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 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.
Mike Jones's Video Boneyard archive currently preserves 31 physical recordings spanning 2 productions featuring Kirk Alyn.
Archival Holdings in The Video Boneyard
The following 2 canonical motion pictures and broadcast master recordings featuring Kirk Alyn are preserved in the studio archives:
| Year | Production Title | Character / Role | Director / Studio | The Video Boneyard | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Superman 19 Copies | Superman | Thomas Carr / Archive | Vault Archive Master | Archival Master |
| 1950 | Atom Man vs. Superman 12 Copies | Superman | Spencer Gordon Bennet / Columbia Pictures | Vault Archive Master | Archival Master |
Complete Career & Landmark Filmography
Major theatrical features, landmark television appearances, and key credited roles across Kirk Alyn's historic screen career:
| Year | Production Title | Character / Role | Department / Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | Fast and Loose | Man Seated at Table in Speakeasy | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1934 | Private Lessons | John Humphries | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1942 | Lucky Jordan | Pearl's Boyfriend | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1942 | You Were Never Lovelier | Julia's Groom (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1943 | Action in the North Atlantic | Brazilian Gun Captain (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1943 | Aerial Gunner | Officer in Canteen (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1943 | Mystery Broadcast | Young Policeman (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1943 | Overland Mail Robbery | Tom Hartley | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1943 | Pistol Packin' Mama | J. Leslie Burton III | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1943 | Swing Shift Maisie | Victory Aircraft Official (Uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1943 | The Man from the Rio Grande | Editor Tom Traynor | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1944 | A Guy Named Joe | Officer in Heaven (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1944 | Call of the Rockies | Ned Crane | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1944 | Forty Thieves | Jerry Doyle | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1944 | The Girl Who Dared | Josh Carroll | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1946 | Daughter of Don Q | Cliff Roberts | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1946 | The Time of Their Lives | Dandy at Party (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1946 | The Trap | Sgt. Reynolds | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1947 | Little Miss Broadway | Mel O'Brien | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1948 | The Three Musketeers | Aramis' Friend (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1949 | Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc. | Inspector David Worth | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1949 | Radar Patrol vs. Spy King | Chris Calvert | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1950 | Atom Man vs. Superman | Superman, alias Clark Kent | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1950 | Gambling House | FBI Man (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1950 | Lux Video Theatre | Bill Waterman | Actor (Television) |
| 1951 | The Adventures of Kit Carson | Actor | Actor (Television) |
| 1951 | When Worlds Collide | Rioter Bringing Guns (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1952 | Blackhawk | Blackhawk | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1955 | Buffalo Bill Jr. | Actor | Actor (Television) |
| 1955 | Highway Patrol | Coordinating Officer at Headquarters | Actor (Television) |
| 1956 | The Eddy Duchin Story | Young Man at Wadsworths' Party (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1957 | Beginning of the End | Bomber Pilot | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1957 | No Time to Be Young | Mike | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1958 | Naked City | Sgt. Muller | Actor (Television) |
| 1958 | The Donna Reed Show | Actor | Actor (Television) |
| 1959 | Dennis the Menace | Actor | Actor (Television) |
| 1967 | Banning | Bidder (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1978 | Battlestar Galactica | Old Man | Actor (Television) |
| 1978 | Superman | Sam Lane (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1981 | Superbman: The Other Movie | Pa Cant | Actor (Feature Film) |