The actors who have played Superman

Alien from Kansas

Superman’s real name is Kal-El. He’s an alien who was born on the doomed planet Krypton before being rocketed to Earth as a baby and landing in Smallville, Kansas. There, he’s adopted by loving farmers Jonathan and Martha Kent.

Farm boy turned hero

Raised as Clark Kent, Superman grows up humble and honest, gradually discovering he has extraordinary powers (including flight, super-strength, and X-ray vision) while working on his parents’ idyllic Midwestern farm.

A symbol of hope

As Superman, Clark chooses the iconic "S" crest from his Kryptonian heritage, which symbolizes hope. His goal, after all, is to inspire humanity while bravely battling evil with optimism, a strong sense of justice, and the occasional pun or two.

Dual identity

Balancing life as Clark Kent (a mild-mannered reporter at the Daily Planet newspaper agency) with heroics as Superman, he must constantly navigate workplace drama, romance, secret identities, and the dangers lurking out in the world.

Kirk Alyn

Alyn returned for another round of high-flying heroics in the 1950s sequel ‘Atom Man vs. Superman,’ bringing an earnest charm and cheerful strength that helped Superman become a household name in America.

Bud Collyer

Collyer lent his distinctive voice to the animated series ‘The New Adventures of Superman’ in the late 1960s. The actor skillfully shifted from mild-mannered Clark Kent to booming Man of Steel, creating a lasting vocal blueprint for heroes everywhere.

George Reeves

Reeves was famously dedicated to the superhero’s ideals. He entertained young fans in costume and stayed heroically in character. Many fans considered him a true Superman, even without special effects or wires.

Christopher Reeve

Reeve returned for three sequels between 1980 and 1987, cementing his Superman status with heartfelt sincerity and humorous warmth. His portrayal of the Man of Steel is widely considered the best to have graced the silver screen.

Dean Cain

Cain’s laid-back Superman prioritized humor, heart, and romance over spectacle. The show stepped out to prove that even Kryptonian heroes aren’t immune to love troubles, especially when Lois Lane is involved.

Tom Welling

Welling's heartfelt portrayal showed a hero in training while giving a mix of teenage drama and Kryptonian destiny. After all, even Superman once had to struggle with homework and crushes while battling superpowered villains.

Brandon Routh

Though Routh only portrayed Superman once on the big screen, his earnest sincerity and gentle charisma showed audiences the timeless appeal of Krypton's favorite son.

Henry Cavill

Cavill’s Superman was known for epic battles and brooding looks, and he managed to convince all who watched him that being invincible isn’t always easy, especially when saving the world from relentless villains.

Channing Tatum

Tatum’s humorous Lego Superman winked knowingly at his own legendary status, turning Krypton's finest into a scene-stealing plastic hero who saved laughter as often as the Lego world itself.

Tyler Hoechlin

Hoechlin's portrayal emphasized Superman as a family man, balancing hero duties with fatherhood. His character portrayal proved that even a superhero struggles with bedtime routines and parenting teenagers with Kryptonian DNA.

Nicolas Cage

In the 2023 film ‘The Flash,’ which forms part of the DC Extended Universe, we manage to catch a glimpse of Cage as the Man of Steel when the protagonist of the film passes through the multiverse. Somewhere in some alternate universe, Cage is proudly soaring as Superman on the silver screen.