Superman (franchise)

Portrayals of Superman outside of comic books From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The character Superman, first appearing American comic books in 1938, has appeared in many types of media since the 1940s. Superman has appeared in radio, television, movies, and video games each on multiple occasions, and his name, symbol, and image have appeared on products and merchandise.

Created by
Original sourceComics published by DC Comics
First appearanceAction Comics #1 (April 1938)
Film(s)
Quick facts Adaptations of Superman in other media, Created by ...
Adaptations of Superman in other media
Official logo
Created by
Original sourceComics published by DC Comics
First appearanceAction Comics #1 (April 1938)
Films and television
Film(s)
Television
show(s)
Theatrical presentations
Musical(s)It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman (1966)
Audio presentations
Radio show(s)
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Portrayals

Among the actors who have played Superman / Superboy (and/or his alter ego, Clark Kent) are:

Portrayed by

Voice only

Radio and audio

  • Superman appears in The Adventures of Superman (1940), voiced by Bud Collyer.
  • Superman appears in The Adventures of Superman (1966), voiced by Bob Holiday.
  • Superman appears in several vinyl albums released by Peter Pan Records during the 1970s and 1980s.
  • Superman appears in the BBC radio adaptation of Superman Lives!, voiced by Stuart Milligan.
  • Superman appears in the audio drama DC Comics Super Heroes – Attack of the Elementals, voiced by David Waterman.
  • Superman appears in the audio drama The Never-Ending Battle, voiced by James Konicek.[citation needed]

Film

Main article: Superman in film

Animated film

Live-action film

Canceled Superman live-action films

Television

Live-action

Animated television

Canceled Superman animated series

Video games

Main article: List of Superman video games
Superman in the trailer of MultiVersus
Superman in the trailer of MultiVersus

Theatre and live performances

Literature and printed media

Newspaper

Main article: Superman (comic strip)

Superman was a daily newspaper comic strip which began on January 16, 1939, and a separate Sunday strip was added on November 5, 1939. These strips ran continuously until May 1966. In 1941, the McClure Syndicate had placed the strip in hundreds of newspapers. At its peak, the strip, featuring Superman, was in over 300 daily newspapers and 90 Sunday papers, with a readership of over 20 million.

Attractions and theme park rides

Superman Escape at Warner Bros. Movie World

Art

Parodies

Superman depicted as stricken by AIDS, in an awareness campaign
  • The cartoon Underdog in which Shoeshine Boy becomes "Underdog" with the help of an energy pill.
  • The cartoon series Groovy Goolies featured dimwitted Frankie as "Super Ghoul".
  • Walt Disney's Goofy did a parody of Superman with the help of "super goobers" {Peanuts} in which Goofy became "Super Goof" clothed in red underwear with "SG" and a blue cape and endowed with super ears, super sight, super strength, super voice and super flying. Goofy's crime fighting always interrupted his date with Clarabelle Cow.[40]
  • Warner Brothers' Daffy Duck did a parody of Superman as Stupor Duck.
  • The 2019 superhero horror film Brightburn is a dark deconstruction of the Superman character.
  • Superman's image was used in an AIDS awareness campaign by French organization AIDES. Superman was depicted as emaciated and breathing from an oxygen tank, demonstrating that no-one is beyond the reach of the disease, and it can destroy the lives of everyone.[41]

Merchandising

  • Sunnyland Refining Co., in 1981, marketed jars of creamy and crunchy peanut butter using the familiar image of Superman. In the 50th anniversary publication Fifty Who Made DC Great, it was noted that this was DC's first licensing deal for a brand of food. Soon he had his own hot cocoa mix in 1983.[42]
  • A Superman pinball machine was produced by Atari in 1979.[43]
  • Superman is part of the DC Deckbuilding Game by Cryptozoic Entertainment.

Casting tradition

There is a tradition of past Superman actors returning for new works in the franchise.[44] The first instance in live action was Noel Niell, who played Lois Lane in the serial films, reprising the role in the first TV series. Niell is also one of three Lois actresses to have subsequently played Lois' mother Ella. Aside from reappearances by actors, Christopher Reeve's son Will Reeve appears in the 2025 film as a tribute to his father. Below is a table showing actors who have made appearances across multiple live-action works that feature unobscured Superman characters.

