Kirk Alyn

Kirk Alyn

Born: October 8, 1910
Died: March 14, 1999
in Oxford, New Jersey, USA
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.

Movies for Kirk Alyn...

Superman's 50th Anniversary: A Celebration of the Man of Steel
Title: Superman's 50th Anniversary: A Celebration of the Man of Steel
Character: Self
Released: February 29, 1988
Type: Movie
A humourous telling of the history of the comic book superhero.
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Horrible Horror
Title: Horrible Horror
Character: Superman in 'Superman'
Released: January 1, 1986
Type: Movie
A collection of trailers and previews from various low-budget horror films of the '50s and '60s.
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Scalps
Title: Scalps
Character: Prof. Manchen
Released: December 3, 1983
Type: Movie
Silly group of college science students go an dig around in an indian burial ground for artifacts. Unfortunately, one of them becomes possessed by the evil spirit of Black Claw so he must therefore slaughter all of his friends.
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Time Warp
Title: Time Warp
Released: January 1, 1981
Type: Movie
After a long space journey, an astronaut returns home to his family only to discover that he has somehow gone through a "time warp" and is now one year into the future, rendering him invisible to all those around him.
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The Halloween Planet
Title: The Halloween Planet
Character: The Watcher
Released: January 1, 1981
Type: Movie
When the boy genius, Zebulon, decides to run away from home in his hand-made spaceship he fails to discover his sister, Marsyas, who has hidden herself on board. With her extra, uncalculated weight on board he finds that the ship has veered far from its course.
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Superbman: The Other Movie
Title: Superbman: The Other Movie
Character: Pa Cant
Released: January 1, 1981
Type: Movie
Facing impending doom on the planet Krapton, Kid-O, infant son of Jel-O, is sent to earth where he is found and adopted by Ma and Pa Cant. Eventually, the Kraptonian now known as Clark, becomes a newspaper reporter for the Daily Comet. Together with fellow reporter Lois Lame, they uncover a sinister plot by Rex Ruthor, to destroy the world.
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The Making of 'Superman: The Movie'
Title: The Making of 'Superman: The Movie'
Character: Self
Released: January 1, 1980
Type: Movie
Ernie Anderson narrates this look at the making of Richard Donner's blockbuster 1978 film. Behind-the-scenes footage, as well as scenes from the film, reveal just how audiences were able to "believe a man can fly." This program features interviews with key cast and crew.
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Superman
Title: Superman
Character: Sam Lane (uncredited)
Released: December 14, 1978
Type: Movie
Mild-mannered Clark Kent works as a reporter at the Daily Planet alongside his crush, Lois Lane. Clark must summon his superhero alter-ego when the nefarious Lex Luthor launches a plan to take over the world.
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Title: Battlestar Galactica
Character: Old Man
Released: September 17, 1978
Type: TV
When the 12 Colonies of Man are wiped out by a cybernetic race called the Cylons, Commander Adama and the crew of the battlestar Galactica lead a ragtag fleet of human survivors in search of a "mythical planet" called Earth.
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Title: Dennis the Menace
Released: October 4, 1959
Type: TV
This 1959-1963 television situation comedy series follows the lives of the Mitchell family, Henry, Alice, and their only child Dennis, an energetic, trouble-prone, mischievous, but well-meaning boy, who often tangles with his peace-and-quiet-loving neighbor George Wilson, a retired salesman, or, later, with George's brother John, a writer. Dennis is basically a good, well-intentioned boy who always tries to help people, but who winds up making situations worse – often at Mr. Wilson's expense.
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Title: Naked City
Character: Sgt. Muller
Released: September 30, 1958
Type: TV
Naked City is a police drama series which aired from 1958 to 1963 on the ABC television network. It was inspired by the 1948 motion picture of the same name, and mimics its dramatic “semi-documentary” format. In 1997, the episode “Sweet Prince of Delancey Street” was ranked #93 on TV Guide’s “100 Greatest Episodes of All Time”.
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Title: The Donna Reed Show
Released: September 24, 1958
Type: TV
Revolves around typical family problems, such as firing a clumsy housekeeper, throwing a retirement bash for a colleague, and finding quality time away from the children.
