Brandon Routh plays the Man of Steel in Superman Returns, the first Superman movie to be released ever since the Superman trilogy produced in the 1970’s and 1980’s. He was born in Iowa and spent most of his childhood in the state. He went to the University of Iowa and was a part of several productions at the Norwalk Theater of Performing Arts. His first TV role was in the ABC TV series Odd Man Out in 1999. The following year he guest starred in the TV show Undressed and Gilmore Girls. Before starring in Superman Returns, he went as Superman in a Halloween costume contest, only to receive the film role of Superman the following year.