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Bud Collyer

Bud Collyer

Actor · Died September 8, 1969, aged 61 · New York City, New York, USA

Most of Clayton's family was in show biz, but he initially decided to go into his father's field, law. He worked his way through Fordham University as a radio actor and singer, then took a job as a law clerk. Two years later, realizing that radio was very much more lucrative a career, he changed his last name to Collyer and became a full-time actor. He was performing on every major network by the age of 32. Collyer assumed his most famous radio role in 1940, the title character in "The Adventures of Superman." Collyer used different voices for Superman and Clark Kent, while making good use of the well-known lines "This is a job for Superman!" and "Up, up, and away!" He would continue as Superman until 1949, one year before the series ended, also playing the character in animated shorts by Max Fleischer. Collyer became involved in radio game shows at about the same time. He was co-host of ABC's "Break the Bank" for five years and host of "Winner Take All." Among the few radio personalities to successfully transition into television, he hosted the TV versions of his two radio shows. In early 1950, Collyer became host of Beat the Clock (1950), which ran in prime time and daytime for the next 11 years. In late 1956, he also became the host of his biggest success, To Tell the Truth (1956). This lasted for 12 years and made his "Will the real [contestant's name] please stand up?" a part of the American lexicon. One year after his last appearance on To Tell the Truth (1956), Collyer died of a circulatory ailment at age 61.

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Biography from IMDb.

Born
June 18, 1908
Died
September 8, 1969 (aged 61)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
5 on MovieCove · 28 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Up 23% in 30 days

What are Bud Collyer's films like?

Across their 5 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Society.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
38%
Society
20%
Bonds
13%
Self
13%
Ideas
13%
Power
5%
Justice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Thrilling
4
Joyful
2
Warm
1
Triumphant
1
Contemplative
1
Other
2

How their films linger

Feel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet1
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Bud Collyer's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 1 of their 5 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Bud Collyer's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted.

Filmography

28 credits, 5 with a MovieCove page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics(2010)

    as Clark Kent

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Max Fleischer's Superman 1941-1942 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Superman / Clark Kent (voice) (archive sound)

  • The Adventures of Batman(1968)

    Show as Superman (Clark Kent)

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 18 episodes · as Superman (voice)

  • Aquaman(1967)

    Show as Superman

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • The New Adventures of Superman(1966)

    Show 68 episodes · as Clark Kent / Superman (voice)

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • The 1963 Seahorse Jamboree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Host

  • Number Please (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Host

  • Feather Your Nest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Host

  • Truth or Consequences (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Announcer

  • Secret Agent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Clark Kent / Superman / Saboteur (voice) (uncredited)

  • The Underground World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Clark Kent / Superman (voice) (uncredited)

  • Jungle Drums (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Superman / Clark Kent (voice) (uncredited)

  • The Mummy Strikes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Clark Kent / Superman (voice) (uncredited)

  • Destruction Inc. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Clark Kent / Superman (voice) (uncredited)

  • Eleventh Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Clark Kent / Superman (voice) (uncredited)

  • Showdown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Superman / Clark Kent (voice) (uncredited)

  • Japoteurs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Clark Kent / Superman / Japanese Hijacker (voice) (uncredited)

  • Terror on the Midway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Superman / Clark Kent (voice) (uncredited)

  • Volcano (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Superman / Clark Kent (voice) (uncredited)

  • Electric Earthquake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Superman / Clark Kent (voice) (uncredited)

  • The Magnetic Telescope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Clark Kent / Superman / Mad Scientist (voice) (uncredited)

  • The Bulleteers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Superman / Clark Kent (voice) (uncredited)

  • The Arctic Giant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Superman/Clark Kent (voice) (uncredited)

  • Billion Dollar Limited (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Clark Kent / Superman / Gangster (voice) (uncredited)

  • The Mechanical Monsters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Clark Kent / Superman / Scientist (voice) (uncredited)

  • Superman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Show 17 episodes · as Superman

  • Superman: The Mad Scientist(1941)

    as Clark Kent / Superman (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 25 titles from 1941 to 2009.

Highest rated

Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics (2010)

Midcredits 92nd

Most popular right now

The New Adventures of Superman (1966)

Film career

Top draw in 1 MovieCove title.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting25 of 25: 25 only acting, 0 with another role

By decade

1940s18 · acting1950s2 · acting1960s4 · acting2000s1 · acting

Billing

usually 1st · top billed in 82% of 17 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

Who does Bud Collyer work with?

People who share at least 2 of Bud Collyer's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Hal Sutherland shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers

Producers