8 Actors Who Have Worn The Cape As Superman

ByPatricia Greene Published:

Flying across screens for over 75 years, Superman never loses his spark. The Man of Steel has soared through black-and-white serials, animated adventures, and blockbuster films, his iconic red cape a symbol of hope and heroism.

Each actor stepping into the role added their own strength, heart, and Kryptonian charm, keeping Superman timeless while refreshing the legend.

Discover every performer who donned the cape and brought Metropolis’ greatest hero to life: your ultimate Superman lineup awaits!

1. Kirk Alyn (1948-1950)

Kirk Alyn (1948-1950)
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.

Before special effects took over Hollywood, Kirk Alyn flew into history as the very first live-action Superman. His 1948 serial simply titled Superman was a massive hit, and the 1950 follow-up Atom Man vs. Superman kept fans glued to theater seats every weekend.

Alyn brought a square-jawed, all-American charm to the role that felt perfectly suited for the post-World War II era. Fun fact: actual flight scenes were handled using hand-drawn animation because real stunts were not yet possible!

2. George Reeves (1951-1958)

George Reeves (1951-1958)
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.

Long before binge-watching was a thing, millions of American families gathered around their televisions every week to watch George Reeves soar as Superman. His show Adventures of Superman ran from 1951 to 1958, making him the first Superman that an entire generation truly grew up with.

Reeves played the hero with steady confidence and warm authority. His portrayal was so beloved that kids across the country genuinely believed he could fly.

Now that is star power!

3. Christopher Reeve (1978-1987)

Christopher Reeve (1978-1987)
Image Credit: C_Reeve_in_Marriage_of_Figaro_Opening_night_1985.jpg: Jbfrankel derivative work: —Eustress talk, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.

If there is one Superman who made the whole world believe a man could fly, it was Christopher Reeve. His 1978 film Superman: The Movie redefined superhero cinema and set a standard that still echoes through every cape worn today.

Reeve starred in four Superman films and balanced Clark Kent’s bumbling charm with the hero’s quiet strength in a way that felt genuinely magical. Off-screen, his real-life courage after a 1995 riding accident made him an even greater hero to millions.

4. Dean Cain (1993-1997)

Dean Cain (1993-1997)
Image Credit: Alan Light, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.

Superman got a seriously romantic makeover in the 1990s thanks to Dean Cain. Starring opposite Teri Hatcher’s sharp and witty Lois Lane, Cain’s Clark Kent felt warmer, funnier, and more like the guy next door than any version before him.

Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman ran for four seasons and leaned heavily into the love story between its two leads. How refreshing was it to see Superman actually worry about a first date?

Very, very refreshing.

5. Tom Welling (2001-2011)

Tom Welling (2001-2011)
Image Credit: vagueonthehow from Tadcaster, York, England, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.

What if you followed Superman before he ever put on the cape? That was the genius idea behind Smallville, where Tom Welling played a teenage Clark Kent discovering his powers on a Kansas farm.

The show ran for an impressive ten seasons, making it one of the longest superhero TV runs ever.

Welling finally wore the full Superman suit in the series finale, a moment fans waited a decade to see. Worth every single episode, honestly.

6. Brandon Routh (2006)

Brandon Routh (2006)
Image Credit: ibshopgirl, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.

Brandon Routh stepped into enormous shoes when he suited up for Superman Returns in 2006, a film designed as a loving tribute to Christopher Reeve’s legacy. His portrayal was earnest, graceful, and carried a quiet sadness that gave the character unexpected emotional depth.

Years later, Routh returned to the role in the 2019 Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event, thrilling fans all over again. Seeing him back in the cape felt like running into an old friend at the best possible moment.

7. Henry Cavill (2013-2022)

Henry Cavill (2013-2022)
Image Credit: Gage Skidmore, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.

A brooding, powerful edge defined Superman like never before in Man of Steel (2013). Henry Cavill brought a version wrestling with self-doubt, isolation, and the immense responsibility of protecting an entire planet.

The performance added depth and intensity, making audiences see a hero both superhuman and deeply human.

Cavill reprised the role in Batman v Superman and Justice League, becoming the face of DC’s cinematic universe for nearly a decade. Though his time as Superman ended in 2022, fans still celebrate his gritty, heartfelt take on the Last Son of Krypton.

8. Tyler Hoechlin (2016-Present)

Tyler Hoechlin (2016-Present)
Image Credit: Gage Skidmore, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.

Tyler Hoechlin first flew onto screens as Superman in the Supergirl TV series back in 2016, and fans immediately loved his sunny, hopeful take on the hero. His Superman felt like a warm hug, the kind of good-natured hero who actually enjoys saving the day.

He later headlined his own series, Superman and Lois on The CW, exploring what happens when the Man of Steel tries to balance fatherhood with world-saving. Spoiler alert: it is complicated, heartfelt, and completely worth watching.

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