Kirk Alyn
Known For
Acting
Born
1910-10-08 in Oxford, New Jersey, USA
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.
Most Known For
Battlestar Galactica
as Old Man
Naked City
as Sgt. Muller
The Donna Reed Show
Dennis the Menace
Highway Patrol
as Coordinating Officer at Headquarters
Superman
as Sam Lane (uncredited)
Superpowered: The DC Story
as Self (archive footage)
The Adventures of Kit Carson
Lux Video Theatre
as Bill Waterman
Banning
as Bidder (uncredited)
Time Warp
Gambling House
as FBI Man (uncredited)
The Trap
as Sgt. Reynolds
Buffalo Bill Jr.
The Three Musketeers
as Aramis' Friend (uncredited)
A Guy Named Joe
as Officer in Heaven (uncredited)
Superman
as Superman, alias Clark Kent
When Worlds Collide
as Rioter Bringing Guns (uncredited)
The Time of Their Lives
as Dandy at Party (uncredited)
Aerial Gunner
as Officer in Canteen (uncredited)