biography Born John Feggo in Oxford, New Jersey, on October 8, 1910, Kirk Alyn became the screen's first Superman in the 15-chapter 1948 Columbia serial of the same name. Alyn had worked as an actor for many years prior to taking on his most famous role, with some success. After attending Columbia University, Alyn started his show business career as a dancer and then worked the vaudeville circuit before moving to Broadway as an actor/dancer, where he spent about 14 years. Alyn also worked in early New York-based television in the late 1930s and early 1940s. In the early 1940s, he went to Hollywood to attempt to break into films. Soon after his arrival, in 1942 Alyn married actress-singer Virginia O'Brien, and the couple had three children before divorcing in 1955.  After spending several years in Hollywood beginning in the early 1940s, Alyn had appeared in a number of films, but mostly in small roles and uncredited parts. His first major role came in the 1946 Republic serial Daughter of Don Q. But Alyn's big break came in 1948, when the 37-year-old, 6'2" actor was chosen by Columbia to star as Superman in the 15-chapter serial Superman. In fact, Alyn had more success in the serials in which he acted for both Columbia and Republic than he did as a feature film lead. In 1949, Republic released the 12-chapter serial Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc., with Kirk Alyn in the lead role, costarring Rosemary La Planche, Miss America 1941. And in 1950, he starred in Republic's 12-chapter Radar Patrol vs. Spy King. After the release of Atom Man Vs. Superman, Alyn tired of the role and would only agree to continuing as the Man of Steel in exchange for a hefty pay raise. Columbia studio executives, notoriously tight-fisted, decided to replace Alyn with George Reeves. However, Alyn acted in one more serial for Columbia, the 1952 15-chapter Blackhawk. |
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the films of kirk alynSuperman (1948)   
Scenes from the Columbia serial Superman. LEFT: With Pierre Watkin, Noel Neill, and Tommy Bond. CENTER A: Alyn as Superman. CENTER B and RIGHT: With Noel NeillFederal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc. (1949)
From Republic's engaging noir serial Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc. with Rosemary La Planche, James Dale, and Roy BarcroftAtom Man Vs. Superman (1950)  
LEFT and CENTER: From Columbia's 15-chapter serial Atom Man Vs. Superman. RIGHT: This photo of Alyn illustrates how Columbia handled Superman's flying sequences. Note the platform under Alyn's torso and the suspension of his capeBlackhawk: Fearless Champion of Freedom (1952)   
Alyn as another comic book hero come to life in the 15-chapter serial Blackhawk: Fearless Champion of Freedom, one of Columbia's final serials. LEFT and CENTER A: Alyn as the title character in his last starring role. CENTER B: Kirk Alyn bests a bad guy. RIGHT: With Carol Formanlater years
LEFT: A 1972 photo of Kirk Alyn in his Hollywood homeKirk Alyn's career hid the skids after he parted company with Columbia in 1952. Serials were being replaced by television programs, and Alyn, now more than 40 years old, had great difficulty in finding roles. He took roles on TV programs such as Highway Dragnet and The Donna Reed Show and did numerous television commercials. By the 1970s, Alyn saw a revival in his career and toured extensively to discuss his role in Superman. He also revived his acting career, making appearances on television and in a few films, including a cameo appearance in the 1978 Warner Bros. release Superman. His final film appearance came in the horror film Scalps (1983; directed by Fred Olen Ray). In his last years, he left southern California and relocated to Texas. Sadly, Kirk Alyn died of natural causes related to Alzheimer's disease at the age of 88 on March 14, 1999. He was survived by two daughters, Terri and Elizabeth, and a son, John. |
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