The Best Clark Kent Portrayals in TV and Films

I've been a fan of Superman since the 1960s when I was a little kid. Not only does an actor have to make their portrayal of Superman believable, but also be convincing as the Clark Kent alter ego. The Clark Kent persona is critical because Clark has to be a "different person" to keep his identity safe. Only 2 actors pulled that off for me: Tyler Hoechlin from the TV show "Superman and Lois" and George Reeves from the TV show, "The Adventures of Superman." Even Kirk Alyn from the 1950s Superman movie serial was great. 

This blog looks at those, and Includes the Incredible tear-jerking ending of Superman and Lois that demonstrates my point about Tyler's performance. Watch it. 

What prompted me to think about the portrayal of Clark Kent?   Chris Halls of the Facebook page "Comics and Superhero Related" posted a great observation about actors who best portrayed the Clark Kent alter ego of Superman. He wrote, " Out of everyone I've seen play Superman, Tyler Hoechlin nailed it on multiple levels. His Clark Kent/Superman was so humble, so down to earth, like this is what Superman represents I know everyone has their favorites, Christopher Reeves, Henry Cavill are always in the conversation. But the show runners, and writers of Superman & Lois knew how to present us a Superman show. " 

MY TAKE ON CLARK -  I've never seen Clark portrayed the way Tyler Hoechlin did. He captured the humble Clark, the caring Clark, the wise Clark, the sometimes funny Clark, and the sympathetic Clark. The only other actor who gave an amazing portrayal is Clark Kent is George Reeves. He did a brilliant Clark in the 1950s as a more dedicated reporter. 

**************************************** WATCH THIS SHORT CLIP The Superman & Lois 4x10 Epilogue "Life Goes By So Fast" Scene Series Finale and you'll see what I mean about Tyler's performance. I cry every time I watch it (I've seen it now 5 times). VIDEO: https://youtu.be/IUhSOeASK2k?si=FnZRCl3bxWHlBO4o  

 ABOUT THE SCENE: This takes place after Clark's wife Lois Lane passed from cancer. The characters include his adult sons by his bed, his sons appearing as teens in his afterlife experience, His friends Kyle and Chrissy, Lana and John, he forgives Lex Luthor, greeted by his dog Krypto, and reunites with Lois in the afterlife.

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 I loved the Christopher Reeve films of the 1970s and 80s, enjoyed Brandon Routh's take on him in "Superman Returns" and the CW Network Arrowverse as the "Kingdom Come Superman." As much as I loved the performances of those like Christopher Reeve and Brandon Routh, they didn't have enough time in their movies to present Clark in total. I think that's because movies don't give enough time to develop a character the way television series do. Although in their short times on screen as Clark Kent, they were really great. 

Although I loved Henry Cavill as the handsome, muscular Superman but he never got a chance to really be Clark. 

I left out Smallville, because I  didn't care for it. The actor Tom Welling didn't capture the humble Clark from Kansas. Instead he was portrayed as more of a tougher character. That isn't Clark. Further, I resented Tom Welling's refusal to don the Superman suit because it was a huge slap in the face of comics readers who love the comics of Superboy, the adventures of Superman when he was a boy. (I know I'm going to get a lot of heat for this, but it's all true.) 

I also didn't acknowledge Dean Cain from Lois and Clark. His portrayal was just awful and even as a huge fan, I couldn't bear to watch it. Now, Cain is a right-wing nut who has lost his mind, so I'm glad I didn't care for his portrayal either.   

Going back to the early-mid 1950s, actor Kirk Alyn in the1950s Movie serials did a great job on Clark and put Welling and Cain's performances to shame. 

 

Tyler was the best Clark, ever. As a Superman fan since the 1960s, I will always cherish and thank Tyler Hoechlin for his incredible performance.