Dean Cain, AKA Superman, wows opening day Wizard World Comic Con crowd

While fresh off a trip to a Comic Con event in Switzerland former "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman" actor, NFL football player and college volleyball team captain told the last Wizard World Comic Con crowd in Rosemont Friday that after the tough lock down days of Covid it was great to be back with people while providing insights into his days in Hollywood, on the grid, fighting human trafficking and what to look for next.

While in Switzerland Cain said a Swiss family gave him one of his old Superman suits from his days on the Lois and Clark series.

"It was pretty incredible. Their generosity was amazing," Cain told the crowd. "I brought it here with me."

"That was very special for me because when we were closing out the fourth season of Lois & Clark and I headed off to film a movie I was told the fifth season was a go," Cain continued. "Unfortunately, Terri Hatcher (his co-star) was having a difficult pregnancy and the plug was pulled for the next season. We were cancelled and I never had a chance to take a Superman suit. What this Swiss family did for me was very special."

As for football, Cain said he loved his time playing for the Buffalo Bills.

When asked how he'd describe his NFL football career he said, "It was very short. I got injured early, but I love the Bills. I remember being in Buffalo years later at a game where I was honored and while standing on the sidelines a player was hit hard and as he slowly got up off the ground he said to me, 'hey man, how do you get into this acting thing?' Football is hard but I love sports."

Auditioning for the part of Superman in the Lois & Clark series was tough, Cain said. "There were a lot of guys going for it. They kept asking me back and as I returned the number of other guys for the part was dwindling. Finally, it was between me and Kevin Sorbo, better known as the actor who played Hercules," Cain noted. "But I got the part, I kind of channeled George Reeves while I played Superman."

When asked by his interviewer Chuck Lindsey if it bothered him that he's always thought of as Superman Cain said, "Hey if you're going to be called anyone Superman is pretty good."

As for favorite guest stars on the show Cain said, "I liked them all, but my dad was jealous that I got to kiss Rachel Welch, I couldn't believe I really got to work with Tony Curtis and of course, my favorite was my mom. She got to play a part on the show."

One fan said she noticed he wrote a few of the episodes.

"Actually, I was a writer before I became an actor and I really enjoyed it," he noted.

Another area Cain is involved in is fighting human trafficking.

"This is a very bad problem," he said. "Law enforcement officials are doing a great job fighting this type of crime and all crime. As a matter of fact, I'm now a reserve police office in Idaho and Virginia and have produced a movie titled, 'Not For Sale' to raise awareness about this issue."

Cain's and Erik Estrada's Crime Against Children Foundation, https://crimesagainstchildrenfoundation.org is an organization aimed at fighting human trafficking in America and works with law enforcement in communities across America.

"It is shocking how much of this is going on."

He told the audience to look for his new movie in 2022 titled "Little Angels." It's about a Division I college football coach (played by Cain) at the top of his game who uses a female placekicker as a publicity stunt. However, when the player misses a field goal, the coach makes an offhand comment in the media about female athletes and is suspended by the university. To get his job back, he must coach a 12-year-old girls soccer team for the remainder of the season.

When a fan queried as to whether he had been asked to appear in any Flash or CW crossover shows he said, "no, I wish. My son loves the Flash show and would have urged me to participate. They may have thought my schedule would not have worked with theirs, but I think it would have been fun."

Cain, 54 and a Princeton graduate, talked for about an hour and afterwards talked more with fans who rushed to take photos with him.

"I've been traveling a lot and enjoying getting back on the road. We were just in Spain, where we have a home, but it is always great to be back in America."

Friday was the opening day of the last Chicago Wizard World Comic Con which actually began in Chicago in 1972. Usually held in the summer, this October's event was truncated as Fan Expo takes over next year. Fan Expo is a division of the UK-based events company Informa. Wizard World continues through Sunday, October 17 at the Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. Actor and Astronaut William Shatner is slated to speak there Sunday at 11 a.m. Also to be found are tons of priceless comics, art, jewelry, children's activities and more. Workers noted Friday before the 4 p.m. opening the lines waiting to get in wrapped around the convention hall.

"There were tons of people, maybe they're here because this is the last Wizard World" one worker said. Indeed there were. Hundreds of people of all ages including several kids and many in costumes were enjoying all the vendors and activities, including Cain/Superman