How Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman and More Fared After Starring in the ‘Superman’ Franchise

Some stars have found their roles to be kryptonite to their careers, while others have met more tragic endings.

Christopher Reeve

After flying high as the Man of Steel in four Superman films, Christopher was tragically thrown from his horse and paralyzed in 1995. He and devoted wife Dana used their fame to aid charities by pushing for more funding for paralysis cures. Christopher died of heart failure in 2004, and Dana died of lung cancer two years later.

George Reeves

TV’s popular Man of Steel starred in Superman and the Mole Men and the series Adventures of Superman, but became depressed after being typecast and was unable to land other major roles. He was found dead at age 45 of a gunshot that was ruled suicide by officials, but theories have emerged that he may have been murdered.

Brandon Routh

The Man of Steel in 2006’s Superman Returns has struggled to find work other than a few small film roles and TV guest appearances. In January, his Dexter star wife, Courtney Ford, slapped him with divorce papers and faster than a speeding bullet settled their marriage within weeks with them sharing joint custody of their 12-year-old son, Leo.

Margot Kidder

Margot, who played hard-nosed Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane in Christopher Reeve’s four Superman movies, was left partially paralyzed from a devastating car crash in 1990. She eventually had to file for bankruptcy and suffered substance abuse issues. Margot died at age 69 from a drug and alcohol overdose in 2018.

Gene Hackman

The Lex Luthor to Christopher Reeve’s Superman in three films, Gene’s ending was horrific as authorities concluded that the Alzheimer’s-stricken actor, 95, died at his New Mexico home about a week after his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 65, passed there from a rare disease transmitted by rats. Their bodies weren’t discovered for days.

Dean Cain

Having starred with Teri Hatcher on the TV series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman from 1993 to 1997, Dean, 59, has appeared in a few TV spots, a small film here and there, and comic conventions, then played Supergirl’s father for six episodes on the TV series starring Melissa Benoist. Supergirl was canceled in 2021.

Lee Quigley

Londoner Lee was 7 months old when he played baby Kal-El in Christopher Reeve’s 1978 blockbuster. His movie parents on Krypton were Marlon Brando and Susannah York, and he was the first non-American Superman. Lee fell into a troubled childhood and died inhaling solvents at the tender age of 14 in 1991.

Tom Welling

After his 10-season run as Superman/Clark Kent on the teen drama Smallville, Tom didn’t find producers beating a path to his door with meaty job offers. In January, the 48-year-old actor was busted on DUI charges in California. He pleaded no contest to a lesser charge and was ordered to pay $619 in fines, $150 in restitution, and attend a DUI program. The DUI charge was dropped, and he was placed on one-year probation, per US Weekly.