Lyle Talbot (b. February 8, 1902 – d.March 2, 1996) portrayed George Pierce in the 15 chapter Columbia 1947 serial The Vigilante: Fighting Hero of the West. He later portrayed Commissioner Gordon in the 1949 serial Batman and Robin. He also portrayed Atom Man in 1950 serial Atom Man vs. Superman, which was later revealed to be a scientist named "Luthor".
Talbot was the first actor to play either Luthor or Gordon in an official production. However, the Max Fleischer Superman cartoons from World War II featured occasional generic mad scientists with Luthor-like qualities, and the 1943 Batman serial featured a character named Captain Arnold, who was essentially Gordon in all but name.
- Pictured: Lyle Talbot as Commissioner Gordon from Batman and Robin
Work History
Acting Credits
| The Vigilante | 1947-1947 | George Pierce/X-1 |
|---|---|---|
| "The Vigilante Rides Again" | 1947 | George Pierce/X-1 |
| "Mystery of the White Horses" | 1947 | George Pierce/X-1 |
| "Double Peril" | 1947 | George Pierce/X-1 |
| "Desperate Flight" | 1947 | George Pierce/X-1 |
| "In the Gorilla's Cage" | 1947 | George Pierce/X-1 |
| "Battling the Unknown" | 1947 | George Pierce/X-1 |
| "Midnight Rendezvous" | 1947 | George Pierce/X-1 |
| "Blasted to Eternity" | 1947 | George Pierce/X-1 |
| "The Fatal Flood" | 1947 | George Pierce/X-1 |
| "Danger Ahead" | 1947 | George Pierce/X-1 |
| "X-1 Closes In" | 1947 | George Pierce/X-1 |
| "Death Rides the Rails" | 1947 | George Pierce/X-1 |
| "The Trap that Failed" | 1947 | George Pierce/X-1 |
| "Closing In" | 1947 | George Pierce/X-1 |
| "The Secret of the Skyroom" | 1947 | George Pierce/X-1 |
| Batman and Robin | 1949-1949 | Commissioner Gordon |
|---|---|---|
| "Batman Takes Over" | 1949 | Commissioner Gordon |
| "Tunnel of Terror" | 1949 | Commissioner Gordon |
| "Robin's Wild Ride" | 1949 | Commissioner Gordon |
| "Batman Trapped" | 1949 | Commissioner Gordon |
| "Robin Rescues Batman" | 1949 | Commissioner Gordon |
| "Target - Robin" | 1949 | Commissioner Gordon |
| "The Fatal Blast" | 1949 | Commissioner Gordon |
| "Robin Meets the Wizard" | 1949 | Commissioner Gordon |
| "The Wizard Strikes Back" | 1949 | Commissioner Gordon |
| "Batman's Last Chance" | 1949 | Commissioner Gordon |
| "Robin's Ruse" | 1949 | Commissioner Gordon |
| "Robin Rides the Wind" | 1949 | Commissioner Gordon |
| "The Wizard's Challenge" | 1949 | Commissioner Gordon |
| "Batman vs. Wizard" | 1949 | Commissioner Gordon |
| "Batman Victorious" | 1949 | Commissioner Gordon |
| Atom Man vs. Superman | 1950-1950 | Atom Man |
|---|---|---|
| "Superman Flies Again" | July 20, 1950 | Atom Man |
| "Atom Man Appears" | 1950 | Atom Man |
| "Ablaze In The Sky" | 1950 | Atom Man |
| "Superman Meets Atom Man" | 1950 | Atom Man |
| "Atom Man Tricks Superman" | 1950 | Atom Man |
| "Atom Man's Challenge" | 1950 | Atom Man |
| "At The Mercy Of Atom Man" | 1950 | Atom Man |
| "Into The Empty Doom" | 1950 | Atom Man |
| "Superman Crashes Through" | 1950 | Atom Man |
| "Atom Man's Heat Ray" | 1950 | Atom Man |
| "Luthor's Strategy" | 1950 | Atom Man |
| "Atom Man Strikes" | 1950 | Atom Man |
| "Atom Man's Flying Saucers" | 1950 | Atom Man |
| "Rocket Of Vengeance" | 1950 | Atom Man |
| "Superman Saves The Universe" | 1950 | Atom Man |