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No Time to Be Young
Title: No Time to Be Young
Character: Mike
Released: August 1, 1957
Type: Movie
A melodrama about young adults growing up and facing the pressures of life.
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Beginning of the End
Title: Beginning of the End
Character: Bomber Pilot
Released: June 28, 1957
Type: Movie
An attractive reporter investigating the mysterious destruction of an Illinois town stumbles upon a secret government laboratory conducting radiation experiments on vegetables. The lead scientist is eager to help find out what happened. Together they discover that giant grasshoppers are behind the devastation. Worse yet, thousands of them are headed toward Chicago! Can they be stopped... or is this the BEGINNING OF THE END?
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The Eddy Duchin Story
Title: The Eddy Duchin Story
Character: Young Man at Wadsworths' Party (uncredited)
Released: May 2, 1956
Type: Movie
The life story of the famous pianist and band-leader of the 1930s and 1940s.
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Title: Highway Patrol
Character: Coordinating Officer at Headquarters
Released: October 3, 1955
Type: TV
Highway Patrol was a syndicated, fictional police action series produced from 1955 to 1959, concerning the activities of the highway patrol and their leader, Dan Matthews (who held no rank). Although filmed in and around the Los Angeles area, the state setting for the stories was never identified, and city and street names were fictionalized.
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Title: Buffalo Bill Jr.
Released: March 1, 1955
Type: TV
Buffalo Bill, Jr. is an American Western television series starring Dickie Jones that aired in syndication from March 1, 1955, until September 21, 1956.
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Blackhawk
Title: Blackhawk
Character: Blackhawk
Released: July 24, 1952
Type: Movie
Based on a successful comic book that began in 1941, the Blackhawks were seven flyers who banded together during WW II to fight the Nazis. After the war, they continued to fight evil where ever they find it. In this movie, they are battling a group of spies and saboteurs bent on destroying democracy. The Blackhawks foil a succession of plots, with a cliff hanger ending in each episode.
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When Worlds Collide
Title: When Worlds Collide
Character: Rioter Bringing Guns (uncredited)
Released: September 14, 1951
Type: Movie
When a group of astronomers calculate a star is on a course to slam into Earth, a few days before, it's accompanying planet will first pass close enough to the Earth to cause havoc on land and sea. They set about building a rocket so a few selected individuals can escape to the planet.
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Title: The Adventures of Kit Carson
Released: August 11, 1951
Type: TV
The Adventures of Kit Carson is an American Western series that aired in syndication from August 1951 to November 1955, originally sponsored by Coca-Cola. It stars Bill Williams in the title role as frontier scout Christopher "Kit" Carson. Don Diamond co-starred as "El Toro", Carson's Mexican companion.
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Gambling House
Title: Gambling House
Character: FBI Man (uncredited)
Released: December 27, 1950
Type: Movie
A gambler faces deportation when he gets mixed up with murder.
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Title: Lux Video Theatre
Character: Bill Waterman
Released: October 2, 1950
Type: TV
Lux Video Theatre is an American anthology series that was produced from 1950 until 1959. The series presented both comedy and drama in original teleplays, as well as abridged adaptations of films and plays.
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Atom Man vs. Superman
Title: Atom Man vs. Superman
Character: Superman, alias Clark Kent
Released: July 20, 1950
Type: Movie
Superman battles Lex Luthor, who is using a teleportation device and a new identity as Atom Man in his criminal plans.
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Radar Patrol vs. Spy King
Title: Radar Patrol vs. Spy King
Character: Chris Calvert
Released: November 23, 1949
Type: Movie
The war lords of a potential enemy of the US has the spy ring, led by John Baroda, the Spy King and his aide Nitra, sabotaging the plans for a vast defense system of radar stations along the American borders. Radar Defense Bureau operative Chris Calvert comes to the rescue of a brilliant radar scientist, Joan Hughes, who has been kidnapped by Baroda henchmen in chapter 1 ("The Fatal Fog"), and the two battle together before putting an end to the Spy King in the aptly-named chapter 12, "Day of Reckoning".
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Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc.
