Acting credits
47
Established
Large and steady acting portfolio.
Actor
Kirk Alyn
Acting
Career Snapshot
ExplainedThese indicators come from TMDB. They are relative signals, not review ratings.
TMDB popularity
0.8
Low visibility
TMDB internal trend index. Higher usually means more searches and page activity now.
Movies: 39Series: 8
TMDB ID: 45229
IMDb ID: nm0001906
Known for: Acting
Born: October 8, 1910
Died: March 14, 1999
Age: 88
Place of birth: Oxford, New Jersey, USA
Gender: Male
Adult content flag: No
Career span: 1930 - 2023
Years active: 94
Average TMDB rating: 6.34
Wikidata: Q935563
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.
Movies
Movies
Movie credits linked with Kirk Alyn.
10.0
The Story of Superman
as Self / Clark Kent / Superman (archival footage)
1989 Movie
8.5
Superman's 50th Anniversary: A Celebration of the Man of Steel
as Self
1988 Movie
3.8
Scalps
as Prof. Manchen
1983 Movie
6.4
The Making of 'Superman: The Movie'
as Self
1982 Movie
4.4
Time Warp
1981 Movie
4.5
The Halloween Planet
as The Watcher
1981 Movie
Superbman: The Other Movie
as Pa Cant
1981 Movie
7.2
Superman
as Sam Lane (uncredited)
1978 Movie
5.6
Banning
as Bidder (uncredited)
1967 Movie
6.1
No Time to Be Young
as Mike
1957 Movie
3.8
Beginning of the End
as Bomber Pilot
1957 Movie
6.2
The Eddy Duchin Story
as Young Man at Wadsworths' Party (uncredited)
1956 Movie
5.8
Blackhawk
as Blackhawk
1952 Movie
6.3
When Worlds Collide
as Rioter Bringing Guns (uncredited)
1951 Movie
6.1
Gambling House
as FBI Man (uncredited)
1950 Movie
5.3
Atom Man vs. Superman
as Superman, alias Clark Kent
1950 Movie
5.0
Radar Patrol vs. Spy King
as Chris Calvert
1949 Movie
Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc.
as Inspector David Worth
1949 Movie
6.7
The Three Musketeers
as Aramis' Friend (uncredited)
1948 Movie
6.1
Superman
as Superman, alias Clark Kent
1948 Movie
Little Miss Broadway
as Mel O'Brien
1947 Movie
6.7
The Trap
as Sgt. Reynolds
1946 Movie
7.1
The Time of Their Lives
as Dandy at Party (uncredited)
1946 Movie
Daughter of Don Q
as Cliff Roberts
1946 Movie
Series
Series
Series credits linked with Kirk Alyn.
7.4
Superpowered: The DC Story
as Self (archive footage) • 1 eps
2023 Series
7.1
Battlestar Galactica
as Old Man • 1 eps
1978 Series
6.5
Dennis the Menace
1 eps
1959 Series
5.5
Naked City
as Sgt. Muller • 1 eps
1958 Series
6.4
The Donna Reed Show
2 eps
1958 Series
5.8
Highway Patrol
as Coordinating Officer at Headquarters • 1 eps
1955 Series
5.0
Buffalo Bill Jr.
2 eps
1955 Series
5.3
The Adventures of Kit Carson
1 eps
1951 Series