The story of Superman is a tale of immigration at the grandest scale. Born on a fictional alien planet called Krypton, innocent baby Kal-El is sent away to escape a disaster-ridden homeland to the foreign planet of Earth and adopted by humble Kansas farmers Martha and Jonathan Kent. 

Superman’s connection to immigration extends beyond the character’s origins. In 1933, Joseph Shuster and Jerome Siegel conceived the character, and both creators are descendants of immigrants. And famous actors Christopher Reeve and Glenn Ford also have immigrant roots. 

See below to learn more about Shuster and Siegel, and discover the family history of Christopher Reeve and Glenn Ford, as well as check out some of our favorite comic book and film art featuring Superman and Lady Liberty. 

Jerry Siegel was a writer born in Cleveland, Ohio, to a Jewish-Lithuanian family. His father, Michel Sigalowitz, arrived in New York aboard the S.S. Statendam, in 1900. His mother, Sora, was also an immigrant. 

Joe Shuster was an artist born in Toronto, Canada. His father, Julius Shusterowitz, arrived in New York from Rotterdam aboard the S.S. Uranium. At the age of ten, Shuster and his family moved to Cleveland, where he met Siegel in high school. 

Photo credit: Getty Images // Bettmann

They began working together as high school students and eventually started at Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson’s National Allied Publications, now DC Comics. They first created Superman for their 1933 fanzine, Science Fiction. However, the story was not successful at first. They re-modeled the character and began looking for a publisher to tell Superman’s story. National Allied Publications chose Superman for their cover feature, launching the character’s success.   

Christopher D’Olier Reeve held the titular role of Superman for four movies from 1978-1987. Originally passed over for the role, Reeve was ultimately cast as Superman, undergoing intense training to fully embody the hero and pioneer the superhero genre. Reeve’s family immigration story includes his second great–grandfather William D’Olier who arrived to the United States from Ireland in 1860. 

Jonathan Kent is the fictional Kansas farmer and adoptive father of the baby Superman. In the 1978 film, this part is played by Glenn Ford, known for his role in many Western films. Ford’s name at birth was Gwyllyn Newton Ford after his father Newton, who brought his family from Quebec, Canada to Venice, California. Below is the immigration record of his mother Hannah and himself listed as Newton at the age of five. 

With the newest cinematic iteration of Superman (2025), we recognize the immigrant origins of these inspiring real figures that brought a comic book hero into the world-renowned cultural phenomenon it is today.

Visit our Ellis Island Passenger Search HERE to discover your own family’s story.