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Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

47

Gender

Male

Birthday

1910-10-08

Day of Death

1999-03-14 (89 years old)

Place of Birth

Oxford, New Jersey, USA

Also Known As

Kirk Alyn

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

Acting

Scalps

1983

Scalps

as

Prof. Manchen

The Trap

1946

The Trap

as

Sgt. Reynolds

The Eddy Duchin Story

1956

The Eddy Duchin Story

as

Young Man at Wadsworths' Party (uncredited)

Atom Man vs. Superman

1950

Atom Man vs. Superman

as

Superman, alias Clark Kent

The Three Musketeers

1948

The Three Musketeers

as

Aramis' Friend (uncredited)

Superman

1948

Superman

as

Superman, alias Clark Kent

Gambling House

1950

Gambling House

as

FBI Man (uncredited)

Fast and Loose

1930

Fast and Loose

as

Man Seated at Table in Speakeasy

Mystery Broadcast

1943

Mystery Broadcast

as

Young Policeman (uncredited)

Aerial Gunner

1943

Aerial Gunner

as

Officer in Canteen (uncredited)

The Girl Who Dared

1944

The Girl Who Dared

as

Josh Carroll

Private Lessons

1934

Private Lessons

as

John Humphries

Blackhawk

1952

Blackhawk

as

Blackhawk

Time Warp

1981

Time Warp

as

Pistol Packin' Mama

1943

Pistol Packin' Mama

as

J. Leslie Burton III

Call of the Rockies

1944

Call of the Rockies

as

Ned Crane

Forty Thieves

1944

Forty Thieves

as

Jerry Doyle

Radar Patrol vs. Spy King

1949

Radar Patrol vs. Spy King

as

Chris Calvert

The Story of Superman

1989

The Story of Superman

as

Self / Clark Kent / Superman (archival footage)

You Were Never Lovelier

1942

You Were Never Lovelier

as

Julia's Groom (uncredited)

Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc.

1949

Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc.

as

Inspector David Worth

The Man from the Rio Grande

1943

The Man from the Rio Grande

as

Editor Tom Traynor

Overland Mail Robbery

1943

Overland Mail Robbery

as

Tom Hartley

Daughter of Don Q

1946

Daughter of Don Q

as

Cliff Roberts

Beginning of the End

1957

Beginning of the End

as

Bomber Pilot

When Worlds Collide

1951

When Worlds Collide

as

Rioter Bringing Guns (uncredited)

Superman

1978

Superman

as

Sam Lane (uncredited)

The Halloween Planet

1981

The Halloween Planet

as

The Watcher

Action in the North Atlantic

1943

Action in the North Atlantic

as

Brazilian Gun Captain (uncredited)

A Guy Named Joe

1943

A Guy Named Joe

as

Officer in Heaven (uncredited)

Lucky Jordan

1942

Lucky Jordan

as

Pearl's Boyfriend

Little Miss Broadway

1947

Little Miss Broadway

as

Mel O'Brien

The Time of Their Lives

1946

The Time of Their Lives

as

Dandy at Party (uncredited)

Swing Shift Maisie

1943

Swing Shift Maisie

as

Victory Aircraft Official (Uncredited)

Banning

1967

Banning

as

Bidder (uncredited)

Naked City

Naked City

as

Sgt. Muller

Highway Patrol

Highway Patrol

as

Coordinating Officer at Headquarters

Lux Video Theatre

Lux Video Theatre

as

Bill Waterman

Production

Crew

Directing