• Home
  • News
  • Fortune 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Arts & Entertainment

Noel Neill, Original Lois Lane on Superman, Dies

By
Rosalie Chan
Rosalie Chan
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Rosalie Chan
Rosalie Chan
Down Arrow Button Icon
July 5, 2016, 9:33 AM ET
Noel Neill, The Original Lois Lane, Appears At Rocket Video
LOS ANGELS, CA - JUNE 20: ***EXCLUSIVE*** Noel Neill, the original Lois Lane, appears at Rocket Video on June 20, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John M. Heller/Getty Images)Photography by John M. Heller — Getty Images

This article was originally published on Time.com

Noel Neill, the first actress to playDaily Planet reporter Lois Lane in Superman, died Sunday at 95.

Neill died at her home in Tucson, Ariz., after a long illness, The Hollywood Reporter reported.

Neill starred opposite Kirk Alyn as Superman in the Superman serial for Columbia Pictures in 1948. They reunited for another serial,Atom Man vs. Superman. Neill returned to the role as Lois Lane when she started acting in theAdventures of Superman series in 1953. Neill quit acting after the series ended in 1958.

How ‘Batman v Superman’ Rewrote the Hollywood Blockbuster Formula

Who Would Win In a Fight—Batman or Superman?

Neill was born on Nov. 20, 1920. Her father was a Minneapolis Star Tribune editor and wanted his daughter to become a reporter. Though she went into acting, she did play a reporter.

Bing Crosby spotted her and helped her get a contract with Paramount Pictures. Neill also played high schooler Betty Rogers in the 1940s “The Teenagers” musical series. Sam Katzman, who produced several of these films, thought she would be perfect to play Lois in the Superman serial, the first time Superman was portrayed on the screen.

In the past decades, she has lectured at colleges and attended comic book conventions and fan gatherings. She also briefly appeared as Lois Lane’s mother in the 1978 Superman and as Gertrude Vanderworth, who signs her money over to villain Lex Luthor in Superman Returns (2006).

About the Author
By Rosalie Chan
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Arts & Entertainment

MagazineWarren Buffett
Warren Buffett: Business titan and cover star
By Indrani SenDecember 7, 2025
3 hours ago
Arts & EntertainmentMedia
Former Amazon Studios boss warns the Netflix-Warner Bros. deal will make Hollywood ‘a system that circles a single sun’
By Jason MaDecember 6, 2025
21 hours ago
Raul Rocha Cantú
LawCrime
Miss Universe co-owner gets bank accounts frozen as part of probe into drugs, fuel and arms trafficking
By Fabiola Sánchez and The Associated PressDecember 6, 2025
22 hours ago
Zaslav, Sarandos
BankingMedia
A Thanksgiving dealmaking sprint helped Netflix win Warner Bros.
By Michelle F. Davis and BloombergDecember 6, 2025
1 day ago
Nuzzi
Arts & EntertainmentMedia
Olivia Nuzzi to leave Vanity Fair while denouncing ex-fiance Ryan Lizza’s Substack attack as ‘fiction-slash-revenge porn’
By David Bauder, Hillel Italie and The Associated PressDecember 6, 2025
1 day ago
Mark Zuckerberg laughs during his 2017 Harvard commencement speech
SuccessMark Zuckerberg
Mark Zuckerberg says the ‘most important thing’ he built at Harvard was a prank website: ‘Without Facemash I wouldn’t have met Priscilla’
By Dave SmithDecember 6, 2025
1 day ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
AI
Nvidia CEO says data centers take about 3 years to construct in the U.S., while in China 'they can build a hospital in a weekend'
By Nino PaoliDecember 6, 2025
20 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Real Estate
The 'Great Housing Reset' is coming: Income growth will outpace home-price growth in 2026, Redfin forecasts
By Nino PaoliDecember 6, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
The most likely solution to the U.S. debt crisis is severe austerity triggered by a fiscal calamity, former White House economic adviser says
By Jason MaDecember 6, 2025
16 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Big Tech
Mark Zuckerberg rebranded Facebook for the metaverse. Four years and $70 billion in losses later, he’s moving on
By Eva RoytburgDecember 5, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Asia
Despite their ‘no limits’ friendship, Russia is paying a nearly 90% markup on sanctioned goods from China—compared with 9% from other countries
By Jason MaNovember 29, 2025
8 days ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang admits he works 7 days a week, including holidays, in a constant 'state of anxiety' out of fear of going bankrupt
By Jessica CoacciDecember 4, 2025
3 days ago
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.