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All 12 Superman actors ranked from worst to best

By Michael Patterson

Supergirl -- "Nevertheless, She Persisted" -- SPG222a_0296.jpg -- Pictured: Tyler Hoechlin as Clark/Superman -- Photo: Bettina Strauss/The CW -- © 2017 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved
Supergirl -- "Nevertheless, She Persisted" -- SPG222a_0296.jpg -- Pictured: Tyler Hoechlin as Clark/Superman -- Photo: Bettina Strauss/The CW -- © 2017 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved /
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KIRK ALYN AS HE APPEARS IN THE TITLE ROLE OF COLUMBIA SERIAL “SUPERMAN” 1950 (Photo by George Rinhart/Corbis via Getty Images) /

10. Kirk Alyn

Appeared in: Superman (1948), Atom Man vs. Superman (1950)

Kirk Alyn has gone down in history for being the very first actor to ever bring Superman to life in live-action on any screen. A singer and dancer on vaudeville prior to his screen days, he starred in the 1948 movie serial Superman and the 1950 sequel Atom Man vs. Superman. While the low quality production values of the time haven’t aged well, Alyn did very well with what he was given, establishing that Superman could transcend the comic books he was born in and make his way to the silver screen.

We also must commend the actor for portraying the two different sides of Kal-El, with differing performances as Clark Kent and Superman – something that would become pivotal to the character’s future in live-action.

Alyn would reportedly turn down the chance to reprise the role in the 1950s TV series Adventures of Superman (which would be played by George Reeves) but his contributions to the legacy of the Man of Steel were not forgotten, as he played Sam Lane (the father of Lois Lane) in 1978’s game-changing Superman: The Movie. His own Lois Lane, Noel Neill, would join him as Lois’ mother in the scene.

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