There have been some amazing actors to take on the role of Lex Luthor over the years, but which of the Lex Luthor actors is the best of the best?
When it comes to iconic DC villains, Lex Luthor is widely recognized to be one of DC Comics’ most iconic and enduring villains.
For over 80 years, Lex has been a staple in the pages of DC Comics. He’s known for his brilliant mind and ruthless determination to destroy Superman at all costs.
His presence in the DC Universe has shaped countless storylines and provided endless entertainment for fans of comics, TV shows, and movies. Over the years, we’ve seen nearly a dozen actors play the character in live-action adaptations alone. Each of these actors has put their own unique spin on the character and left their own stamp on the iconic character that is Lex Luthor.
With so many actors bringing their own interpretation to the role of Lex Luthor over the years, it’s hard to say who did it best. However, that’s exactly what we’ll be doing in this piece with a look at the best and worst actors who have portrayed one of DC’s most iconic villains!
Honorable Mentions (No. 11 – 8)
- Scott James Wells (Superboy)
- Sherman Howard (Superboy)
- Lyle Talbot (Atom Man vs. Superman)
- Titus Welliver (Titans)
Before we get into the thick of our list, we pay homage to Scott James Wells, Sherman Howard, Lyle Talbot, and Titus Welliver who all played the iconic comic book villain Lex Luthor in various adaptations. While they each left their mark on the character, they just don’t quite stack up to the eight other actors on this list who we’ll be spotlighting one by one.
Compared to actors like Gene Hackman, Michael Rosenbaum, and Jon Cryer, Wells, Howard, Talbot, and Welliver’s performances lacked the same depth we’ll celebrate in the slides above. This is not to say that their portrayals were bad, but rather that they did not have the same impact or staying power as other actors who have played Lex over the list. For Welliver, we simply didn’t get enough of his Lex to justify giving him a place on the solo list due to the brief nature of his stint in the role.
Now that we’ve gone through our honorable mentions, let’s get into the thick of things!
7. Kevin Spacey (Superman Returns)
Make no mistake, just because Kevin Spacey made it onto the actual list doesn’t mean we’d call his performance great. Spacey’s turn as Lex in 2006’s Superman Returns was way too over-the-top and failed to capture the complexity of the character.
One of the biggest issues many have with Spacey’s performance was how he played Lex as a cartoonish villain, rather than a layered and complicated antagonist like the Lex we see in the comics. Instead of exploring the character’s motivations and psychology, Spacey relied on over-the-top gestures and a melodramatic delivery to convey Luthor’s evilness.
These decisions led to Spacey’s Lex being a caricature of himself, complete with exaggerated facial expressions and a maniacal laugh. This made it difficult for the audience to take the character seriously and detracted from the film’s overall tone.
In contrast to Spacey’s performance, other actors who have played Lex Luthor, such as Gene Hackman and Michael Rosenbaum, have been able to capture the character’s complexity and made him a compelling and believable villain. By comparison, Spacey’s portrayal felt like a missed opportunity and a blemish on the character’s legacy.
6. Jesse Eisenberg (Batman v Superman, Justice League)
When it was announced that Jesse Eisenberg was cast as Lex Luthor in the DCEU, there was a lot of excitement among fans at the potential he had to deliver an amazing iteration of Lex Luthor. After all, we already knew by then that Eisenberg was an incredible actor with a gifted ability to bring complex characters to life.
While some commend Eisenberg’s take on the character, for many others, his performance was a bit too quirky and lacked the gravitas that a character such as Lex requires and is known for in the comics. But we can’t fault Eisenberg entirely as his performance was due to the lack of direction the character was given by the writers.
Luthor’s motivations and goals were muddled and underdeveloped, making it hard to understand why he did the things he did. There was never a clear reason for the actions the character took with it almost feeling like he was thrown into the mix on a whim, and it showed by the directionless narrative of the character’s arc.
Eisenberg is an amazing actor. We know this. Had he been given stronger materials, there is no denying his Lex could have been one of the all-time greats. Instead, he was never fully given teh chance to showcase his abilities leading to a less-than-memorable Lex.
5. Michael Cudlitz (Superman & Lois)
You might be surprised to see Michael Cudlitz so high on this list, and that’s more than fair. Thus far, we’ve only just begun to scratch the surface of Cudlitz’s Lex Luthor having only truly just met him in the final two episodes of Superman & Lois season 3. However, in just two short episodes, he’s already delivered one of the most compelling portrayals of the character we’ve seen.
In just two episodes of Superman & Lois, Cudlitz has already established his Lex to be one of the most physically imposing iterations of the character we’ve seen yet. Not only does Lex use his resources to get what he wants, but he’s not afraid to get his hands dirty and use brutal force to show his authority.
This Lex not only hates Superman, but he shares an equal disdain for Lois Lane who was responsible for putting him behind bars with the power of the pen. This makes him that much more chilling. It’s one thing when he’s targeting Superman, but to see him take aim at Lois has been truly chilling. It’s clear, he will stop at nothing to bring down those who dare cross his path.
