She was Superman’s sweetheart and later played his mother… see Annette O’Toole now at 73

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Actress Annette O’Toole, from Hollywood, has managed an active and multifaceted career over the almost six decades she’s been involved in the entertainment industry.

Back in 1983, I had the privilege of playing the role of Lana Lang, the love interest to Superman, in the movie “Superman III,” which was graced by the legendary performance of Christopher Reeve as the Steel Man.

In the 1990s, she was a frequent presence on television, appearing on shows like “Nash Bridges,” a police procedural, as well as the miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s terrifying novel “It” about an evil clown.

For the next ten years, she revisited the Superman realm on the popular TV series Smallville, but this time she portrayed a character quite distinct from her previous role.

In Smallville, Annette took on the role of Martha Kent, the adoptive mom of Clark Kent’s alter ego, which was portrayed by the charismatic Tom Welling from Hollywood.

Currently 73 years old and appearing on the popular Netflix show Virgin River, Annette exuded youthful vitality as she made an appearance in Los Angeles this week.

In a fashionable outfit, Annette was seen picking up her dry cleaning and carrying it to her vehicle in the parking lot.

She effortlessly donned a flowing violet V-neck blouse, perfectly accentuating her slender figure, and paired it with a tailored pair of dark green pants.

Regardless of the scorching summer weather, the local Texan had a stylish camel-colored coat handy, just in case the temperature dropped.

With loose grey strands framing her shoulders, she added a touch of style with tortoiseshell sunglasses and a sleek black shoulder bag.

She hailed from Houston but had moved to Los Angeles with her family when she was 13. Just two years after that, she made her television debut, appearing on the variety show hosted by Danny Kaye.

During the 1970s, she appeared on numerous successful television series such as Gunsmoke, Hawaii Five-O, The Partridge Family, and also acted in the witty and dramatic TV movie “The Girl Most Likely To” which starred Stockard Channing and was written by Joan Rivers.

In that particular timeframe, she made her mark on the silver screen with the witty satire “Smile,” portraying one of the pageant contestants alongside acting veterans like Bruce Dern and Barbara Feldon.

Yet, it was in 1983 that she gained significant recognition for portraying Lana Lang, the romantic interest of Clark Kent (played by Christopher Reeve) in the film Superman III.

Despite the third movie falling short of the success achieved by its earlier installments, Annette’s portrayal of Lana managed to win over fans with her heartfelt acting.

In the captivating podcast, Inside Of You, I had the pleasure of hearing my Smallville comrade, Michael Rosenbaum, interview Christopher who left a lasting impression on me as simply extraordinary and exceptionally kind.

Upon arriving on set for the first time, Chris Reeve extended an invitation to his home. There, I found himself surrounded by his spouse or significant other, two charming offspring of theirs, and my own children. We shared a meal together, and later, he treated me to a concert featuring Simon and Garfunkel at Wembley Stadium. This is what she recalled.

She didn’t have any prior acquaintance with him, but his actions mirrored his nature – providing food, tickets, and various items. Later, we were filming at Pinewood Studios, and he escorted me to the commissary, saying, “Open a tab for her here in the commissary.” This is what she remembered from our past interactions.

Annette mentioned that she didn’t return because she usually carries her own cheese and crackers, however, the person was exceptionally kind and gracious, according to her sharing.

For several weeks, she worked with him under the guise of Clark Kent. When she eventually beheld him in his complete Superman costume, she was left speechless with awe.

In a heartbeat, I found myself struck with a sudden stutter and goosebumps – there he was, none other than Superman himself. It wasn’t Chris, but he was fully geared up, and just mentioning the encounter sends shivers down my spine even now.

Throughout the 1990s, she made a mark in fantasy lore by portraying the adult version of Beverley Marsh, one of the characters who had encountered the terrifying clown Pennywise as children, in the highly acclaimed Stephen King’s It miniseries.

In the very same vibrant era, I found myself being recognized with an Emmy nomination for my captivating portrayal of Rose, John F. Kennedy’s esteemed mother, in the enchanting ABC mini-series titled The Kennedys of Massachusetts. It was truly a remarkable journey!

In the year 2001, her victorious comeback to the Superman universe took place as she began playing the role of Martha, Clark Kent’s foster mother, on the television series Smallville.

For the initial six seasons, she was a permanent cast member. When her contract expired, she left and appeared occasionally in the last two seasons as a guest star.

Over the progression of the series, Annette confessed her slight disappointment to Daily Planet fan site, as Martha didn’t have much more to engage in. ‘In essence, I found myself repeating similar scenes repeatedly,’ she explained.

Throughout the years 2000 to 2019, she frequently appeared as a guest star in popular television series like Law & Order, Grey’s Anatomy, and Private Practice.

Starting from 2019, she’s been playing a key role in the popular Netflix romantic Western show titled Virgin River, where she portrays Hope McCrea, the mayor of the namesake Californian town.

In her personal life, she’s been married to Michael McKean, who is known for his roles in Best in Show and This Is Spinal Tap, since the year 1999. She has two daughters from her previous marriage with Bill Geisslinger, which lasted from 1983 to 1993.

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2025-06-29 16:51