Five Superman Actors Attend Rhode Island Comic Con

By Patrick Asselin

For the first time, five actors who have played Superman or a version of the character in live action appeared at the same public event.

Gerard Christopher (“Superboy”), Dean Cain (“Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman”), Tom Welling (“Smallville”), Brandon Routh (“Superman Returns,” Arrowverse), and Tyler Hoechlin (“Superman & Lois”) were scheduled guests at Rhode Island Comic Con in Providence from Friday, November 3 to Sunday, November 5.

Not all of the actors appeared all three days, but they did overlap on Saturday, November 4. I was fortunate to get a professional photo opportunity with these five actors. Other attendees at the convention had the same idea, and dozens of fans in Superman, Supergirl, and Superboy costumes and shirts crowded the upper hall at the Rhode Island Convention Center in the late afternoon.

We queued for at least 30 minutes before the session began. Most attendees got a very brief encounter – 10 to 15 seconds – with the actors while a photographer took a picture. All the actors were welcoming and warm, and Routh and Hoechlin specifically complimented me on my cosplay.

Fans filed out of the makeshift studio and down a corridor to pick up the hard copies of their photos.

Afterward, I chatted with Gerard Christopher at his table for almost five minutes. He told me about how the producers of “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman” were enthusiastic about casting him as Clark Kent/Superman until they learned about his role on “Superboy.” Welling also recognized me afterward and we had a quick chat.

All in all it was a great experience!