Brandon Routh
Brandon James Routh[1] (born October 9, 1979) is an American actor. He grew up in Iowa, before moving to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, subsequently appearing on several television series throughout the early 2000s. In 2004, he was cast in the title and lead role of Superman in the the 2006 film, Superman Returns.
Biography
Early life
Routh, the third of four children,[2] was born in Des Moines, Iowa to Katie, a teacher, and Ron Routh, a carpenter; both of his parents play music in their spare time[2] and his sister, Sara Routh, is a singer. Routh's family, which is Methodist,[3] has German, French, English and Native American ancestry.[4] Routh grew up in Norwalk, Iowa, which was located approximately 100 miles south of Woolstock, the hometown of George Reeves, the second actor to play Superman.[2] During his childhood, Routh thought that a full-time acting career was unrealistic, citing his small-town background.[2] Routh attended Norwalk High School[1] and then the University of Iowa for a year, aspiring to be a writer.[2] During this time, he starred in several productions at the Norwalk Theater of Performing Arts, and modelled and acted in order to earn his tuition fee.[2]
Routh has said that he was always told that he bore a physical resemblance to Christopher Reeve, who had previously portrayed Superman.[2] In his spare time, he plays the trumpet and the piano.[2]
Early career
In 1999, Routh left the University and moved to New York and then Los Angeles, where he pursued a full-time acting career, first appearing as an extra in Christina Aguilera's music video for "What a Girl Wants".[1] He was cast in his first major role in 1999, in an episode of the short-lived ABC television series, Odd Man Out. In 2000, he had a four-episode part on the third season of MTV's nighttime soap opera, Undressed. Routh subsequently appeared on the WB's Gilmore Girls (in a February 2001 episode, Concert Interupptus, playing an attendee of a Bangles concert), and earned steady work on the soap opera One Life to Live, playing Seth Anderson from May 23, 2001 until April 17, 2002.
Routh's later primetime credits include guest roles on CBS's Cold Case, NBC's Will & Grace and Fox's short-lived series, Oliver Beene. During this time, he worked as a bartender at a bowling alley named Hollywood's Lucky Strike, and shared an apartment with his sister.[5]
Superman role
Prior to Routh's casting as Superman, Warner Bros. had spent over a decade developing a plan to relaunch the franchise, with possible stars including name actors Nicolas Cage (who had at one point signed on to the role), Josh Hartnett, Brendan Fraser, Paul Walker, James Marsden, Ashton Kutcher[5] and Smallville star Tom Welling, and planned directors including Tim Burton, Wolfgang Petersen, McG, Brett Ratner and Shekhar Kapur. When director Bryan Singer came aboard the project, however, he insisted that an unknown actor be cast in the part, in the tradition of the casting of the best-known film Superman, Christopher Reeve.
Routh, then 25, had previously already auditioned for director McG[2] and was spotted by Singer after he viewed Routh's videotaped audition.[5] Singer was impressed by Routh's resemblance to the comic book icon and found the actor's humble Mid-western roots perfect for the role, as well as his "combination of vulnerability and confidence" that Singer said reminded him of Christopher Reeve.[1] Singer decided to cast Routh after the two met on August 13, 2004, but did not tell Routh until two months later, when Routh's casting was announced in October of 2004,[5] making him an "instant celebrity".[2] Filming for Superman Returns began in Australia in February of 2005. The film will be released in the U.S. on June 28, 2006. Routh has already signed on to appear in two potential sequels to the film.[2]
Routh has commented that he feared his performance would too closely resemble that of Christopher Reeve, and has said that he hopes he "remind[s] people of Christopher while at the same time making them feel like they're seeing a totally new Superman".[6] Reviews of Routh's performance are positive, with Newsweek noting that he "effortlessly lays claim to the iconic role".[7]
References
Footnotes
- ^ a b c d "DesMoinesRegister.com". The man behind the cape. Retrieved June 25.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "TimesLeader.com". Routh flies high in debut as Superman. Retrieved June 19.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Adherents.com". The Religious Affiliation of Comic Book Character Clark Kent/Kal-El Superman. Retrieved June 19.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "MetroWest Daily News". If the tights fit: Newcomer Brandon Routh takes to the sky in ’Superman Returns’. Retrieved June 25.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d "News.com.au". Word of Routh. Retrieved June 19.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Bizarre Online". Superman's return fear. Retrieved June 21.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "The Sun.co.uk". Superman charms critics. Retrieved June 21.
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Web sites
- Unofficial Fan Site
- Photos of Brandon Routh
- Brandon Routh at IMDb
- Brandon Routh bio and pics