Kirk Alyn
Acting • Born 1910-10-08 – Died 1999-03-14
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 book-type serials, he had few roles in television series and movies, some even uncredited, until he retired.
Filmography
48 credits
Scalps
Movie • 1983
Prof. Manchen
The Trap
Movie • 1946
Sgt. Reynolds
No Time to Be Young
Movie • 1957
Mike
The Eddy Duchin Story
Movie • 1956
Young Man at Wadsworths' Party (uncredited)
Atom Man vs. Superman
Movie • 1950
Superman, alias Clark Kent
The Three Musketeers
Movie • 1948
Aramis' Friend (uncredited)
Superbman: The Other Movie
Movie • 1981
Pa Cant
Superman
Movie • 1948
Superman, alias Clark Kent
Gambling House
Movie • 1950
FBI Man (uncredited)
Fast and Loose
Movie • 1930
Man Seated at Table in Speakeasy
Mystery Broadcast
Movie • 1943
Young Policeman (uncredited)
Aerial Gunner
Movie • 1943
Officer in Canteen (uncredited)
The Girl Who Dared
Movie • 1944
Josh Carroll
Private Lessons
Movie • 1934
John Humphries
Blackhawk
Movie • 1952
Blackhawk
Time Warp
Movie • 1981
Pistol Packin' Mama
Movie • 1943
J. Leslie Burton III
Call of the Rockies
Movie • 1944
Ned Crane
Forty Thieves
Movie • 1944
Jerry Doyle
Radar Patrol vs. Spy King
Movie • 1949
Chris Calvert
The Story of Superman
Movie • 1989
Self / Clark Kent / Superman (archival footage)
You Were Never Lovelier
Movie • 1942
Julia's Groom (uncredited)
Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc.
Movie • 1949
Inspector David Worth
The Man from the Rio Grande
Movie • 1943
Editor Tom Traynor
Overland Mail Robbery
Movie • 1943
Tom Hartley
Daughter of Don Q
Movie • 1946
Cliff Roberts
The Making of 'Superman: The Movie'
Movie • 1982
Self
Beginning of the End
Movie • 1957
Bomber Pilot
Superman's 50th Anniversary: A Celebration of the Man of Steel
Movie • 1988
Self
When Worlds Collide
Movie • 1951
Rioter Bringing Guns (uncredited)
Superman
Movie • 1978
Sam Lane (uncredited)
The Halloween Planet
Movie • 1981
The Watcher
Action in the North Atlantic
Movie • 1943
Brazilian Gun Captain (uncredited)
A Guy Named Joe
Movie • 1944
Officer in Heaven (uncredited)
Lucky Jordan
Movie • 1942
Pearl's Boyfriend
Little Miss Broadway
Movie • 1947
Mel O'Brien
The Time of Their Lives
Movie • 1946
Dandy at Party (uncredited)
Swing Shift Maisie
Movie • 1943
Victory Aircraft Official (Uncredited)
Banning
Movie • 1967
Bidder (uncredited)
Naked City
TV • 1958
Sgt. Muller
Highway Patrol
TV • 1955
Coordinating Officer at Headquarters
Dennis the Menace
TV • 1959
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Bill Waterman
The Donna Reed Show
TV • 1958
Buffalo Bill Jr.
TV • 1955
The Adventures of Kit Carson
TV • 1951
Battlestar Galactica
TV • 1978
Old Man
Superpowered: The DC Story
TV • 2023
Self (archive footage)