Title: Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc.
Character: Inspector David Worth
Released: January 29, 1949
Type: Movie
The female leader of an international crime ring steals a valuable artifact that can give her the power to control men's minds. Federal agents are dispatched to get it back and stop her evil plans.
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The Three Musketeers
Title: The Three Musketeers
Character: Aramis' Friend (uncredited)
Released: October 19, 1948
Type: Movie
Athletic adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' classic adventure about the king's musketeers and their mission to protect France.
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Superman
Title: Superman
Character: Superman, alias Clark Kent
Released: July 15, 1948
Type: Movie
Superman comes to Earth as a child and grows up to be his home's first superhero with his first major challenge being to oppose The Spider Lady.
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Little Miss Broadway
Title: Little Miss Broadway
Character: Mel O'Brien
Released: June 19, 1947
Type: Movie
Upon leaving finishing school, Judy Gibson goes to meet her presumed wealthy and socially prominent relatives. However they are penniless Broadway characters and take possession of a Long Island mansion owned by an incarcerated thief so Judy doesn't find out the truth. Judy arrives with her fiancé and his father, who tries to sell worthless stock to Judy's family. They give him $200,000, part of the stashed loot they found belonging to the home-owner thief.
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The Trap
Title: The Trap
Character: Sgt. Reynolds
Released: November 30, 1946
Type: Movie
When a troupe of showgirls with their impresario and press agent vacation at a Malibu Beach resort, two of them are garroted. Charlie takes on the case assisted by Number Two Son Jimmy and faithful chauffeur Birmingham Brown.
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The Time of Their Lives
Title: The Time of Their Lives
Character: Dandy at Party (uncredited)
Released: August 13, 1946
Type: Movie
Two ghosts, who were mistakenly branded as traitors during the Revolutionary War, return to 20th century New England to retrieve a letter from George Washington which would prove their innocence.
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Daughter of Don Q
Title: Daughter of Don Q
Character: Cliff Roberts
Released: June 27, 1946
Type: Movie
When the unscrupulous Carlos Manning discovers that an old Spanish land grant recently unearthed will leave a huge section of California real estate to the heirs of Don Quantero, he employs Mel Donovan and his killer henchmen to murder them all. That will leave Manning as the sole heir to millions. However, Delores Quantero tumbles to this plot and enlists the aide of two-fisted reporter, Cliff Roberts to save all her relatives
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The Girl Who Dared
Title: The Girl Who Dared
Character: Josh Carroll
Released: August 5, 1944
Type: Movie
A group of people are invited to a party at a creepy mansion where legend has it a ghost appears once a year.
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Call of the Rockies
Title: Call of the Rockies
Character: Ned Crane
Released: July 14, 1944
Type: Movie
Cowboy Sunset Carson teams up with Frog Millhouse on a routine supply trip to Placer City. Before long, the duo find themselves ambushed by a team of dastardly highwaymen embroiled in an extortion ring. Sunset and Frog must then go undercover to set things right for a mining town under siege. Galloping hooves, spittin' six shooters, and all manner of disreputable behavior ensue.
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Forty Thieves
Title: Forty Thieves
Character: Jerry Doyle
Released: June 23, 1944
Type: Movie
When he runs for sheriff, Hoppy is beaten by Jerry Doyle, the gutless wonder voted for by every crook in town. When Hoppy moves to have the new sheriff impeached, outlaw leader Tad Hammond hires forty gunslingers to stop him. Stop Hoppy? Hah!
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A Guy Named Joe
Title: A Guy Named Joe
Character: Officer in Heaven (uncredited)
Released: December 24, 1943
Type: Movie
A cocky Air Force pilot stationed in England during World War II falls for a daring female flier. After he's killed on a mission, he is sent back to Earth by heavenly General with a new assignment.
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Pistol Packin' Mama
Title: Pistol Packin' Mama
Character: J. Leslie Burton III
Released: December 15, 1943
Type: Movie
Two tuneful gamblers gambol across the country in a struggle for the money they need to run their respective casinos. It all begins when gangsters oust a gambler from the Big Apple. In need of quick cash, he goes to Las Vegas and enters a casino owned by a tough but pretty young woman. Cheating like crazy, the gambler breaks the house back and takes his considerable winnings back to New York to open his own casino. The woman is in hot pursuit and eagerly plans to turn the tables in her favor.
