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.

Filmography

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

Appearances as themselves (4)

• Superpowered: The DC Story — Self (archive footage)
• 1989The Story of Superman — Self / Clark Kent / Superman (archival footage)
• 1988Superman's 50th Anniversary: A Celebration of the Man of Steel — Self
• 1982The Making of 'Superman: The Movie' — Self