Every Superman Legend Who Made A Smallville Cameo

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Smallville

Though the series aimed to modernize Superman, Smallville wasn't afraid to honor what DC media came before. The series, which followed a young Clark Kent (Tom Welling) and Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum), often brought back stars from previous Superman media for roles ranging from small to huge. These characters sometimes had significant ties to their previous parts in the Superman universe, while others are just fun to see again after years, sometimes decades.

Ironically, Smallville later became the launchpad for other DC shows and movies to follow suit. Actors Joe Morton, Alessandro Juiliani, and most notably, Amy Adams went on to star in the DCEU, while others, such as Erica Durance and Alan Ritchson, joined other DC television projects. However, Smallville was the trendsetter in this regard. Here are the biggest Superman actor cameos on Smallville:

Previously Portrayed Lana Lang

The most impactful returning Superman star did a lot more than cameo in Smallville. Annette O'Toole appeared as Clark's mother, Martha Kent, for 6 seasons as a series regular and a guest star thereafter. She was, in many ways, the heart of the series. The more compassionate of the two Kent parents, Martha's defining trait was her kindness, which she extended to everyone she met, even the Luthors. Her storylines typically revolved around mentoring Clark and his other young friends, but she also had an arc in which she became a politician.

O'Toole's original DC role was as Lana Lang in Superman III. Here, she's Clark's former flame from high school, who re-enters his life after their high school reunion. Interestingly, O'Toole was not originally cast as Martha for the pilot of Smallville, with Cynthia Ettinger in the part. Coincidentally, O'Toole's schedule cleared right as producers sought to replace Ettinger, who they felt wasn't a good fit for the role, and her casting was both a great addition to the series and a fitting call back to the Superman films.

2 Christopher Reeve As Dr. Virgil Swann

Previously Portrayed Clark Kent/Superman

Christopher Reeve's guest-starring role in Smallville is emotional. In a passing-of-the-torch moment, Reeve's character, Virgil Swann, tells Clark of his Kryptonian heritage and name as well as the destruction of his homeworld. Swann is part of a group called Veritas, who tasked themselves with finding and protecting a prophesied hero from another world, the Traveller. He is more benevolent than other members of Veritas, such as Lionel Luthor, primarily focusing on studying Krypton and electing not to reveal Clark's identity. Choosing Reeve to play this vital role is a beautiful homage to his time playing Superman across 4 different films.

Tom Welling and Christopher Reeve's versions of Superman side by side

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Reeve was not the first actor to play the Man of Steel, but he is one of the most celebrated. His debut in Superman: The Movie in 1978 is lauded as the first "modern" superhero movie and the blueprint for a comic book origin story. Tragically, Reeve became quadriplegic in a horseback riding accident in the 1990's, but he returned to acting in Smallville and films such as Rear Window. Reeve passed away during the show's run, and his role was respectfully written out, with another Superman star stepping in to finish what Swann started.

3 Margot Kidder As Bridgette Crosby

Previously Portrayed Lois Lane

Said ally of Swann was Bridgette Crosby, played by Reeve's Superman costar Margot Kidder. After Martha reaches out for Swann's help, Crosby, his assistant, enters the show to help. Clark is reprogrammed by his Kryptonian father Jor-El, and his former personality is completely suppressed. Crosby encourages Martha to take action and help her son. Crosby gives the mother a chunk of black kryptonite, which has the ability to split a person into their good and evil sides.

Beyond the symbolic nature of having her character associated with Reeve's, Kidder's appearance has another important factor: her episode also features the debut of Lois Lane on Smallville. Kidder starred opposite Reeve as Lois Lane for all 4 of his Superman films. Unfortunately, Crosby was written off of the series after only one more appearance because she refused to do a scene in which she informed Clark of Swann's death, finding the concept exploitative. Regardless, her role on Smallville was a welcome addition to the cast as possibly the greatest actress to portray Lois.

