<Ul> <Li> Marlon Brando as Jor - El : Superman 's biological father on Krypton . He has a theory about the planet exploding , yet the Council refuses to listen . He dies as the planet explodes but successfully sends his infant son to Earth as a means to help the innocent . Brando sued the Salkinds and Warner Bros. for $50 million because he felt cheated out of his share of the box office profits . This stopped Brando 's footage from being used in Richard Lester 's version of Superman II . </Li> <Li> Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor : A scientific genius and businessman who is Superman 's nemesis . It is he who discovers Superman 's weakness and hatches a plan that puts millions of people in danger . </Li> <Li> Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent / Superman : Born on Krypton as Kal - El and raised on Earth , he is a being of immense power , strength and invulnerability who , after realizing his destiny to serve mankind , uses his powers to protect and save others . As a means to protect his identity , he works in Metropolis at the Daily Planet as mild - mannered newspaper reporter Clark Kent and changes his clothes into a red - blue red caped suit with an S shield on its chest and known for his dubbing as `` Superman '' by Lois . Reeve was picked from over 200 actors who auditioned for the role . <Ul> <Li> Jeff East as the teenage Clark Kent : As a teenager , he is forced to hide his superhuman abilities , making him unpopular among his classmates and frustrating his efforts to gain the attention of classmate Lana Lang ( Diane Sherry ) . Following the death of his adoptive father , he travels to the Arctic to discover his Kryptonian heritage . East 's dialogue in the film is redubbed by Christopher Reeve for the final cut . </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Ned Beatty as Otis : Lex Luthor 's bumbling henchman . </Li> <Li> Jackie Cooper as Perry White : Clark Kent 's hot - tempered boss at the Daily Planet . He assigns Lois to uncover the news of an unknown businessman purchasing a large amount of property in California . Keenan Wynn was originally cast , but dropped out shortly before filming because of heart disease . Cooper , who originally auditioned for Otis , was subsequently cast . </Li> <Li> Glenn Ford as Jonathan Kent : Clark Kent 's adoptive father in Smallville during his youth . He is a farmer who teaches Clark skills that will help him in the future . He later suffers a fatal heart attack that changes Clark 's outlook on his duty to others . </Li> <Li> Trevor Howard as the First Elder : Head of the Kryptonian Council , who does not believe Jor - El 's claim that Krypton is doomed . He threatens Jor - El , `` Any attempt by you to create a climate of fear and panic amongst the populace must be deemed by us an act of insurrection . '' </Li> <Li> Margot Kidder as Lois Lane : A reporter at the Daily Planet , who becomes a romantic interest to Clark Kent . The producers and director had a very specific concept for Lois : liberated , hard - nosed , witty and attractive . Kidder was cast because her performance had a certain spark and vitality , and because of her strong interaction with Christopher Reeve . Over 100 actresses were considered for the role . Margot Kidder ( suggested by Stalmaster ) , Anne Archer , Susan Blakely , Lesley Ann Warren , Deborah Raffin and Stockard Channing screen tested from March through May 1977 . The final decision was between Channing and Kidder , with the latter winning the role . </Li> <Li> Jack O'Halloran as Non : Large and mute , the third of the Kryptonian villains who are sentenced to be isolated in the Phantom Zone . </Li> <Li> Valerie Perrine as Eve Teschmacher : Lex Luthor 's girlfriend and accomplice . Already cynical of his increasing grandiosity and disturbed by his cruelty , she saves Superman 's life after learning that Luthor has launched a nuclear missile toward her mother 's hometown of Hackensack , New Jersey . She shows a romantic interest in Superman , implied by her fixing her hair before she makes her presence known to him , and then by kissing him before she saves his life . </Li> <Li> Maria Schell as Vond - Ah : Like Jor - El , a top Kryptonian scientist ; but she too is not swayed by Jor
<Ul> <Li> Marlon Brando as Jor - El : Superman 's biological father on Krypton . He has a theory about the planet exploding , yet the Council refuses to listen . He dies as the planet explodes but successfully sends his infant son to Earth as a means to help the innocent . Brando sued the Salkinds and Warner Bros. for $50 million because he felt cheated out of his share of the box office profits . This stopped Brando 's footage from being used in Richard Lester 's version of Superman II . </Li> <Li> Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor : A scientific genius and businessman who is Superman 's nemesis . It is he who discovers Superman 's weakness and hatches a plan that puts millions of people in danger . </Li> <Li> Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent / Superman : Born on Krypton as Kal - El and raised on Earth , he is a being of immense power , strength and invulnerability who , after realizing his destiny to serve mankind , uses his powers to protect and save others . As a means to protect his identity , he works in Metropolis at the Daily Planet as mild - mannered newspaper reporter Clark Kent and changes his clothes into a red - blue red caped suit with an S shield on its chest and known for his dubbing as `` Superman '' by Lois . Reeve was picked from over 200 actors who auditioned for the role . <Ul> <Li> Jeff East as the teenage Clark Kent : As a teenager , he is forced to hide his superhuman abilities , making him unpopular among his classmates and frustrating his efforts to gain the attention of classmate Lana Lang ( Diane Sherry ) . Following the death of his adoptive father , he travels to the Arctic to discover his Kryptonian heritage . East 's dialogue in the film is redubbed by Christopher Reeve for the final cut . </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Ned Beatty as Otis : Lex Luthor 's bumbling henchman . </Li> <Li> Jackie Cooper as Perry White : Clark Kent 's hot - tempered boss at the Daily Planet . He assigns Lois to uncover the news of an unknown businessman purchasing a large amount of property in California . Keenan Wynn was originally cast , but dropped out shortly before filming because of heart disease . Cooper , who originally auditioned for Otis , was subsequently cast . </Li> <Li> Glenn Ford as Jonathan Kent : Clark Kent 's adoptive father in Smallville during his youth . He is a farmer who teaches Clark skills that will help him in the future . He later suffers a fatal heart attack that changes Clark 's outlook on his duty to others . </Li> <Li> Trevor Howard as the First Elder : Head of the Kryptonian Council , who does not believe Jor - El 's claim that Krypton is doomed . He threatens Jor - El , `` Any attempt by you to create a climate of fear and panic amongst the populace must be deemed by us an act of insurrection . '' </Li> <Li> Margot Kidder as Lois Lane : A reporter at the Daily Planet , who becomes a romantic interest to Clark Kent . The producers and director had a very specific concept for Lois : liberated , hard - nosed , witty and attractive . Kidder was cast because her performance had a certain spark and vitality , and because of her strong interaction with Christopher Reeve . Over 100 actresses were considered for the role . Margot Kidder ( suggested by Stalmaster ) , Anne Archer , Susan Blakely , Lesley Ann Warren , Deborah Raffin and Stockard Channing screen tested from March through May 1977 . The final decision was between Channing and Kidder , with the latter winning the role . </Li> <Li> Jack O'Halloran as Non : Large and mute , the third of the Kryptonian villains who are sentenced to be isolated in the Phantom Zone . </Li> <Li> Valerie Perrine as Eve Teschmacher : Lex Luthor 's girlfriend and accomplice . Already cynical of his increasing grandiosity and disturbed by his cruelty , she saves Superman 's life after learning that Luthor has launched a nuclear missile toward her mother 's hometown of Hackensack , New Jersey . She shows a romantic interest in Superman , implied by her fixing her hair before she makes her presence known to him , and then by kissing him before she saves his life . </Li> <Li> Maria Schell as Vond - Ah : Like Jor - El , a top Kryptonian scientist ; but she too is not swayed by Jor
who played the title role in the film superman
who played the title role in the film superman
Christopher Reeve
Christopher Reeve