Cast & creator
Kirk Alyn
Best known for The Donna Reed Show, Naked City, Dennis the Menace
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.
39
film credits
9
television credits
48
1930–2023 · acting roles
6.5
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (48)
Showing 48 of 48 credits
The Donna Reed Show
1958
Naked City
Sgt. Muller
1958
Dennis the Menace
1959
Highway Patrol
Coordinating Officer at Headquarters
1955
Battlestar Galactica
Old Man
1978Lux Video Theatre
Bill Waterman
1950
The Adventures of Kit Carson
1951
Superman
Sam Lane (uncredited)
1978
Superpowered: The DC Story
Self (archive footage)
2023
Buffalo Bill Jr.
1955
The Three Musketeers
Aramis' Friend (uncredited)
1948
Action in the North Atlantic
Brazilian Gun Captain (uncredited)
1943
You Were Never Lovelier
Julia's Groom (uncredited)
1942
When Worlds Collide
Rioter Bringing Guns (uncredited)
1951
Beginning of the End
Bomber Pilot
1957
The Eddy Duchin Story
Young Man at Wadsworths' Party (uncredited)
1956
A Guy Named Joe
Officer in Heaven (uncredited)
1944
The Making of 'Superman: The Movie'
Self
1982
Time Warp
1981
The Time of Their Lives
Dandy at Party (uncredited)
1946
Banning
Bidder (uncredited)
1967
Atom Man vs. Superman
Superman, alias Clark Kent
1950
No Time to Be Young
Mike
1957
Superman's 50th Anniversary: A Celebration of the Man of Steel
Self
1988
The Girl Who Dared
Josh Carroll
1944
Superman
Superman, alias Clark Kent
1948
Call of the Rockies
Ned Crane
1944
The Trap
Sgt. Reynolds
1946
Radar Patrol vs. Spy King
Chris Calvert
1949
The Man from the Rio Grande
Editor Tom Traynor
1943
Lucky Jordan
Pearl's Boyfriend
1942
Mystery Broadcast
Young Policeman (uncredited)
1943
Daughter of Don Q
Cliff Roberts
1946
Blackhawk
Blackhawk
1952
The Story of Superman
Self / Clark Kent / Superman (archival footage)
1989
Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc.
Inspector David Worth
1949
Superbman: The Other Movie
Pa Cant
1981
Gambling House
FBI Man (uncredited)
1950
Scalps
Prof. Manchen
1983
The Halloween Planet
The Watcher
1981
Aerial Gunner
Officer in Canteen (uncredited)
1943
Overland Mail Robbery
Tom Hartley
1943
Swing Shift Maisie
Victory Aircraft Official (Uncredited)
1943
Forty Thieves
Jerry Doyle
1944
Little Miss Broadway
Mel O'Brien
1947
Fast and Loose
Man Seated at Table in Speakeasy
1930
Pistol Packin' Mama
J. Leslie Burton III
1943
Private Lessons
John Humphries
1934