John (Feggo) Alyn Jr. (1910 - 1999)

Born 8 Oct 1910 in Wharton, New Jersey, United States

Husband of Virginia Lee O'Brien — married 11 Oct 1942 (to 1955) in Yuma, Arizona, United States

Died 14 Mar 1999 at age 88 in The Woodlands, Texas, United States

Biography

Kirk (Feggo) Alyn Jr. is Notable.

John Feggo Jr. was born 8 October 1910^[1] in Wharton, New Jersey to Hungarian Immigrant parents, John and Pauline (Unknown) Feggo. Once he was out of school, John tried out as a dancer for the Broadway show, Heads Up. Even though he did not obtain a part, his audition led to his hiring for another production, Girl Crazy, which starred Ethel Merman, and led to more stage work, including a run in the George and Ira Gershwin musical Of The I Sing.^[2]

By the early 1930's, John, now billing himself as the stage name Kirk Alyn, appeared as half of the dance act Nadine and Kirk with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and later paired with Imogene Coca in comedy and song-and-dance routines where he toured with George Olsen's orchestra.^[2]

In 1941, after years of performing on Broadway, Kirk traveled to Hollywood for a short vacation, where he stayed at the house of his long-time friend Red Skelton whose own career was just taking off as a comedian performer. Skelton introduced Kirk to one of his co-stars, Virginia Lee O'Brien, who was a singer in numerous MGM musicals. On 11 Oct 1942, Kirk and Virginia were married in Yuma, Arizona. After finally landing a role on the big screen as a Portuguese Sailor in My Sister Eileen. In 1943, Kirk was under contract with Republic Pictures where he earned $50 a day and played in nine films.^[2]

From the book Superman on Film, Television, Radio, and Broadway by Bruce Scivally 2008:^[2]

But World War II was now raging, and Alyn's career was interrupted when he was drafted into the Coast Guard. He spent 18 months as an instructor on Catalina Island, beginning his service after receiving deferment that allowed him to complete his work in a Hopalong Cassidy Western, Forty Thieves (1944).

After Superman debuted in Action Comics in 1938, which proved an immediate sensation, the phenomena spawned a host of imitators, including the crime-fighting Batman from Detective Comics in 1939, later followed by Captain Marvel in 1940 and Captain America in 1941. With their wide attention of young readers, superheroes became a prime target for film serials. After deals with Republic Pictures fell through, Sam Katzman acquired screen rights to the Superman character, and with a script in hand, started on a search for an actor. After auditioning over 100 muscle men and wrestlers, Katzman remembered a young actor he had worked with previously, and called Kirk Alyn to come meet representatives from National Comics.^[2]

Standing in Sam Katzman's office in his underwear, Kirk Alyn was told he was Superman.

Kirk Alyn later recounted that "The entire audition took about 15 minutes. Sam told me to go downstairs and sign the contract" ... "They must have gotten so tired of looking at those [wrestlers and muscle men] that when I walked in they said , 'For cryin' out loud, sign him up, he's all right.'"^[2]

Kirk and Virginia had three children together, Terri O'Brien, Elizabeth (Unknown) Watkins and son, John Feggo III. By 1955, Kirk and Virginia had divorced.^[3]

After playing Superman, Kirk began suffering casting problems in the film industry, and after his final film appearance in 1983 in the horror movie Scalps, Kirk Alyn retired. Kirk Alyn died at the age of 88, on 14 March 1999, in The Woodlands, Texas.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VSJ7-D24 : 19 May 2014), Kirk Alyn, 14 Mar 1999; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5} Bruce Scivally, Superman On Film, Television, Radio, And Broadway (Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2008) p. 29-30.
3. ↑ The New York Times (New York Edition). Virginia O'Brien Wins Divorce. June 25, 1955, p. 9.
4. ↑ The New York Times (National Edition). Kirk Alyn, 88, the Superman To Leap Tall Buildings First. March 20, 1999, p. C00016.

See also:

• Find A Grave: Memorial #7229984
• Wikidata: Item Q935563
• Wikipedia: Kirk Alyn
• IMDb: Kirk Alyn
• DC Comics Database: Kirk Alyn