All-Time Superman Actors

Superman has been with us for quite some time. Many of us grew up watching it and Superman was probably one of the all-time superheroes.


Here are a list of the most renown Superman actors of all time.


Kirk Alyn as Superman
Kirk Alyn is best known as the title character in 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. The main plot consisted of Superman's battle against the arch criminal the Spider Lady.


George Reeves as Superman
Reeves' career as Superman had begun with Superman and the Mole Men, a film intended both as a B-picture and as the pilot for the TV series. Immediately after completing it, Reeves and the crew began production of the first season's episodes, all shot over 13 weeks in the summer of 1951. The series went on the air the following year, and Reeves was amazed at becoming a national celebrity. In 1957, the struggling ABC Network purchased the show for national broadcast, which gave him greater visibility.


Christopher Reeve as Superman
At that time, portraying the role of Superman would be a stretch for the young actor, but Christopher Reeve was tall enough for the role and had the necessary blue eyes and handsome features.


Dean Cain as Superman
In 1993, Cain took on his biggest role to date as Superman in the television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. At the height of its popularity it would bring in an average of at least 15 million viewers per episode. The series ran for four seasons, ending in 1997.


Brandon Routh as Superman
When Routh's casting was announced in October 2004, it made him an "instant celebrity". Before filming began, Routh bulked-up for the role. Filming for Superman Returns began in February 2005. The film was released in the U.S. on June 28, 2006, and was a box-office disappointment, grossing only $200 million in the US, compared to its estimated budget of $270 million. Routh was signed on to appear in two potential sequels to the film, but due to the low box office it has been quoted that this will not happen.


Tom Welling as Superman
Welling told that he turned down the lead role twice on Smallville. But after reading the script, he decided to take the job. Like Christopher Reeve, he was not a Superman fan prior to being cast as Clark Kent. In fact, he said, he continues to not read Superman comics.

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