Kirk Alyn
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
Naked City
Sgt. Muller
The Donna Reed Show
The Eddy Duchin Story
Young Man at Wadsworths' Party (uncredited)
Battlestar Galactica
Old Man
Dennis the Menace
Superman
Sam Lane (uncredited)
Highway Patrol
Coordinating Officer at Headquarters
Private Lessons
John Humphries
The Adventures of Kit Carson
Call of the Rockies
Ned Crane
Daughter of Don Q
Cliff Roberts
Beginning of the End
Bomber Pilot
Superpowered: The DC Story
Self (archive footage)
Lux Video Theatre
Bill Waterman
Little Miss Broadway
Mel O'Brien
Mystery Broadcast
Young Policeman (uncredited)
The Story of Superman
Self / Clark Kent / Superman (archival footage)
The Three Musketeers
Aramis' Friend (uncredited)
Overland Mail Robbery
Tom Hartley
Buffalo Bill Jr.
Lucky Jordan
Pearl's Boyfriend
Atom Man vs. Superman
Superman, alias Clark Kent
Time Warp
You Were Never Lovelier
Julia's Groom (uncredited)
Banning
Bidder (uncredited)
Blackhawk
Blackhawk
Superman
Superman, alias Clark Kent
When Worlds Collide
Rioter Bringing Guns (uncredited)
Fast and Loose
Man Seated at Table in Speakeasy
The Trap
Sgt. Reynolds
Gambling House
FBI Man (uncredited)
Swing Shift Maisie
Victory Aircraft Official (Uncredited)
Scalps
Prof. Manchen
Action in the North Atlantic
Brazilian Gun Captain (uncredited)
The Halloween Planet
The Watcher
Radar Patrol vs. Spy King
Chris Calvert
A Guy Named Joe
Officer in Heaven (uncredited)
The Time of Their Lives
Dandy at Party (uncredited)
The Girl Who Dared
Josh Carroll
Aerial Gunner
Officer in Canteen (uncredited)
Superman's 50th Anniversary: A Celebration of the Man of Steel
Self
Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc.
Inspector David Worth
The Making of 'Superman: The Movie'
Self
Superbman: The Other Movie
Pa Cant
The Man from the Rio Grande
Editor Tom Traynor
Forty Thieves
Jerry Doyle
Pistol Packin' Mama
J. Leslie Burton III
No Time to Be Young
Mike