  • A indicates an appearance through archival footage or audio.
  • O indicates an older version of the character.
  • S indicates an appearance through use of special effects.
  • V indicates a voice-only role.
  • Y indicates a younger version of the character.
More information Actor, SupermanAtom Man vs. Superman (1948, 1950) ...
Actor Superman
Atom Man vs. Superman
(1948, 1950)		 Superman and the Mole Men
Adventures of Superman
Stamp Day
Kellogg's ads
Funny Boners
I Love Lucy
(1951–1958)		 It's a Bird… It's a Plane… It's Superman!
(1975)		 Superman
The Muppet Show
II
Glico ads
III
Supergirl
Kenner ads
IV
(1978–1987)		 Superboy
(1988–1992)		 Seinfeld media
(1989–1998, 2004)		 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
(1993–1997)		 Steel
(1997)		 Smallville
(2001–2011)		 Superman Returns
(2006)		 Man of Steel
Carl's Jr. ads
Batman V Superman
Justice League
Black Adam
The Flash
(2013–2023)		 Arrow
The Flash
Legends of Tomorrow
Supergirl
Batwoman
(2012–2021)		 Powerless
(2017)		 Titans
Doom Patrol
(2018–2021)		 Krypton
(2019–2020)		 Superman & Lois
(2021–2024)		 Superman
Supergirl
(2025, 2026)
Kirk Alyn Superman Sam Lane
Noel Neill Lois Lane Ella Lane Alexis Tourist Gertrude Vanderworth
Pierre Watkin Perry White Harry Green
Airline Official
Admiral
Sir Lancelot
Herbert Rawlinson Graham Rozan
George Reeves Superman Superman (alternate)A
Phyllis Coates Lois Lane Ella Lane
Jack Larson Jimmy Olsen Train passenger Lou Lamont Elderly man Jimmy OlsenO Bo the bartender
Kenneth Mars Max Mencken Grant Gendell
Marlon Brando Jor-El Jor-ElAS
Glenn Ford Jonathan Kent Jonathan KentVA
Christopher Reeve Superman Dr. Virgil Swann Superman (alternate)S
Margot Kidder Lois Lane Bridgette Crosby
Marc McClure Jimmy Olsen Dax-Ur Officer Ben Sadowsky
Jerry		 Emily's father
Terence Stamp General Zod Jor-ElV
Sarah Douglas Ursa Jinda Kol Rozz
Annette O'Toole Lana Lang Martha Kent
Helen Slater Supergirl Becky Gelke Lara-El Supergirl (alternate)S Eliza Danvers
Jon Cryer Lenny Luthor Lex Luthor
Paula Marshall Christina Riley Sharon
Sherman Howard Lex Luthor
Warren Eckworth		 Roy
Adam West Jerry Retchen Batman (alternate)A Chairman West
Charles Napier Sailin' Whalen Colonel David
Dean Cain Superman Dr. Curtis Knox Jeremiah Danvers
Teri Hatcher Sidra Holland Lois Lane Ella Lane Rhea
Michael McKean Dr. Fabian Leek Perry White
Cress Williams Baron Sunday Black Lightning
Michael Ironside Sam Lane Lewis Snart
Peyton List Lucy Lane Golden Glider
Joe Morton Steven Hamilton Silas Stone
Tom Welling Clark Kent
Jor-ElY
Bizarro
Ultraman		 Clark Kent (alternate)
Erica Durance Lois Lane Lois Lane (alternate)
Alura Zor-El
Noel Neill
Laura Vandervoort Supergirl Brainiac 8
Amy Adams Jodi Melville Lois Lane
Michael Cassidy Grant Gabriel Jimmy Olsen
Lynda Carter Moira Sullivan Olivia Marsdin
Sam Witwer Doomsday Benjamin Lockwood
Alan Ritchson Aquaman Hawk (alternate)A Hawk
Phil Morris Martian Manhunter Silas Stone
Alessandro Juliani Dr. Emil Hamilton Officer Sekowsky
Brent Stait Dr. Fate Dr. FateVA
Brandon Routh Superman Ray Palmer
Superman (alternate)
David Ramsey John Diggle John Diggle
Grant Gustin The Flash The Flash (alternate)A
Jenna Dewan Lucy Lane Lucy Lane
Jason Mamoa Aquaman Lobo
Tyler Hoechlin Superman Superman
Bizarro
Elizabeth Tulloch Lois Lane Lois Lane
Tom Cavanagh Harrison Wells
Eobard Thawne
Pariah		 Gordon Godfrey
Alan Tudyk Van Wayne Mr. Nobody Robot 4V
Curran Walters Jason Todd (alternate)A Jason Todd
Staz Nair William Dey Dax-Baron
Colin Salmon Walter Steele General Zod
Nikolai Witschl Caleb
Jo Gunraf		 Milton "Brainiac" Fine
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See also

Notes

References

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