Kirk Alyn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kirk Alyn
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Kirk Alyn as Superman in the 1948 movie serial
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| Born |
John Feggo Jr.
October 8, 1910 Oxford, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Died | March 14, 1999 (aged 88) The Woodlands, Texas, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1930–1988 |
| Spouse(s) |
Virginia O'Brien
(m. 1942; div. 1955) |
| Children | 3 |
Kirk Alyn (born John Feggo Jr.; October 8, 1910 – March 14, 1999) was an American actor. He is famous for being the very first actor to play the superhero Superman in a live-action movie. He starred as Superman in the 1948 movie serial Superman and its 1950 sequel Atom Man vs. Superman. Kirk Alyn also played other comic book characters like Blackhawk and even Lois Lane's father, Sam Lane, in the 1978 Superman: The Movie.
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Kirk Alyn's Early Life
Kirk Alyn was born as John Feggo Jr. on October 8, 1910. His hometown was Oxford, New Jersey, in the United States. His parents came from Austria-Hungary. When he was young, he lived in Wharton, New Jersey. There is a special plaque in the town's building that remembers his life.
Kirk Alyn's Acting Career
Kirk Alyn started his career on Broadway, which is famous for its plays and musicals. He was a "chorus boy," meaning he sang and danced in the background. He appeared in popular musicals like Girl Crazy and Hellzapoppin' in the 1930s.
He also performed as a singer and dancer in vaudeville shows. Vaudeville was a type of entertainment with many different acts. In the early 1940s, he moved to Hollywood. He wanted to act in feature films.
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At first, he only got small roles in low-budget movies. Then, in 1948, he landed the big role of Superman. During World War II, Kirk Alyn served in the United States Navy.
Playing Superman
Kirk Alyn remembered the day he was asked to play Superman. He thought it was a joke because he didn't believe Superman could be shown on film. People from DC Comics saw him and said he looked just like Clark Kent. He was 37 years old when he played Superman. He was strong enough to carry a girl up stairs easily.
Alyn starred in the first live-action Superman movie serial in 1948. A serial is a movie told in many short parts. This serial had 15 episodes. It showed Superman arriving on Earth and getting a job as a reporter. He met Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen at the Daily Planet newspaper. The story was about Superman fighting a villain called the Spider Lady.
Two years later, the sequel Atom Man vs. Superman was released. In this serial, Lyle Talbot played Superman's main enemy, Lex Luthor. This movie also showed a strange alternate dimension. This was similar to the Phantom Zone, which appeared in the comics much later.
Kirk Alyn played Superman and Clark Kent differently. This helped make his disguise believable. This was like how Superman was played on the radio by Bud Collyer. Later, another actor, George Reeves, played both roles more similarly.
When Superman flew, Kirk Alyn would jump up. Then, an animated character would take over using a special film technique called rotoscoping. This made it look like Superman was flying. Alyn tried flying with hidden wires for the first serial. However, the wires were too easy to see, so they didn't use that footage.
After Superman
After playing Superman, it was hard for Kirk Alyn to find new roles. He appeared in a few other comic book-style serials. He also had some small parts in TV shows and movies, sometimes without even being named in the credits. He eventually retired from acting.
It is said that Kirk Alyn was offered the role of Superman for a TV show in 1951, but he turned it down. In 1971, he wrote a book about his life called A Job for Superman.
In 1978, Kirk Alyn had a very short appearance in the movie Superman. He played Sam Lane, the father of a young Lois Lane, alongside his co-star Noel Neill. In an interview for a documentary, he explained how he played Superman and Clark Kent.
In 1981, he appeared in a parody movie called Superbman: The Other Movie. His role was very brief. Kirk Alyn's last movie was the horror film Scalps in 1983. In 1988, he was part of a TV special celebrating Superman's 50th anniversary.
Kirk Alyn's Personal Life
When Kirk Alyn first moved to Hollywood, he met another performer named Virginia O'Brien. She was a singer, dancer, and actress. They got married in 1942. They had three children: two daughters, Terri O'Brien and Elizabeth Watkins, and a son, John Feggo III. They divorced in 1955.
Kirk Alyn's Death
Kirk Alyn passed away on March 14, 1999, in The Woodlands, Texas. He was 88 years old. He died from Alzheimer's disease. His body was cremated, and his ashes were scattered off the coast of California.
Honors and Awards
Kirk Alyn was honored many times in Metropolis, Illinois. This town is known as the "Hometown of Superman." He was the Grand Marshal for their Christmas parade and Annual Superman Celebrations several times. In 1985, DC Comics recognized Alyn as one of the important people in the company's 50-year history.
Kirk Alyn also received the Inkpot Award in 1974. This award honors people who have made great contributions to comics and science fiction.
Images for kids
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Kirk Alyn as Superman