There is no denying that we expect Cudlitz to rise in this ranking as we see him step into the spotlight with a larger role, and aren’t quite prepared for the terror his Lex is going to wreak.
4. John Shea (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman)
Across Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, John Shea delivered a standout performance as the show’s Lex Luthor, a charming and menacing billionaire with a ruthless side.
Shea’s Lex always kept audiences on the edge of their seats. He was cunning and intelligent, two traits fans have come to expect from the character in the comics. Yet his Lex was also one unlike any we’d seen before.
This Lex was a well-regarded billionaire playboy. He wasn’t just Superman’s rival, he was Clark’s as well. The show took such an unexpected spin in having Lex genuinely care for Lois and be a romantic interest. And it worked perfectly as Shea had phenomenal chemistry with Teri Hatcher’s Lois Lane.
This selection might be a bit controversial to some and that would be understandable. John Shea’s performance as Lex in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman was a standout to many. In fact, to some, he might even fall within their Top 3. There is no discounting that Shea was an amazing Lex, I’m just arguing that there are others who are better — performances that honored the Lex from the comics which we all knew and loved to hate.
3. Jon Cryer (Supergirl)
When it was announced that Jon Cryer would be playing Lex Luthor on Supergirl, I’m not going to lie my first thought was “What are the producers thinking?!” Now don’t get me wrong, I knew Cryer was a great actor; however, when you look back at his filmography his most notable roles were comedic with Cryer coming off of a 12-season run on CBS’s Two and a Half Men.
Well, I should have known better than to question the brilliant minds behind the Arrowverse as the end result was one of the best performances we’ve seen thus far!
Cryer managed to bring such depth and complexity to the character. His Lex was multifaceted and became one of the most dynamic characters in Supergirl’s run. This was a Lex with a deep-seated vendetta against Supergirl, willing to do anything to bring her down. He had this twisted sense of morality that made him both terrifying and fascinating.
While there were some standout performances in the Arrowverse, there is no denying that Cryer’s run as Lex Luthor was among the greatest surprises from the franchise. Almost like Lex himself, Cryer used the chip on his shoulder to drive him to one of the best performances of his career.
2. Gene Hackman (Superman, Superman II & Superman IV)
When it comes to iconic superhero performances, Gene Hackman’s turn as Lex Luthor is often at the top of many lists. His performance as Lex is often regarded as one of the most iconic and legendary performances in the genre.
Hackman’s Luthor was somewhat of a departure from the comic book Lex we knew at the time. Through his performance, Hackman gave us a Lex who was a smooth-talking, charismatic villain with a quick wit and devious mind. That wit, in particular, was key to making his Lex the incredible standout character he was.
He had this ability to inject humor into the character in a way that never diminished the threat he posed both to the Man of Steel and to the people of Metropolis. His performance was further elevated in those he played off of including Ned Beatty, who played Lex’s henchman Otis. The pair had a magnetic way of playing off one another that delivered some incredible moments.
This was a Lex that also had a clear motivation. He wanted nothing more in life than to bring Superman down, with that deep sense of resentment toward the Man of Steel driving his actions. To Lex, Superman was a threat to his ambitions that had to be stopped no matter the cost.
Hackman was brilliant as Lex; however, there is one actor whose performance stands above all others.
1. Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville)
When it comes to the best actors who have portrayed DC’s most iconic villain, Lex Luthor, there is no contest. Michael Rosenbaum is not only the best to have ever played Lex Luthor, but his performance in the role was one of the finest performances we’ve ever seen in the superhero genre.
Rosenbaum’s portrayal of Luthor was nuanced, complex, and utterly compelling. He brought a depth to the character that had not been seen before, making Luthor more than just a one-dimensional villain. Rosenbaum played him as a man with a tragic past, driven by his own insecurities and fears, and willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals.
As Tom Welling said best in speaking with Bam Smack Pow timed to the 20th anniversary of the show, Smallville didn’t put the suit on and the cape on too soon, which forced the show to deal with the human element of the show. The show didn’t immediately pit Superman and Lex against one another. Instead, it established a friendship between Lex and Clark which served as the origin story for Lex’s descent into villainy.
Rosenbaum’s acting ability was perfectly suited to the role of Luthor. He was able to convey the character’s intelligence, charm, and ruthlessness with equal skill, creating a fully realized and convincing portrayal of one of the greatest villains in comic book history. His performance was incredibly captivating and he didn’t stop once Smallville wrapped, going on to voice the character in animated series and video games which only further cemented his legacy.
When one thinks of Lex Luthor, it’s Rosenbaum who often comes to mind and it’s unlikely this will ever change. Rosenbaum will forever be cemented in pop culture history as one of the best to ever appear in a comic book series and the greatest to ever portray the Man of Steel’s greatest adversary.