Over the decades, many actors have stepped into Superman’s boots — some soared, some stumbled, but all left a mark. From black-and-white beginnings to modern reboots, each has brought something different to the cape.
Kirk Alyn was the first live-action Superman in the 1940s. He didn’t fly (animation did the job), but he set the stage. Next up was George Reeves, who defined the character for early TV audiences in the ’50s.
Then came Christopher Reeve in the ’70s and ’80s — the gold standard. His mix of warmth and strength made people believe a man could fly. To this day, many fans still call him the best Superman ever.
The ’80s and ’90s brought TV versions. John Haymes Newton and Gerard Christopher played Superboy with mixed reviews. Meanwhile, Dean Cain added a romantic touch in Lois & Clark, winning over prime-time hearts.
In the 2000s, Tom Welling ruled Smallville for 10 years, playing Clark before the cape. Brandon Routh’s Superman Returns got love for nostalgia, and more respect after his 2019 comeback.
Henry Cavill brought a moody and muscular Superman starting in 2013. His take split fans but left a strong impression. More recently, Tyler Hoechlin gave us a dad-next-door Superman that felt real and relatable.
Even Nicolas Cage had his moment — sort of — in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo in The Flash. Now, all eyes are on David Corenswet, who’s set to debut in 2025. Whoever your Superman is, the cape always means the same thing: hope, courage, and doing the right thing.