Fans knowSupermanas the ultimate boy scout. He fights for truth, justice and the American way any hero would. But what kind of hero would he be without hisgreatest enemy always standing in opposition? Yes, we’re talking about Lex Luthor, the man who was born without any remnants of human decency and lacked the kind of virtue even the worst criminals sometimes cling to.
For almost a century, Lex has graced the pages of comics, challenging our hero on an intellectual level as much as a physical one. He is ruthlessly ambitious, known for his tricks and is the perfect match to match Superman’s power. In Man of Steel’s fictional world, Lex’s ego and thirst for dominance over others has made him a compelling presence.
Bringing such a complex and recurring comic book baddie to life presents both opportunities and challenges for any director and actor. To portray Luthor’stwisted geniusand genuine belief in his own superiority is no easy feat. And yet, about a dozen actors have taken on the role across movies and television. This list examines how successfully they capture Lex Luthor’s arrogance and villainy against the Man of Tomorrow.
11Scott James Wells
Superboy (1988 – 1992)
Among the first series to feature the DC Comics character,Superboyis a live-action syndicated television series that chronicles Superman’s early years as Superboy, back when he was in college and only ever indulging in petty conflict. He was played by John Haymes Newton.
It goes without saying that Superboy had a nemesis in the form of Lex Luthor, who was brought to life with a refined arrogance and poised evil byScott James Wells. His slicked hair and snide grins were enough to cement him as a villain for one season, but not enough to be memorable.
Scott’s character was supposed to be intimidating, devious, and intelligent. But allSuperboy’sLex did was be jealous, bet on basketball games, and rig them to win. His killer instinct only awakened towards the end of the season, when a lab accident took away his hair and left him obsessed with chasing Superboy. The television series hadlimited scope and a really low budget, which is why the special effects and action was subpar.
10Lyle Talbot
Atom Man vs. Superman (1950)
Back in the 1940s and 1950s, when TV shows were still not a mainstream format, networks ran episodic live-action shorts before the Saturday morning cartoons.Atom Man vs. Superman, which was told in 15 parts, was among the earliest serials based on Superman.
It starred Kirk Alyn as the titular superhero, whileLyle Talbot, who previously starred as Commissioner Jim Gordon in 1949’s Batman and Robin, portrayed Lex Luthor as well as his alter ego. Talbot established the archetype of Lex and movies today still draw inspiration from him.
Talbot’s Luther oozed sophistication and charm even when he was plotting sinister schemes, barely keeping his inherent hatred and envy of Superman in check. On several occasions, he used his scientific prowess to destroy the hero, like creating synthetic Kryptonite. T
he serial was made only a decade after DC Comics first introduced the character, which is why it was difficult to make Luthor the perfect rival. Appearance wise, Talbot wore a glittery robot mascot head and spoke in a stilted manner. Had the creators given Talbot more to work with, he would be glorious.
9Titus Welliver
Titans (2018 – 2023)
A gritty and realistic take on the Teen Titans franchise, the DC Universe series follows young heroes on their journey of finding purpose and belonging in a world that needed to be protected from an evil conspiracy that could change the face of Earth.
Titus Welliver’sstint as the grizzled and shadowy Lex Luther was brief but it was unique because it saw the villain dying of a terminal illness in the fourth and final season, but not before he leaves his legacy, Lexcorp, in the hands of Joshua Orpin’s Superboy.
The character anyway possessed traits of both. But Titus leaving his entire empire behind was only meant for the storyline to eventually present him as a conduit for Superman’s evolution inTitans. Titus deserves praise for taking Lex Luthor in a grittier direction than ever seen before. Despite being confined to a brief screen time, his unhinged Lex left an impact and unearthednew, complex layers of the iconic villain.
Related:Great DC TV Shows That Stand On Their Own
8Jesse Eisenberg
Batman v Superman (2016), Justice League (2017)
Zack Snyder, along with writers Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer, tried to redefine Superman for a new generation of audience. In doing so, he decided to feature a young Lex Luthor; one that was poised, authentic, troubled and insecure but looked like a millionaire. So hehired the actor who played Mark Zuckerburg inThe Social Network.Jesse Eisenbergwas cast as Lex inBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justiceand Zack Snyder’sJustice League.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
In this high-action film by Zack Snyder, the two DC superheroes face off against one another in a conflict spurred on by the villainous Lex Luthor. The film also features WonderWoman playing a role in the fight against Doomsday and other villains from beyond the Earth. As the world’s two most powerful superheroes prepare to destroy each other, an unexpected commonality brings them together to defeat their real enemy.
As opposed to the campy and silly Lex in DC Comics, Eisenberg infused Snyderverse Lex Luthor with incredible intellect and sociopathic intentions. He conveyed Luthor’s twitchy restlessness and a mind working at a feverish peace with an unsettling precision while toying with Clark Kent. The actor took Luthor in an unanticipated direction. For a rivalry that has stood the test of time, his version managed to craft fresh and memorable moments.
7Sherman Howard
After Scott James Wells’ run as Lex Luthor came to an end in season one ofSuperboy, the actor was replaced withSherman Howard. Even the main actor playing Superboy initially was replaced with Gerard Christopher, marking a soft reboot for the ’80s television series.
