven (uncredited)

1943

Pistol Packin' Mama

J. Leslie Burton III

1943

Mystery Broadcast

Young Policeman (uncredited)

1943

Overland Mail Robbery

Tom Hartley

1943

The Man from the Rio Grande

Editor Tom Traynor

1943

Swing Shift Maisie

Victory Aircraft Official (Uncredited)

1943

Action in the North Atlantic

Brazilian Gun Captain (uncredited)

1943

Aerial Gunner

Officer in Canteen (uncredited)

1943

You Were Never Lovelier

Julia's Groom (uncredited)

1942

Lucky Jordan

Pearl's Boyfriend

1942

Private Lessons

John Humphries

1934

Fast and Loose

Man Seated at Table in Speakeasy

1930