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Mystery Broadcast
Title: Mystery Broadcast
Character: Young Policeman (uncredited)
Released: November 23, 1943
Type: Movie
A radio detective sets out to solve an old murder case, with the help of her sound man and another radio detective. They manage to talk to the people involved in the case, but shortly afterwards the main suspects turn up dead.
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Overland Mail Robbery
Title: Overland Mail Robbery
Character: Tom Hartley
Released: November 20, 1943
Type: Movie
The Hartley--Goodrich stage line suffers a double blow when its founders, Frank Hartley and Marcus Goodrich, are killed during robbery attempts. Goodrich's daughter Judith and the company foreman, Gabby Hayes, are determined to keep the business going, despite debt caused by the string of attacks.
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The Man from the Rio Grande
Title: The Man from the Rio Grande
Character: Editor Tom Traynor
Released: October 18, 1943
Type: Movie
The suspicious death of Henry King during a hunting trip with his brother John leaves the inheritance of the rich Santa Rita Ranch to be shared with John, Henry's daughter Doris and a young girl from New York, Twinkle Watts. King says that a son, Henry King Jr., who left home as a young boy was killed in a Texas gunfight. - Written by Les Adams
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Swing Shift Maisie
Title: Swing Shift Maisie
Character: Victory Aircraft Official (Uncredited)
Released: October 1, 1943
Type: Movie
Street-smart Maisie from Brooklyn lands a job at an airplane assembly plant during WWII and falls in love with handsome pilot "Breezy" McLaughlin. Breezy, however, falling in love with and getting engaged to Maisie's conniving roommate Iris, doesn't realize she's using him and it's up to Maisie to convince him.
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Action in the North Atlantic
Title: Action in the North Atlantic
Character: Brazilian Gun Captain (uncredited)
Released: June 12, 1943
Type: Movie
Merchant Marine sailors Joe Rossi (Humphrey Bogart) and Steve Jarvis (Raymond Massey) are charged with getting a supply vessel to Russian allies as part of a sea convoy. When the group of ships comes under attack from a German U-boat, Rossi and Jarvis navigate through dangerous waters to evade Nazi naval forces. Though their mission across the Atlantic is extremely treacherous, they are motivated by the opportunity to strike back at the Germans, who sank one of their earlier ships.
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Aerial Gunner
Title: Aerial Gunner
Character: Officer in Canteen (uncredited)
Released: March 20, 1943
Type: Movie
Old rivals are pitted against each other in basic training and fight for the same woman.
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You Were Never Lovelier
Title: You Were Never Lovelier
Character: Julia's Groom (uncredited)
Released: November 19, 1942
Type: Movie
An Argentine heiress thinks a penniless American dancer is her secret admirer.
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Lucky Jordan
Title: Lucky Jordan
Character: Pearl's Boyfriend
Released: November 16, 1942
Type: Movie
Lucky Jordan is a gangster living in New York City and when he's drafted into the army, he tries to escape duty by using an old con woman named Annie to convince the draft board he's needed at home. When that fails, Jordan is sent to boot camp, but he doesn't stay there long. He takes a beautiful USO worker hostage and flees back to New York. There, he learns that a rival gangster is plotting against America.
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Private Lessons
Title: Private Lessons
Character: John Humphries
Released: May 4, 1934
Type: Movie
Hal LeRoy is hired as a tap teacher at Dawn O'Day's dancing school to give private lessons to female students. The school's manager, as well as some of his students, spreads false stories that Hal's lessons involve more than just tap dancing. He is fired and starts his own dancing school in the same building as O'Day's. Hal and Dawn now realize that their relationship was more than just business.
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Fast and Loose
Title: Fast and Loose
Character: Man Seated at Table in Speakeasy
Released: November 8, 1930
Type: Movie
A wealthy family is thrown into turmoil when the daughter falls for the family chauffeur and the son begins to keep company with a chorus girl.