Superman (1978 film) Superman (1978 film) Superman (informally titled Superman: The Movie in some listings and reference sources) is a 1978 superhero film directed by Richard Donner starring Christopher Reeve as Superman based on the DC Comics character of the same name. An international co-production between the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Panama and the United States, the film stars an ensemble cast featuring Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Jeff East, Margot Kidder, Glenn Ford, Phyllis Thaxter, Jackie Cooper, Trevor Howard, Marc McClure, Terence Stamp, Valerie Perrine, Ned Beatty, Jack O'Halloran, Maria Schell, and Sarah Douglas. It depicts Superman's origin, including his infancy as
Superman curse of random individuals. The following actors who played Superman have sometimes been cited as victims of the "Superman curse". Kirk Alyn played Superman in two low-budget 1940s serials but failed to find work afterwards because he was too closely identified with the role, and was relegated to voiceovers, commercials and uncredited screen roles. He later appeared as Lois Lane's father in the 1978 "Superman" film. Alyn had Alzheimer's disease later in his life and died in 1999 at the age of 88. Bud Collyer voiced the first "Superman" cartoon from 1941-43. He went on to enjoy a career in TV,