14 stars who played Superman

See the actors behind the Man of Steel
By Madeline Boardman and Mary Sollosi
October 12, 2018 at 04:12 PM EDT

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Bud Collyer

Courtesy Everett Collection; CBS via Getty Images

Bud Collyer was the voice of Superman for years, lending his vocals to the character in 1940s programs like Superman, The Magnetic Telescope, and The Bulleteers. He returned to the role in the ’60s, voicing Superman in The New Adventures of Superman, The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure, Aquaman, and The Batman/Superman Hour.

 

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Kirk Alyn

Courtesy Everett Collection

Kirk Alyn made his debut as the superhero in 1948, playing Clark Kent/Superman in Columbia Pictures’ Superman. He donned the cape once more for 1950’s Atom Man vs. Superman.

 

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George Reeves

Courtesy Everett Collection

George Reeves started playing Superman in 1951 with the debut of Superman and the Mole-Men. He returned to the hero soon after, racking up credits as Superman for Stamp Day for Superman, I Love Lucy, and Adventures of Superman.

 

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Danny Dark

Courtesy Everett Collection

Danny Dark spent much of his career voicing Superman. He earned credits for Super Friends, The All-New Super Friends Hour, Challenge of the Superfriends, and The World’s Greatest SuperFriends in the ’70s, Super Friends, and SuperFriends: The Legendary Super Powers Show, and The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians in the ’80s.

 

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Christopher Reeve

Courtesy Everett Collection

Perhaps the most famous Superman, Christopher Reeve first appeared as Clark Kent and his alter ego in 1978’s Superman. He went on to star in Superman II, Superman III, and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace in the ’80s.

 

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John Haymes Newton

Courtesy Everett Collection

John Haymes Newton made his on-screen debut as the title character in the late ’80s TV show Superboy. He also voiced Superman in two 2010s shorts.

 

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Gerard Christopher

Courtesy Everett Collection

Gerard Christopher took over the reins from Newton, playing Clark Kent/Superboy in Superboy from 1989 to 1992.

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Tim Daly

Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection; Chance Yeh/FilmMagic

Tim Daly brought Superman to TV movies, video games, and a TV series. He voiced the man of steel in Superman: The Last Son of Krypton, The Batman Superman Movie: World’s Finest, Superman, Superman: Shadow of Apokolips, Superman: Brainiac Attacks, Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, and Justice League: Doom.

 

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Dean Cain

ABC/Courtesy Everett Collection

Dean Cain played Superman in the ’90s, spending four years on Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman as the superhero.

 

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George Newbern

Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection; Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Entertainment Weekly

George Newbern voiced Superman for five years in the early 2000s on Justice League, earning additional credits for The Batman a few years later and Superman videos in the 2010s.

 

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Tom Welling

Jack Rowand/The CW

A small-screen Superman, Tom Welling played the famed character for 10 years. He appeared as Clark Kent and Superman on The WB’s Smallville.

 

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Brandon Routh

Warner Bros.

Brandon Routh became Superman for 2006’s Superman Returns. He also lent his voice the video game.

 

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Henry Cavill

Clay Enos

The latest actor to save the day on the big screen, Henry Cavill debuted as Superman in 2013’s Man of Steel. He returned to the cape for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and the upcoming The Justice League Part One.

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Tyler Hoechlin

Robert Falconer/The CW

Tyler Hoechlin joined the CW’s Arrowverse in 2016 as Supergirl‘s Man of Steel. In addition to guest starring on the show, Hoechlin has also worn the cape in episodes of Arrow and The Flash. 

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