Former Superman Actors, "Man of Steel" hits theaters tomorrow and joins a
long line of movies and television shows dedicated to Superman. Check
out some actors from the past who have brought the story's beloved
characters to the screen and see what they're doing now.
Ned Beatty
Ned Beatty made his first
appearance as Lex Luthor's oafish accomplice Otis in "Superman." He
reprised his role in "Superman II," but his scenes were from the
original shoot with Richard Donner as the director. teddy bears movie
2013 ned beatty,
Kate Bosworth
Kate Bosworth gave Lois
Lane a maternal dimension in "Superman Returns." She had previously
worked with one of her co-stars who recommended her for the role.
homefront movie kate bosworth,
Dean Cain
Dean Cain
gave life to the split personality of Clark Kent and Superman on the
television series "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman." He
is credited with giving Clark Kent a more confident and dominant
personality. heaven's door dean cain,
Jon Cryer
Jon
Cryer showed that evil can run in families with his role as Lenny Luthor
the nephew of Lex Luthor. In "Superman IV," they joined together to
form another villainous ally. jon cryer two and a half men,
Gene Hackman
Gene
Hackman was first introduced to audiences as Superman's archnemesis,
the villainous scientist Lex Luthor in the 1978 "Superman." He reprised
the role in two more movies. gene hackman novelist,
Teri Hatcher
Teri
Hatcher played the love interest, Lois Lane of Clark Kent/Superman on
the television series "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of
Superman." She guest-starred as the mother of her character on another
Superman-themed television show. teri hatcher voice planes,
Mariel Hemingway
Mariel
Hemingway appeared in "Superman IV" as Lacy Warfield who was hired as
the Daily Planet editor after Perry White was fired. Her role was
expanded in a later edition. superman ultimate collector's edition
movies, running from crazy mariel hemingway,
Sam Huntington
Sam
Huntington took the role of Daily Planet photographer Jimmy Olsen in
"Superman Returns." He also lent his voice to the same character in the
video game based on the movie. being human sam huntington,
Margot Kidder
Margot
Kidder gave life to the sassy journalist Lois Lane in "Superman" as
well as the three sequels. She teamed with a former "Superman" co-star
in two appearances on "Smallville." matt's chance movie margot kidder,
Kristin Kreuk
Kristin
Kreuk played teenage Clark Kent's first love Lana Lang on "Smallville."
She was part of the cast for only seven seasons but returned as a guest
star later in the series. beauty and the beast tv show kristin kreuk,
Frank Langella
Frank
Langella made his mark on "Superman Returns" as the gruff
editor-in-chief of the Daily Planet, Perry White. The role was supposed
to go to another actor but scheduling problems led to Langella's
casting. robot and frank frank langella,
Allison Mack
Allison
Mack portrayed Clark Kent's high school friend Chloe Sullivan in the
television series "Smallville". She reprised her role in two online
series. wilfred allison mack,
James Marsden
James
Marsden played Richard White Lois Lane's fiancé and the nephew of
another character in "Superman Returns." He was filming another movie
based on a comic book series at the same time as "Superman Returns." the
butler james marsden,
Marc McClure
Marc McClure was a
fixture in "Superman" as well as the three sequels as photographer
Jimmy Olsen. He is the only actor from the "Superman" movies to appear
in the spinoff. marc mcclure frost nixon,
Annette O'Toole
Annette
O'Toole played Lana Lang Clark Kent's high school love interest, in
"Superman III." She returned to the Superman franchise 18 years later to
play Martha Kent in "Smallville." always...patsy cline annette otoole,
Parker Posey
Parker
Posey portrayed a villain with a conscience as Lex Luthor's sidekick
Kitty Kowalski in "Superman Returns." She loosely based her character on
another "Superman" character. hemingway and gellhorn parker posey,
Michael Rosenbaum
Michael
Rosenbaum portrayed a young Lex Luthor on the rise to his villainous
peak in "Smallville." He won an award for his role on the series.
michael rosenbaum saturn award, michael rosenbaum old days,
Brandon Routh
Due
in part to his resemblance to another actor who played Superman Brandon
Routh was cast to play the title role in the long-awaited sequel,
"Superman Returns." He won an award for his role. brandon routh saturn
award 2006, crooked arrows movie brandon routh,
John Schneider
John
Schneider played the protective father, Jonathan Kent to the teenage
Clark Kent in "Smallville." He reunited with a former television co-star
who guest-starred on the show. the haves and have nots television show
john schneider,
John Shea
John Shea played Lex Luthor
Superman's nemesis and Clark Kent's rival for the affections of Lois
Lane, in "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman." He was a
regular on the show for only the first season, as his character died in
the season finale. the theatre workshop of nantucket john shea,
Kevin Spacey
Kevin
Spacey took a darker approach to his portrayal of Lex Luthor in
"Superman Returns." He worked with the director on an earlier movie and
the part in "Superman Returns" was written for him. house of cards
netflix kevin spacey,
Terence Stamp
Terence Stamp
appeared in "Superman" and "Superman II" as the villain from Krypton,
General Zod. He is one of several "Superman" alumni to appear in
"Smallville". the black marks movie terence stamp,
Tom Welling
Tom
Welling played a young Clark Kent before he became Superman in
"Smallville." He directed several episodes of the show and was an
executive producer. smallville season 10 tom welling executive producer,
parkland movie tom welling,