In order:
Christopher Reeve (because I grew up with his portrayal)
Kirk Alyn (Awesome, great voice, look and build)
Bud Colyer (Max Fleischer's animated Superman and radio dramas)
Tim Daly (Warner's Superman - The Animated Series)
Beau Weaver (Ruby Spears 1988 Superman animated)
Gerard Christopher (Adventures of Superboy)
John Newton (Adventures of Superboy)
George Reeves (50's Superman TV)
Sorry, I dont care much for "Smallville".
From best to worst:
Kirk Alyn
Tom Welling
Chris Reeves
George Reeves (Reeves... ironic)
Darth Vader rules. Everyone else is a dick.
Not ironic....coincidental. And actually it's Christopher Reeve...no final "s".
My stomach is talking...should I kill the little man who lives in there so he'll shut up??
More Irony/coincidence:
Steve Reeves: Hercules
George Reeves: Superman
Christopher Reeve: Superman
Christopher George: The Immortal (Anyone remember that QM TV series?)
Gerard Christopher: Superboy
Seems Good guys with Immortality required actors chosen from a limited stock of names.
Actually, I liked most of the actors quite a bit. I don't think there were any all out 'BAD' superman's or 'Clark.' As a Batman fan, I'm used to having a gripe with at LEAST 1 portrayal. Here? A little different.
Christopher Reeve (Especially the first one!)
Tom Welling (Every incarnation of Superman I've seen, I've wanted more backstory, more pre-cape days. This gives it in spades, and Tom is doing just a terrific job)
Geroge Reeves (they used to play a marathon on Thanksgiving about 10 years ago, or more. I taped them, and had worn out the copies. Thank goodness for the DVD series getting released!)
Bud Coyler (honestly, I didn't realize that was the actor's name. But I just love Fleisher's animation, and his voice works quite well. I've never heard his radio portrayal before, but I'm sure it must be stellar)
Kirk Alyn (I just watched his serials for the first time this past week, which is why I'm in this area. Wonderful job! I thought he (and the serials themselves) got better as they went along)
Tim Daly (ah, from 'Wings' to flying--love how the animation references Fleisher, and he gives a solid vocal performance)
Dean Cain (good post-Byrne Clark Kent, but not as big on his Superman. I never took him seriously as Superman, but then again, neither did he. The first 2 seasons were fun. Seasons 3 and 4 really fizzled out, and ultimately became embarrassing)
The 2 Superboy's are tied. I haven't seen the show in ages. It was fun, but certainly not my favorite interpretation.
You can hear online and download for your personal-use CD the first 10 episodes of the Superman radio show with Bud Collyer at:
www.supermanmegasite.com
1)Christopher Reeve (He was the one I grew up with so I'm partial)
2)Kirk Alyn, and George Reeves tie at 2 (I say this because they both played superman well in th Film Noir genre, they fought Gangsters, not robots or super computers, I love these two guys as Superman but I'm not sure which I like the best.
3) Tom Welling-(I feel that he really captures Christopher Reeves charm as clark, H e reminds me alot of him.
4) Dean Cain-I put him last cause I never felt he was a good Superman, he never fit the part, and he was way to confident as Clark.
Yeah, I would have to say that my favorite was Christopher Reeve but all the actors who have portrayed Superman/Superboy/Clark Kent have done good jobs and have made great different versions of the Man of Steel.
Up...Up... and Awaaayyy!!!!!!!!!
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# 1 - George Reeves
# 2 - Christopher Reeve
# 3 - everbody else.
1.chris reeve
2.george reeves
3.brandon routh
4.tom welling
5.gerald chris
"You must write your own destiney," - Christopher Reeve
1. Christopher Reeve
2. George Reeves
3. Brandon Routh
That is all.
For me, each incarnation of Superman had their strengths.
Kirk Alyn: his humble without being overly-bumbling Clark Kent was nice, and his Superman while it doesn't really fit my personal look for the Man of Steel, to be honest he looked alot like Superman was portrayed in the comics back then. Great choice.
Bud Collyer: I just loved how his Kent voice was so timid and meek, but the moment he became Superman it was just...EPIC. Best example is his *as Clark* "This looks like a job... *transitions during the word 'for'* *as Superman* SUPERMAN. Loved it!
George Reeves: To me, George was like a realistic Superman, and if time-travel were possible, I would've loved for him to play Superman in a Kingdom Come-era film. His Clark was quite confident too, I think this is where Dean Cain got his inspiration for his CK.
Christopher Reeve: What can I say about Christopher that hasn't been said already...He IS Superman. I won't say "was", cause the impact Reeve left on me *and the millions of people who have seen him as the Man of Steel* is still in our minds and hearts. I even enjoyed his bumbling CK a bit; it just made his rare moments of using powers as CK and becoming Superman that much more thrilling.
John Haymes Newton/Gerard Christopher: I'm combining the two Superboys cause I really don't have much to say about these two. I never watched the Superboy shows growing up *don't know how I missed them*, but after seeing 1st season with Newton...not REALLY entirely sure I wanna see the rest. He COULD NOT FLY. That really annoyed me; thank God Newton himself seemed cool, his commentary on the DVD cracked me up. I hear that 2nd season picks the show up with Christopher, and from pics and snippets, he looks promising. Haven't seen his CK yet.
Dean Cain: This is the Superman from my childhood. I was a fan of his CK because he was humble, but he was far from bumbling. He could be meek, but he definitely wouldn't let anyone just walk all over him, at least not without taking a couple of verbal cracks at them. Kinda like a modern CK. His Superman was ok, definitely not the best though; he did have his serious moments as the Man of Steel and I enjoyed those very much.
