|
Brandon James Routh (born October 9, 1979) is an American actor who portrayed Todd Ingram in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and the anime Scott Pilgrim Takes Off.
Career[]
Routh is a former fashion model. He grew up in Iowa before moving to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, and subsequently appeared on multiple television series throughout the early 2000s.
Routh gained international recognition for his portrayal of the iconic superhero Superman/Clark Kent in the film "Superman Returns" (2006), directed by Bryan Singer. While the film received mixed reviews, Routh's performance was generally well-received, and he became associated with the role of the Man of Steel.
After "Superman Returns," Routh took on various roles in both film and television. Notable projects include "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" (2010), where he played the vegan superhero Todd Ingram, and the television series "Chuck" (2010-2011), where he had a recurring role as Daniel Shaw.
Brandon Routh joined the Arrowverse, a shared universe centered around characters from DC Comics, as Ray Palmer/The Atom in the television series "DC's Legends of Tomorrow." He was a series regular from 2014 to 2019.
Routh has appeared in various films and TV shows, including "Dylan Dog: Dead of Night" (2010), "Partners" (2012-2013), and "Enlisted" (2014). He has showcased his versatility by taking on roles in different genres.
In the Arrowverse crossover event "Crisis on Infinite Earths" (2019), Routh reprised his role as Superman, portraying a different version of the character known as Kingdom Come Superman. This crossover allowed him to revisit the character that brought him fame in 2006.
Personal life[]
Routh, the third of four children, was born in Norwalk, Iowa, on October 9, 1979, the son of Catherine (née Lear), a teacher, and Ronald Ray Routh, a carpenter.
Routh's family, which is Methodist, has German, French, English, and Native American ancestry. Routh grew up in Norwalk, approximately 100 miles (160 km) south of Woolstock, the hometown of George Reeves, the first actor to play Superman on television.
During his childhood, Routh thought a full-time acting career was unrealistic, citing his small-town background. In his spare time, he played the trumpet and the piano.
Routh attended Norwalk High School, where he played sports and participated in music and theatre. He has described himself as a "momma's boy" and not "the most popular kid" during his school years.[1]
Routh has also noted that during his younger years, he was fond of the Superman films and comic books.
Routh attended the University of Iowa for a year, aspiring to be a writer. During this time, he modelled and acted in order to earn his tuition fee. Routh has said he was often told that he bore a physical resemblance to Christopher Reeve, who had previously portrayed Superman. His former manager signed him on because of the resemblance, telling him that he thought Routh would be cast as Superman if there was another film in the series.
Credits[]
These are a list of credited roles of Brandon Routh in the Scott Pilgrim franchise.
Films[]
Television[]
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off[]
- "Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life" (credit only)
- "A League of Their Own"
- "Ramona Rents a Video" (credit only)
- "Whatever"
- "Lights. Camera. Sparks?!"
- "WHODIDIT" (credit only)
- "2 Scott 2 Pilgrim"
- "The World Vs Scott Pilgrim"
Trivia[]
- Brandon Routh plays Todd Ingram in the movie who is characterized as an “egotistical douche” with superpowers. Brandon Routh's most famous role was Superman in Superman Returns, a character known for having superpowers as well - but was a good guy (obviously).
- Routh learned to play the bass for his role as Todd Ingram.