Johnny Rockwell
Encyclopedia
Johnny Rockwell is an American
actor. He was the first actor to play the role of Superboy
, in the pilot for the proposed series The Adventures of Superboy
(1961).
, producer of the classic 1950s television series The Adventures of Superman
starring George Reeves
. This was Ellsworth’s second attempt to revive the Superman
franchise; the first was in 1957, when he produced a pilot for The Adventures of Superpup
, a series aimed at young children in which actors (all of whom were little people
) wore oversized dog masks.
The Superboy pilot was shot in B&W, and 13 scripts were written in anticipation of the show being picked up. Rockwell had been working at the Ziv/UA studios when he heard about the proposed series. He approached Whitney Ellsworth for an audition and was eventually cast in the role.
Because of changes in the first-run syndication market, the proposed series was deemed too expensive; thus, it was not picked up for distribution, and the remainder of the 13 scripts were never filmed.
at 20th Century Fox
. Later he appeared in a minor role in the Playhouse 90
production of The 80 Yard Run (1958) starring Paul Newman
. Based on Newman’s recommendation, Rockwell moved to New York to study acting with Sandy Meisner. In addition to his duel role of Superboy/Clark Kent, Rockwell appeared in As Young as We Are (1958) starring Ty Hardin
, Please Don't Eat the Daisies (film)
(1960) with Doris Day
and Bus Riley’s Back in Town (1965) with Ann-Margaret. His other credits include appearances on Ozzie and Harriet and Dobie Gillis, both on television.
Rockwell continued to act professionally until 1967. In the 1970s Rockwell became a friend of Hugh Hefner
and lived on and off at the Playboy Mansion from 1972 to 1978.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor. He was the first actor to play the role of Superboy
Superboy (Kal-El)
The original Superboy is a fictional superhero who appears in DC Comics. The name of Superman as a boy, Superboy has adventures that occur in the relative past to those of Superman and take place predominantly in his hometown of Smallville...
, in the pilot for the proposed series The Adventures of Superboy
The Adventures of Superboy
The Adventures of Superboy was a proposed TV series that was put into production in 1961. It was meant to capitalize on the success of Adventures of Superman, which was cancelled years earlier. A revival was planned, but abandoned following the death of George Reeves, but only a pilot episode,...
(1961).
Superboy pilot
The Superboy pilot was created and produced by Whitney EllsworthWhitney Ellsworth
Fredric Whitney Ellsworth was an American comic book editor, and sometime writer and artist for DC Comics during the period known to historians and fans as the Golden Age of Comic Books...
, producer of the classic 1950s television series The Adventures of Superman
Adventures of Superman (TV series)
Adventures of Superman is an American television series based on comic book characters and concepts created in 1938 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The show is the first television series to feature Superman and began filming in 1951 in California...
starring George Reeves
George Reeves
George Reeves was an American actor best known for his role as Superman in the 1950s television program Adventures of Superman....
. This was Ellsworth’s second attempt to revive the Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
franchise; the first was in 1957, when he produced a pilot for The Adventures of Superpup
The Adventures of Superpup
The Adventures of Superpup, a 1958 pilot which never aired on TV, was meant to capitalize on the success of Adventures of Superman. Superpup featured the first television portrayal of the Superman characters as non-humans.-Overview:...
, a series aimed at young children in which actors (all of whom were little people
Dwarfism
Dwarfism is short stature resulting from a medical condition. It is sometimes defined as an adult height of less than 4 feet 10 inches , although this definition is problematic because short stature in itself is not a disorder....
) wore oversized dog masks.
The Superboy pilot was shot in B&W, and 13 scripts were written in anticipation of the show being picked up. Rockwell had been working at the Ziv/UA studios when he heard about the proposed series. He approached Whitney Ellsworth for an audition and was eventually cast in the role.
Because of changes in the first-run syndication market, the proposed series was deemed too expensive; thus, it was not picked up for distribution, and the remainder of the 13 scripts were never filmed.
Other Roles
Rockwell had studied acting with Agnes MooreheadAgnes Moorehead
Agnes Robertson Moorehead was an American actress. Although she began with the Mercury Theatre, appeared in more than seventy films beginning with Citizen Kane and on dozens of television shows during a career that spanned more than thirty years, Moorehead is most widely known to modern audiences...
at 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
. Later he appeared in a minor role in the Playhouse 90
Playhouse 90
Playhouse 90 is an American television anthology series that was telecast on CBS from 1956 to 1960 for a total of 133 episodes. It originated from CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California...
production of The 80 Yard Run (1958) starring Paul Newman
Paul Newman
Paul Leonard Newman was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, professional racing driver and auto racing enthusiast...
. Based on Newman’s recommendation, Rockwell moved to New York to study acting with Sandy Meisner. In addition to his duel role of Superboy/Clark Kent, Rockwell appeared in As Young as We Are (1958) starring Ty Hardin
Ty Hardin
Ty Hardin, born Orison Whipple Hungerford, Jr., is a former American actor best known as the star of the 1950s ABC western television series Bronco.-Early life:...
, Please Don't Eat the Daisies (film)
Please Don't Eat the Daisies (film)
Please Don't Eat the Daisies is a comedy film starring Doris Day and David Niven, made by Euterpe Inc., and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer...
(1960) with Doris Day
Doris Day
Doris Day is an American actress, singer and, since her retirement from show business, an animal rights activist. With an entertainment career that spanned through almost 50 years, Day started her career as a big band singer in 1939, but only began to be noticed after her first hit recording,...
and Bus Riley’s Back in Town (1965) with Ann-Margaret. His other credits include appearances on Ozzie and Harriet and Dobie Gillis, both on television.
Rockwell continued to act professionally until 1967. In the 1970s Rockwell became a friend of Hugh Hefner
Hugh Hefner
Hugh Marston "Hef" Hefner is an American magazine publisher, founder and Chief Creative Officer of Playboy Enterprises.-Early life:...
and lived on and off at the Playboy Mansion from 1972 to 1978.