
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.
Acting (39 movies)

Scalps
1983

The Trap
1946

No Time to Be Young
1957

The Eddy Duchin Story
1956

Atom Man vs. Superman
1950

The Three Musketeers
1948

Superbman: The Other Movie
1981

Superman
1948

Gambling House
1950

Fast and Loose
1930

Mystery Broadcast
1943

Aerial Gunner
1943

The Girl Who Dared
1944

Private Lessons
1934

Blackhawk
1952

Time Warp
1981

Pistol Packin' Mama
1943

Call of the Rockies
1944

Forty Thieves
1944

Radar Patrol vs. Spy King
1949

The Story of Superman
1989

You Were Never Lovelier
1942

Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc.
1949

The Man from the Rio Grande
1943

Overland Mail Robbery
1943

Daughter of Don Q
1946

The Making of 'Superman: The Movie'
1982

Beginning of the End
1957

Superman's 50th Anniversary: A Celebration of the Man of Steel
1988

When Worlds Collide
1951

Superman
1978

The Halloween Planet
1981

Action in the North Atlantic
1943

A Guy Named Joe
1943

Lucky Jordan
1942

Little Miss Broadway
1947

The Time of Their Lives
1946

Swing Shift Maisie
1943

Banning
1967
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