For an entire generation, Tim Daly was the definitive voice of Superman, even without the cape. Long before Henry Cavill’s live-action portrayal or David Corenswet’s casting in James Gunn’s upcoming reboot, Daly brought the Man of Steel to life in Superman: The Animated Series. From 1996 to 2000, he voiced Clark Kent across 54 episodes with a signature blend of classic charm and unwavering resolve. Now, the veteran actor has revealed he is eager to return to the role.
“I’m hopeful that I might get another chance at some point to voice Superman,” Daly stated in a recent interview with Woman’s World, sparking excitement among fans of the celebrated DC Animated Universe.
When he first accepted the part, Daly, then best known for the sitcom Wings, admitted he was unaware of the character’s profound cultural impact. “I didn’t really know what I was getting into,” he recalled. “I had no idea how important Superman was to the world culture. I was by no means a fanboy, so for me, it was kind of an education to learn how important these characters were.”
Superman: The Animated Series was created to follow the groundbreaking Batman: The Animated Series, and it quickly established its own critical acclaim. Co-creator Bruce Timm noted that the production auditioned 55 actors before selecting Daly. The sentiment is shared by co-star Clancy Brown, the voice of Lex Luthor, who still considers Daly the standard. “He’s my Superman,” Brown affirmed.
Voice director Andrea Romano remembered that Daly, like many on-camera actors at the time, was initially skeptical of voice-over work. However, she witnessed a clear shift in his perspective. “A lot of actors didn’t take voice-over acting as seriously as on-camera work,” she said. “But I watched Tim evolve. It happened during production—within the first season.”
Years later, Daly fully grasped the weight of his legacy while attending a San Diego Comic-Con panel for Superman’s 75th anniversary, where his son, Sam Daly, was being promoted for voicing the character in Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox. “They introduced me and I thought I would stand and wave… and they gave me a thunderous standing ovation,” he said. “I was absolutely shocked.”
Daly has since reprised the role in animated films and video games, but he remains hopeful for another opportunity to embody the Last Son of Krypton. “If that’s true about being part of the legacy, I’m happy,” he reflected. “I hope that I live up to people’s expectations.”