4 Marc McClure As Dax-Ur

Previously Portrayed Jimmy Olsen

Another Superman veteran, Marc McClure, who played Jimmy Olsen, also appeared on Smallville. Unlike Kidder and Reeve, McClure played a fellow Kryptonian, Dax-Ur. His character was a scientist whose work led to the creation of the Brain InterActive Construct, or Brainiac. Due to guilt over his creation, Dax-Ur left Krypton for Earth. Once he arrived, he fell in love with a human and began wearing a blue kryptonite bracelet to suppress his powers. Clark seeks him out in season 7 for help in defeating Bizarro. Dax-Ur provides Clark with a chunk of blue kryptonite for himself.

Unfortunately, after Clark's visit, a weakened Brainiac finds Dax-Ur. Though the latter tries to remove his bracelet, Brainiac manages to extract the information he needs from creator. It's unknown whether or not Dax-Ur survives this encounter, but he is never seen again in the series or its comic spinoff. Seeing McClure again is a welcome treat for Superman fans either way.

5 Terrence Stamp As Jor-El

Previously Portrayed General Zod

Actor Terrence Stamp lent his voice to Smallville as Jor-El, an ironic casting as he famously portrayed his rival General Zod. His iteration of Jor-El is colder and more distant from Clark, trying to drive him toward his destiny by becoming purely Kryptonian. As a result, he is often viewed by our heroes as an antagonistic force. Later seasons backtrack on this characterization and show him as more sympathetic, recasting Julian Sands in the role.

Smallville superman villains Brainiac Matellow Darkseid lex luthor

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Stamp's Zod is iconic and ranks among the best villains in superhero cinema. His performance is so memorable that the character was redesigned to more closely resemble Stamp in the comics. Zod later appeared in Smallville portrayed by Callum Blue, both as a clone and as an older version who wears a beard like Stamp. While his take on Jor-El was unconventional, he brought an energy as menacing as his Zod portrayal.

6 Helen Slater As Lara-El

Previously Portrayed Supergirl

In season 7, Smallville introduces Lara-El, maiden name Lara Zor-Van, the mother of Superman. She's played by none other than Supergirl herself, Helen Slater. Lara is teased as early as the season 3 episode "Memoria," when Clark is able to recall her name for the first time. She properly appears in season 7, episode "Lara" wherein she is featured in one of Supergirl's memories. This is likely in part a tribute to Slater having previously played Supergirl.

In the episode, Lara and a younger Kara visit Earth; more specifically, the duo go to Kent Farm because Lara wants to see where her son will grow up. She leaves a photo of herself for Kal-El to discover. Additionally, Smallville puts Zor-El, Kara's father, in a villainous role as he tries to hit on Lara and erases Kara's memory of the incident. Still, the episode ends more optimistically as Clark now has a photo of his birth mother.

Slater reprises the role of Lara, as she and Zor-El are resurrected via DNA stored in a blue crystal. Restoring Lara led to Clark losing his powers, and he has to sacrifice his mother in order to both regain his abilities and defeat Zor-El. She later reappears alongside her husband Jor-El in a final message the couple recorded for Kal-El before sending him to Earth.

7 Teri Hatcher As Ella Lane

Previously Portrayed Lois Lane

Another cameo that specifically honors the actor's previous role is Teri Hatcher's appearance as Ella Lane. The actress originally played Lois Lane in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman for 4 seasons. She then appeared in Smallville as Ella, who is the mother of Lois and Lucy Lane as well as the aunt of Chloe Sullivan. She passed away when her daughters were very young, whch led to their difficult military upbringing due to their father's job. Hatcher appears in season 10, episode 8 "Abandoned" in a video recorded in the hospital prior to her death.

In the tape, Ella informs Lois that she instructed her father to keep her away from the hospital to preserve her positive memories of their time together. She then encourages Lois to move on from her grief and let love in, something she needed to hear due to her budding romance with Clark. It's a heartwarming moment that pays tribute to Hatcher's time as Lois while passing the torch to Erica Durance.

8 Dean Cain As Curtis Knox

Previously Portrayed Clark Kent/Superman

Hatcher's costar on Lois & Clark, Dean Cain, also showed up on Smallville. However, he played a decidedly more villainous character. His character, Dr. Curtis Knox, preyed on the vulnerabilities of those who developed powers from Kryptonite exposure. He claimed that his treatments would "cure" their powers and resulting psychosis, when in actuality, he was harvesting their organs. Knox was immortal, and he sought to make his wife immortal as well. After he is foiled, Clark hands him over to the Martian Manhunter who, according to the Season Eleven comics, imprisons him on Mars.

