Kirk Alyn
Known for Acting · 49 credits
- Born
- 1910-10-08
- Died
- 1999-03-14
- Place of birth
- Oxford, New Jersey, USA
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.
Known For
TV Shows (10)
The Donna Reed Show
1958
Naked City
1958
as Sgt. Muller
Dennis the Menace
1959
Highway Patrol
1955
as Coordinating Officer at Headquarters
The Adventures of Kit Carson
1951
Lux Video Theatre
1950
as Bill Waterman
Battlestar Galactica
1978
as Old Man
Superpowered: The DC Story
2023
as Self (archive footage)
Buffalo Bill Jr.
1955
Superman: The 1948 Serial
1948
as Superman/Clark Kent
Movies (39)
Superman
1978
as Sam Lane (uncredited)
The Three Musketeers
1948
as Aramis' Friend (uncredited)
When Worlds Collide
1951
as Rioter Bringing Guns (uncredited)
Action in the North Atlantic
1943
as Brazilian Gun Captain (uncredited)
The Trap
1946
as Sgt. Reynolds
The Time of Their Lives
1946
as Dandy at Party (uncredited)
You Were Never Lovelier
1942
as Julia's Groom (uncredited)
Banning
1967
as Bidder (uncredited)
Atom Man vs. Superman
1950
as Superman, alias Clark Kent
The Eddy Duchin Story
1956
as Young Man at Wadsworths' Party (uncredited)
Superman
1948
as Superman, alias Clark Kent
Radar Patrol vs. Spy King
1949
as Chris Calvert
A Guy Named Joe
1944
as Officer in Heaven (uncredited)
Gambling House
1950
as FBI Man (uncredited)
Beginning of the End
1957
as Bomber Pilot
Overland Mail Robbery
1943
as Tom Hartley
The Girl Who Dared
1944
as Josh Carroll
Aerial Gunner
1943
as Officer in Canteen (uncredited)
Superbman: The Other Movie
1981
as Pa Cant
Swing Shift Maisie
1943
as Victory Aircraft Official (Uncredited)
The Making of 'Superman: The Movie'
1982
as Self
Forty Thieves
1944
as Jerry Doyle
The Halloween Planet
1981
as The Watcher
Mystery Broadcast
1943
as Young Policeman (uncredited)
Superman's 50th Anniversary: A Celebration of the Man of Steel
1988
as Self
Time Warp
1981
No Time to Be Young
1957
as Mike
Lucky Jordan
1942
as Pearl's Boyfriend
Daughter of Don Q
1946
as Cliff Roberts
Call of the Rockies
1944
as Ned Crane
Scalps
1983
as Prof. Manchen
Fast and Loose
1930
as Man Seated at Table in Speakeasy
The Story of Superman
1989
as Self / Clark Kent / Superman (archival footage)
Private Lessons
1934
as John Humphries
Blackhawk
1952
as Blackhawk
The Man from the Rio Grande
1943
as Editor Tom Traynor
Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc.
1949
as Inspector David Worth
Little Miss Broadway
1947
as Mel O'Brien
Pistol Packin' Mama
1943
as J. Leslie Burton III
About 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 o… With 49 credits spanning from 1930 to 2023, Kirk Alyn has appeared in 39 films and 10 TV shows.
Fans searching for Kirk Alyn movies, Kirk Alyn filmography, or the latest projects starring Kirk Alyn can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Kirk Alyn Movies
- Superman (1978) — as Sam Lane (uncredited)
- The Three Musketeers (1948) — as Aramis' Friend (uncredited)
- When Worlds Collide (1951) — as Rioter Bringing Guns (uncredited)
- Action in the North Atlantic (1943) — as Brazilian Gun Captain (uncredited)
- The Trap (1946) — as Sgt. Reynolds
Where to Watch Kirk Alyn Films
Most Kirk Alyn movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Kirk Alyn, check our movies catalogue and browse page.