Superman has been reinvented more times than almost any other fictional character, shifting with each era’s idea of what a hero should look and feel like. From early radio and serials to prestige TV and modern blockbuster franchises, different performers have shaped Clark Kent and his alter ego into everything from a bright symbol of hope to a more grounded, conflicted figure.
This list looks at actors who have portrayed Superman over the decades, spanning voice work, television and film, ending with David Corenswet, the latest star to step into the cape for a new generation.
Bud Collyer
Bud Collyer was one of the earliest voices of Superman, bringing the character to life in radio programs like The Adventures of Superman in the 1940s and later voicing him in animated series in the 1960s. His work helped shape Superman’s iconic sound long before the live-action era.
Kirk Alyn
Kirk Alyn holds the distinction of being the first live-action Superman. He starred in the original Superman serial in 1948 and returned for Atom Man vs. Superman in 1950, wearing the cape and tights at a time when big-screen superheroes were still a novelty.
George Reeves
George Reeves brought Superman to early television audiences with Adventures of Superman (1952–1958), helping solidify the character’s place in pop culture. His portrayal was one of the longest live-action takes on Clark Kent/Superman in those early decades.
Danny Dark
Danny Dark made his mark as a voice actor for Superman across several animated TV shows in the 1970s and 1980s, including Super Friends and its various iterations, bringing the hero to Saturday morning cartoon viewers.
Christopher Reeve
Christopher Reeve is often synonymous with Superman for many fans. First appearing in Superman: The Movie (1978), Reeve reprised the role through the 1980s, blending charm with heroic earnestness and influencing how Superman would be portrayed for decades.
John Haymes Newton
John Haymes Newton was one of the first actors to play a young Superman on television in Superboy (1988–1989), tapping into Clark Kent’s early years before his transformation into the full Man of Steel.
Gerard Christopher
Gerard Christopher took over from Newton on Superboy (1989–1992), continuing the story of the teenage Clark Kent for audiences in syndication and helping expand the Superman universe on TV.
Dean Cain
Dean Cain portrayed Superman in the 1990s on Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, a series that focused as much on the relationship between Clark Kent and Lois Lane as on superhero action, making the character accessible to a broader audience.
Tim Daly
Tim Daly became one of the more notable voices of Superman in animation, lending his voice to Superman: The Animated Series and related films and video games across the late 1990s and 2000s.
George Newbern
George Newbern took over animated Superman duties in the early 2000s, voicing the character on Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, as well as later DC animated projects — making him the voice behind one of the DC Universe’s most enduring versions.
Tom Welling
Tom Welling played Clark Kent over ten seasons on Smallville (2001–2011), a series that traced the hero’s formative years and built a passionate fanbase around a younger, pre-Superman version of the character.
Brandon Routh
Brandon Routh donned the cape on the big screen in Superman Returns (2006) and later appeared as the character again in the CW’s Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover. His portrayal tied past film history to modern superhero storytelling.
Henry Cavill
Henry Cavill brought Superman into the DC Extended Universe, starring in Man of Steel (2013), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), and Justice League (2017), among others. Cavill’s turn was widely seen as pivotal in bringing a modern cinematic gravitas to the character.
Tyler Hoechlin
Tyler Hoechlin became a familiar Superman in the Arrowverse, first appearing on Supergirl before leading his own Superman & Lois series, giving a family-oriented and grounded take on Clark Kent in more recent years.
Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage appeared as an alternate universe Superman in The Flash (2023), portraying a version of the hero that pays homage to comic book multiverse storytelling and delighting fans with a surprising and unique take.
David Corenswet
David Corenswet is the newest actor to take on the role of Superman in the DC Universe with Superman (2025), directed by James Gunn. His portrayal aims to usher in a new era of storytelling for the Man of Steel on the big screen.