Tim Daly/George Newbern: Combining the two more recent Superman VAs here; I enjoy both of these guys very much. And as they come from two of my personal favorite incarnations of the Man of Steel, that's no shock. Superman and Clark were drawn amazingly, put in great stories, and delivered with the commanding, yet calm and kind voice I felt Supes should have.
Tom Welling: This guy I kinda grew into. As one of you stated earlier, it's been a nice change to have a Superman 'before the tights' look, and Welling has grown well into the role. Maybe not the best actor *THAT title goes to Michael Rosenbaum, lol*, but he has his moments where he shines.
Brandon Routh: Now, the newest Man of Steel seems to be the most promising for me. He has yet to really "act", as Returns had him not saying a lot *at least compared to Reeve in his films*, but to give him a good nod, his reaction skills are great. Examples like when he first meets Richard White, meets Jason, or sees the ground under water splitting towards Metropolis. He acts with his facial expressions I guess. lol
*SPOILER ALERT* I was very moved though as he gave a twist to his father's speech when he saw Jason at the end.
1. George Reeves. He played the role with a regal confidence that was unmatched. His Clark Kent was the best too.
2. Chris Reeve. His Clark Kent wasnt as good, but he was a great Superman. He played him with a variety of characteristics that made him the Man of Steel.
3. Kirk Alyn. Played the role very well. Was a bit comic-like, but his performance was very good.
4. Brandon Routh. Did fine.
5. Dean Cain. Again, did fine, but I thought his Clark Kent was a bit over the top.
George Reeves ..the only one for me!
I found Chris Reeve bumbling CK very annoying..
watching the current TCM serials (Kirk Alyn) entertaining!
"The Adventures of Superboy", is now available on DVD. Many critics thought John Haymes Newton was "closest" to the "Chris Reeve" image established in the film series. But for me Gerard Christopher nailed him best. He also wore two different and distinct hairstyles while portraying Clark/Superboy and also albiet slightly changed the timbor of their voices. Still leaving the impression that these were two different people. (Just like Reeve).
On a side note. When the producers were casting "Lois & Clark", Gerard Christopher originally won the role (beating out both Dean Cain and Kevin Sorbo). However he failed to tell them he had already played Clark/Superboy in the "Adventures of Superboy". Two different production companies within the same studio, which really isn't so unusual. Two production companies working on similar projects but unrelated. The producers of "L&C" were not familiar with the "Superboy" series. "Superboy" was produced in Orlando, FL (at Universal Studios Orlando). "L&C" was beginning production in Burbank, CA. The "Adventures of Superboy" also appeared on Saturday afternoons during its run. Hardly the most opportune time slot to be noticed, unlike "Smallville" which runs in prime time.
However, once the producers found out about Christopher's previous experience, they felt it better to go with someone who didn't have the "baggage", and who could bring a fresh interpretation to the role (this was in the post "John Byrne" era but still in keeping with the "Byrne" revisions). So they finally went with Dean Cain.
Believe this or not. But this may be the best reason why Tom Welling will never play "Superman".
"I am bound to this earth. I make it my domain".
Dracula
Have you heard about the new JLA film? Rumor has it Tom is in the running.
We'll see.
(This is posted for entertainment. Don't get upset.)
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George Reeves (largely because he was the Superman I grew up with via reruns in the 60s) followed closely by Christpher Reeve. George's acting was a little wooden but he was doing his best on a limited 1950's TV show as opposed to a multi-million dollar feature movie. My favorites from the old series was "Panic in the Sky", "Superman on Earth", the episode in which a crook had plastic surgry to look like Superman, and the one in which he cured a blind girl and took her on a trip around the world (also a similar story in the Superman comics of the time).
I also think Tom Welling has done a fine job as the "pre-suit" Superman. Like the "Lois and Clark" series but thought the actor playing Superman just did not click well as Superman
George Reeves is not only Superman, he is GOD. And so is his Clark Kent. Bud Collyer performed the dual-role exceptionally well, especially during his voice transition from Clark Kent to Superman. Kirk Alyn's portrayal was entertaining although the cartooned flight scenes were very well done. Alyn also had the best take-off. Dean Cain had a great Clark Kent, however his Superman was a mess. TOO MUCH GEL!!! Chris Reeve was a great Superman, and I'd put him right next to George only b/c of the wonderful things he did after his tenure as Supes. Compared to what he did, Superman was a wimp. As for Brandon Routh, he's only worn the costume once (and I'm not counting days he spent in it), but I hope he can deliver in the next movie just as he did in "Returns".
shareif we're including the actors' potrayal of Clark Kent, then #1 has to go to George Reeves, who took it upon himself to play Kent as an intelligent, strong-willed reporter (as a reporter should be, in order to get the story) rather than as a bumbling idiot, as Christopher Reeve did. Reeve was a great Superman, who closely resembled the comic book Superman, but his over-the -top portrayal of Kent knocks him down a peg. Kirk Allyn was very wooden, and not particularly likable in the role. (The others, I haven't seen enough of to comment on)
share1 Chris Reeve
2 George Reeves
3 George Newbern
4 Bud Coyler
5 Tim Daly
6 Tom Welling
7 Brandon Routh
8 Kirk Alyn
9 Dean Cain
10 Danny Dark
...and when you retire: your very own jukebox!