Kirk Alyn

Kirk Alyn

Deceased · Born: Oct 8, 1910 · Died: Mar 14, 1999

Personal Details

BornOct 8, 1910 Oxford, New Jersey, USA

Biography

Kirk Alyn's illustrious show business career began with a stint as a chorus boy on the esteemed stages of Broadway, followed by a foray into the world of vaudeville, where he honed his skills as an entertainer. This early exposure to the spotlight was merely the precursor to a series of bit parts and minor supporting roles in a multitude of low-budget films, a stepping stone that would ultimately prepare him for the opportunity of a lifetime.

It was in the title role of the iconic serial Superman (1948) that Alyn's star truly began to shine. His portrayal of the iconic superhero catapulted him to newfound fame, and it seemed as though he was destined for a long and illustrious film career. Alas, this promising trajectory was not meant to be, and Alyn's subsequent appearances in a handful of movies were ultimately unable to sustain the momentum he had built.

In the end, Alyn's film career was reduced to a series of small parts, a mere shadow of the grandeur he had once achieved. It was a bitter pill to swallow, and one that ultimately led him to retire to the sun-kissed state of Arizona, where he would spend the remainder of his days in relative obscurity.

Person Biography:

Kirk Alyn was an American actor, best known for his portrayal of Superman in the 1948 serial film of the same name. Born on October 8, 1910, in Michigan City, Indiana, Alyn began his show business career as a chorus boy on Broadway and an entertainer in vaudeville. He went on to appear in numerous low-budget films, before landing the role of a lifetime in the Superman serial. Despite his early success, Alyn's film career was ultimately marked by a series of small parts and a lack of sustained success. He retired to Arizona, where he lived out the remainder of his days in relative obscurity.

Career

1986
Horrible Horror
Horrible Horror as Superman, In clips from 'Superman'
1983
Scalps
Scalps as Prof. Manchen
1978
Superman
Superman as Sam Lane (uncredited)
1967
Banning
Banning as Bidder (uncredited)
Beginning of the End
Beginning of the End as Bomber Pilot
1956
The Eddy Duchin Story
The Eddy Duchin Story as Young Man at Wadsworths' Party (uncredited)
1951
When Worlds Collide
When Worlds Collide as Rioter Bringing Guns (uncredited)
1950
Atom Man vs. Superman
Atom Man vs. Superman as Superman, alias Clark Kent
Gambling House
Gambling House as FBI Man (uncredited)
1949
1948
Superman
Superman as Superman, alias Clark Kent
The Three Musketeers
The Three Musketeers as Aramis' Friend (uncredited)
1947
1946
The Trap
The Trap as Sgt. Reynolds
Daughter of Don Q
Daughter of Don Q as Cliff Roberts
The Time of Their Lives
The Time of Their Lives as Dandy at Party (uncredited)
1944
Forty Thieves
Forty Thieves as Jerry Doyle
The Girl Who Dared
The Girl Who Dared as Josh Carroll
Once Upon a Time
Once Upon a Time as Attendant
1943
The Man from the Rio Grande
The Man from the Rio Grande as Editor Tom Traynor
Aerial Gunner
Aerial Gunner as Officer in Canteen (uncredited)
Swing Shift Maisie
Swing Shift Maisie as Victory Aircraft Official (Uncredited)
Action in the North Atlantic
Action in the North Atlantic as Brazilian Gun Captain (uncredited)
A Guy Named Joe
A Guy Named Joe as Officer in Heaven (uncredited)
The Iron Major
The Iron Major as John Cavanaugh
1942
Lucky Jordan
Lucky Jordan as Pearl's Boyfriend
You Were Never Lovelier
You Were Never Lovelier as Julia's Groom (uncredited)
1930
Fast and Loose
Fast and Loose as Man Seated at Table in Speakeasy