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Knox was originally supposed to be the DC supervillain Vandal Savage, but Smallville did not have the rights to use the character. As a result, the wrote the part as if it were Savage using an alias. Additionally, his initials are "CK" as an homage to Cain's previous role as Clark Kent.

9 Michael Ironside As General Sam Lane

Previously Portrayed Darkseid

The only veteran from Superman: the Animated Series on the list, Michael Ironside provided the voice for Superman's ultimate enemy Darkseid before portraying perhaps a more terrfying force in Clark's life: his future father-in-law. Ironside portrayed General Sam Lane, Lois' strict military father. He first appeared in season 4, after he helped his niece Chloe fake her death to escape Lionel Luthor. He appears twice in season 4, once in season 10, and is frequently mentioned by his daughter. Being a very no-nonsense type, Sam is very hard on his daughters, and Lois harbors some not-so-subtle resentment towards him.

Ironside delivers a suitably stern performance in the role; however, Superman fans remember his turn as Darkseid as more iconic. His imposing voice provided the gravitas of such a terrifying and strong foe. Bringing him onto Smallville was a welcome addition, and regardless of whether it was intentional, the coincidence of Ironside playing both Superman's archenemy and his father-in-law is inherently funny.

10 Honorable Mention #1: Lynda Carter As Moira Sullivan

Previously Portrayed Diana Prince/Wonder Woman

Lynda Carter is such an icon that she hardly warrants an introduction.The actress played Wonder Woman in the 1970s series of the same name, and she is fondly remembered by fans of all ages. In Smallville, Carter portrayed Moira Sullivan, mother of Chloe, sister to Ella, and aunt to Lois and Lucy. Chloe discovers that her mother was institutionalized due to having uncontrollable mind control powers resulting from Kryptonite exposure. The actress appears in season 6, when it is revealed that she has been taken by Lex in an attempt to force her to use her powers.

Though she's not a Superman alum, Carter is a DC legend, making her appearance a treat for audiences.

Chloe and Moira reunite after Lex threatens Chloe's life to force her mother to comply. Unfortunately, she fell into a catatonic state after her initial treatment, and she was only temporarily lucid due to a drug provided by Lex. Clark rescues them both, and Oliver Queen relocates Moira to a safer facility. Though she's not a Superman alum, Carter is a DC legend, making her appearance a treat for audiences.

11 Honorable Mention #2: John Glover As Lionel Luthor

Previously Portrayed Edward Nygma/The Riddler And Dr. Jason Woodrue

John Glover is a unique talent, which makes it unsurprising that he has taken on many DC roles over the years. He portrayed Edward Nygma/The Riddler in the ever-iconic Batman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures. His iteration of the character was also intended to appear in the third season of Justice League Unlimited. Sadly, this did not come to fruition due to the rules set forth by Warner Brothers limiting the use of Batman characters outside of film.

Glover also portrayed Mr. Sivana, the father of another DC supervillain, in 2019's Shazam .

Aside from Batman: The Animated Series, Glover also appeared in the infamous Batman & Robin as Dr. Jason Woodrue, the creator of Bane. His portrayal was akin to a typical mad scientist archetype. Undoubtedly, however, his most substantial and interesting DC role is that of Smallville's Lionel Luthor.

Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor on Smallville

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Smallville's Lex Luthor is perhaps the most well-developed iteration of the character, having both done heinous acts and had heinous acts done to him.

The father of Superman's enemy Lex Luthor, Lionel is a force to be reckoned with. He starts the series as a villain, being at odds with Clark's father Jonathan and driving Lex further down the path of evil. He has a compelling arc, going from cold and calculating to well, still cold and calculating but to more altruistic ends. Glover had not previously starred in a Superman project before Smallville, but his contributions to DC media are too numerous to ignore.

Smallville is a Superhero television series based on the Superman Comic Book series created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. This television release was developed by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. The premise revolves around a young Clark Kent as he arrives on Earth and attempts to live his life while simultaneously keeping his friends, family, and those around him safe thanks to his superpowers.