Superman: All 10 Clark Kent actors ranked from worst to best

5. Dean Cain

Appeared in: Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

After Christopher Reeve’s game-changing performance in the Superman movies, it was time for the Man of Steel to return to the small screen that he found so much success on. That return came in the form of 1993’s Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.

Dean Cain was tasked with playing Superman and his more human alter-ego. It was even more important that he nail both aspects of the character as Lois and Clark was more about the relationship between the titular Daily Planet reporters, meaning that there had to be a more human quality to his performance. Thankfully, there was, as Clark Kent was very much the main character of this show – not Superman. This is a trend that would continue on TV beyond this show.

Cain was one of the first performers to highlight the real nuances of the character, taking much of what Reeve did on the silver screen and adapting it into a more long-form story. Clark may have been an alien from another planet, but he was also just like every other young man trying to find his way in the world. And for Clark, that meant finding his way in the big city after spending his youth in a small town. It also meant navigating his relationship with Lois Lane, and balancing that with his duties as Superman.

Cain played Clark with charisma. Yes, he was nerdy most of the time, but he also secretly ahead of the curve, always in the know, and incredibly charming when he wanted to be. That balance would inform other performers who played the role after him, and it’s easy to see why; Clark is at his most interesting when he’s more than just one thing. And Cain’s Clark was a lot of things, most important of all being a thoroughly enjoyable protagonist.