It is said that the mettle of a man is tested in adversity, and for every hero , there is a villain. In comic books and their adaptations, heroes and villains often arise as a result of each other. In Tim Burton’s Batman, a younger Jack Napier killed Bruce Wayne’s parents. Bruce vowed never to let an innocent life suffer as he had. He became the Batman. Years later, Batman accidentally dropped Jack Napier into a vat of chemicals, creating the Joker. A villain creates the hero, who in turn creates or recreates the villain.
The most classic superhero of all time, Superman is no stranger to villains. The Man of Steel has his share, the most notable of which being Lex Luthor. Interestingly enough, this villain is not always said to appear because of Superman, or in response to Superman. In many incarnations, he’s a rich gangster whom Superman wants to bring to justice. Somehow, he manages to remain the thorn in the hero’s side, always wriggling free from justice and becoming richer in the process.
Having just recently discussed the best Batman, Joker, and Superman, I cannot pass up this opportunity. Superman has appeared on screen several times, his arch-nemesis appearing with him. So who played the best Lex Luthor? Which actor best captured Superman’s opposite?
As with the other articles, I have to lay down a few criteria. The good news is that this time, it’s pretty simple. The actor has to portray Lex on screen, and must conflict with a character portraying Superman. During the course of this article, I will both keep and break this rule. I’ll keep it for exculding the two actors who played Lex in Superboy, the television series, because the villain never opposed an adult Superman. But I’ll break it a little later. You’ll see where.
Gene Hackman
I guess the best place to start is at the beginning. Well, technically, Hackman’s not the first Lex. Lyle Talbot played Lex in a 1950 movie serial, but there’s little to say about that altogether.
Gene Hackman is perhaps the best known “old” Lex, that is, from a classic era. Strangely, the Lex character did not appear in the George Reeves television series. Fortunately, audiences got a big dose of supervillain in Richard Donner’s 1978 epic film.
Gene Hackman was one of two big-name actors that gave Donner’s Superman tremendous marquee value, the other being Marlon Brando. Even today, Hackman is considered one of the best actors of all time, up there with Brando, De Niro, even the great Bogart.
For playing Lex, Gene takes a more humorous approach. He uses big hand gestures, talks with a chuckle. He almost serves as the film’s comic relief. The lackey Otis is properly the relief, but Lex entertains us as well. On first glance, I find this almost insulting. Are we really expected to believe this crackpot gangster is a supervillain?
But that’s where Lex surprises us, and where Gene shines. He tricks Superman into opening a box containing Kryptonite, pushes Superman into his pool, and reveals his plan. He launches two missiles consecutively, one aimed at Hackensack, New Jersey, the other at Southern California. That jovial chuckle melts into a diabolical laugh. Lex has played his hand and seemingly won.
The humorous aspect is kind of a mask, hiding the sinister intentions underneath, a white satin glove hiding the hardened fist. It’s easily one of the best performances ever.
John Shea
You might be saying, “Who?” Well, the name may be unfamiliar, but the television series he appeared in might ring a bell. This actor played Lex on the mid 90’s series Lois and Clark. His performance was widely regarded, but the character was only used for the first season of the show.
Shea does a good job. He portrays Lex as scheming, conniving, more of a classic hard-as-nails gangster. It’s convincing, but perhaps the real credit for the performance goes to the writing staff. Shea plays a good role, but what the writers had Lex do throughout the season is notable. Lex, the rich tycoon, vies for Lois’s affection, though she rebuffs him many times. Finally, he imprisons Superman in a Kryptonite cage, and Lois accepts Lex’s proposal! Whoa!
Well, Superman breaks free, crashes the wedding, and reveals Lex as the villain. Lex admits and takes his own life. It’s a move that will stun you if you’re not expecting it. In a sense, it almost seems honorable. Shea did great as Lex, but perhaps the real geniuses are the writers. I don’t know, but this one is certainly worth mentioning.
Michael Rosenbaum
This is where I’m breaking my rule. Technically, Smallville is pre-Superman, thus the villain Lex does not oppose an adult hero. But this actor is just so good I can’t pass it up. Plus, Clark does use several of his key abilities and powers. It’s like he already IS Superman. He just doesn’t wear the suit.
Anyway. There’s something about Michael’s appearance on screen. He invokes something within you. It’s a comaraderie you experience. “Hey, I know this guy.” This works perfectly for both good and bad times, exactly what the producers have intended.
Smallville begins with Lex as a good character, not the villain. His father Lionel is the original villain. Over the course of the series, Lex grows suspicious of his friend Clark and other meteor-infected individuals. He takes over the role as villain, and ironically, Lionel becomes the good guy.
Lex’s smooth appearance gives you a sense of security as a good guy, but an inner tremor as a villain. He can be so kind when he’s not pushing you through a window. The transformation from one alignment to another can not be better handled. Rosenbaum did it so well. Currently, he has vanished from the series, leaving us wondering what ever happened to Lex.
Kevin Spacey
I have picked on Superman Returns quite a bit in my spare time, and even on articles here. But to its credit, the film has some very bright spots. Lex Luthor is one of them.
For a film that tries to take up where Superman II left off, essentially retconning the third and fourth films (thank goodness), Returns stands on shaky footing. The special effects are better, but at times, you can tell it’s fake. That’s not bad in itself. It just makes me think I’m watching a toy commercial. Or rather, like I’m watching the toys come to life. (Where have we seen that before?)
But Spacey is a supernova in this black hole. Gene Hackman, his predecessor in the film’s chronology, played a more comical Lex. Serious, but light-hearted on the surface. He’ll kill, but tell you a bunch of jokes first. Spacey skips the pleasantries. He’s just mean from the get-go.
Some would say this makes us hate the character. Well, duh! He’s the bad guy. You’re supposed to hate him, and Spacey gives us reason to. Hackman’s Luthor tried to wipe Southern California off the face of the map. Spacey wanted to submerge most of North America. A much more diabolical scheme for a much more diabolical portrayal. Hackman had the glove over the fist; Spacey took the glove off. It’s not unlike comparing Heath Ledger’s Joker to Jack Nicholson’s Joker.
“Now, fly!”
When he first appears on screen, you’ll probably not be convinced. Then he takes off that wig. There’s something about the baldness of this character that adds to it. Spacey just pulls it off. Enough said.
Results
Four candidates, four good portrayals. Which one can we possibly name the best? Many would consider Gene Hackman the best. I certainly rank him high up, but I believe a lot of that is just nostalgia speaking. Certainly, he was good, but that doesn’t mean no one else can be as good or better.
As ironic as this sounds, given my love-hate view of Superman Returns, I like Spacey’s Luthor the best. I believe he did the best job. Yeah, he was springboarding off of Hackman’s character, but he made us really dislike the character. All of these men are good, even their portrayals, but for me it’s settled.
Spacey wins this one.