Season 2 through Season 4 ofSuperboywere goofy and weird, even for the decade’s standards. They featured Superboy having lucid dreams, took enormous leaps when it came to logic, and used plastic surgery as an explanation of the cast change.
Regardless, Sherman ensured that the viewers could understand his character’s motivations even when his actions were questionable. His scenes with the Boy of Steel crackled with a charge far deeper than simple hero versus villain. He brought nuance and layers of pathos to a role that could have been one-note and left an enduring impression through flashy stunts and criminally insane plotlines.
6Kevin Spacey
Superman Returns (2006)
Superman Returnsoccupies a bit of an odd space among Superman films. Conceived and developed as much as a spiritual sequel as it was an homage to Richard Donner’s first two beloved films, it definitely succeeded in capturing the warm-hearted, hopeful atmosphere Donner so lovingly crafted, even if it wasn’t able to achieve much more than that in its own right.
Superman Returns
The film’s performances are all top-tier, including the now-controversialKevin Spaceystepping into the legendary Gene Hackman’s shadow in the role of Superman’s nemesis. Spacey brings a level of immediacy and simmering rage to the role while perfectly respecting what was already established. Love him or hate him, his skill as a performer in (the also controversial) Bryan Singer’s entry into the Superman canon can’t be denied.
5John Shea
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993 – 1997)
InLois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,John Sheaembodies Lex Luthor’s charm and arrogance with a subtle flair. Never raising his voice yet commanding every scene, John played Lex as a perfectly amicable character whose mind was always plotting. And only for the reason that he believed he was above societal norms and laws that were made for lesser men. His all-consuming hatred for Superman often led to polite threats.
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Ina lighterSupermanseriesthat only saw John Shea as Lex Luthor prominently in the first season, he balanced humor with an underlying sense of foreboding. He suffered a dramatic death towards the end of the inaugural season and was only present for a tiny part of season two. Regardless, Shea made Lex enjoyable to watch with his smooth and compelling performance.
4Michael Cudlitz
Superman & Lois (2021 – 2024)
A fairly recent project that,Superman & Loistakes place on a different Earth and follows the story of Superman, Earth’s greatest superhero, and Lois Lane, a world-renowned journalist, as they raise their twin sons, Jonathan and Jordan, in Smallville as a villain tries to wreak havoc on their lives.Michael Cudlitz, known for his portrayal of Sergeant Abraham Ford inThe Walking Dead,plays the role of Lex Luthor.
Superman and Lois
Based on the characters from DC Comics, Superman & Lois follows Clark Kent and Lois Lane, attempting to live a quiet life in Smallville with their twin sons Jonathan and Jordan. Unfortunately for the couple, their lives continue to be effected by Clark’s superhero identity and powers. Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch star as Clark and Lois, with Jordan Elsass and Alex Garfin portraying the couple’s sons.
Once again, the show takes creative liberty and steers Luthor’s narrative into an unexpected direction. Cluditz’s burly physique and ability to play ruthless and ambitious men makes him an impressive villain. Additionally, he crafted a character who seemed supportive at times and mysterious otherwise, dividing viewers between trust and suspicion. He was a Lex for the modern age.
3Jon Cryer
Supergirl (2015 – 2021)
The CWbased a series on another one of the last surviving Kryptoniansas she learns to control and embrace her own superhuman powers while operating under the alias Supergirl.
With almost all of Lex Luthor’s family, including his mother and adoptive sister, having been introduced in the initial seasons, with season four,Supergirlfinally revealed its own Lex withJon Cryerplaying the role. Cryer crafted him as an entitled man-child who was still a genius but arrogant and brittle as well, going to the most brutal lengths to kill Superman.
Cryer’s captivating villain belonged in the Arrowverse, where Lex had harbored a long-standing rivalry towards Superman and had embraced every scheming, spiteful and sulking part of himself. As a matter of fact, the actor played Lex Luthor’s nephew Lenny in 1987’sSuperman IV: The Quest for Peace, which led to his casting. Cryer was also nominated for several awards for his guest appearance as Lex Luthor onSupergirl.
Related:10 Things DC’s Arrowverse Did Better Than the MCU’s TV Shows
2Gene Hackman
Superman (1978), Superman II (1980), Superman IV (1987)
As one of the most expensive films made at the time, Richard Donner’sSupermanwas a massive commercial hit. It starred Christopher Reeve as the titular hero, withGene Hackmanplaying the iconic villain, Lex Luthor. For a five-time Academy Award winner who had only ever starred in dramatic roles, Hackman’s portrayal was surprisingly evil. He made sure to put his own spin on the character by showing him as a cool, collected and effortlessly charming threat to our hero.
Even when Donner was replaced as director fromSuperman IIandSuperman IV, Hackman continued to establish Lex’s mastery of deceit and persuasion, which was evident inSuperman II’sclimax, when he almost helps Superman only to betray him later, Gene’s fresh and timeless performance as the first big-screen Lex revolutionized the character and the superhero genre. That’s why, after all this year,he remains gold standard.
