Photo: Warner Bros., DC Comics

The Best Actors Who Played Jimmy Olsen

We're ranking the best Jimmy Olsen actors of all time. First appearing in Action Comics back in 1938, Jimmy Olsen is one of DC’s oldest characters.

As a young and lighthearted photojournalist, Jimmy's Clark Kent’s right-hand man. His naive nature likes to get the best of him, and he often finds himself in situations way over his head. Luckily, Superman’s always ready to offer a helping hand.

Jimmy Olsen’s had many different iterations over the years, but his subtle charm and optimistic nature have always remained.

Tommy Bond was the first actor to play Jimmy Olsen in 1948’s Superman and again in 1950 with Atom Man vs. Superman. Marc McClure took over Jimmy duties in the hit Superman trilogy starring Christopher Reed in the late ‘70s, and in the early ‘90s, Jimmy was played by both Michael Landers and Justin Whalin in the hit ABC show Lois & Clark. More recently, Jimmy's been played by Aaron Ashmore in Smallville, Michael Cassidy in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Mehcad Brooks in The CW's smash show Supergirl.

Who’s your favorite Jimmy Olsen character? Vote up the best Jimmy Olsen actors, and vote down the ones you didn’t like.

Photo: Warner Bros., DC Comics

  • Jack Larson
    Photo: sammykatz1951 / flickr / CC-BY-NC-ND 2.0
    1
    56 VOTES

    Jack Larson played Jimmy Olsen in the Adventures of Superman (1958).

    • Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
    56 votes
  • Marc McClure
    Photo: Warner Bros.
    2
    60 VOTES

    Marc McClure played Jimmy Olsen in the Superman trilogy (1978-1983).

    • Birthplace: USA, California, San Mateo
    60 votes
  • Aaron Ashmore
    Photo: Warner Bros., CW
    3
    66 VOTES

    Aaron Ashmore played Jimmy Olsen in Smallville (2001-11).

    • Birthplace: Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
    66 votes
  • Justin Whalin
    Photo: Warner Bros., ABC
    4
    65 VOTES

    Justin Whalin played Jimmy Olsen in Lois & Clark (1993-97).

    • Birthplace: San Francisco, California, USA
    65 votes
  • David Kaufman
    Photo: Gracenote
    5
    46 VOTES

    David Kaufman played Jimmy Olsen in Superman: The Animated Series (1996-2000), Justice League (2001-04), Superman: Brainiac Attacks (2006), and Superman vs. The Elite (2012).

    • Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri, USA
    46 votes
  • Michael Landes
    Photo: Warner Bros., ABC

    Michael Landes played Jimmy Olsen in Lois & Clark (1993-97).

    • Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
    56 votes