David Corenswet Biography

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, David Corenswet is the son of a former stage actor turned lawyer and a lawyer mother. He began acting in theatre as a child, and his passion for performance led him to the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City, where he earned his BFA in drama in 2016.

After graduating, he launched his on-screen career with guest roles on popular television series such as House of Cards, Elementary, and Instinct (all in 2018). He landed his breakout role in Ryan Murphy's Netflix series The Politician (2019), playing the charming and complicated River Barkley. He followed that with a starring role in Murphy’s miniseries Hollywood (2020), portraying a young actor navigating post-war Tinseltown.

Corenswet continued to expand his range with key roles in the Netflix romantic drama Look Both Ways (2022), the horror prequel Pearl (2022), and HBO’s limited series We Own This City (2022), where he played a federal prosecutor.

In 2023, he was officially cast as Superman in James Gunn’s Superman (2025), the first film in the newly rebooted DC Universe. To prepare for the physically demanding role, Corenswet reportedly gained 45 pounds of muscle through intense physical training.

Superman marks a major leap into blockbuster stardom for Corenswet, casting him in one of the most beloved superhero roles in pop culture history — and setting the stage for his future in the DC Universe.

He keeps his personal life largely private but has expressed an interest in writing and directing in the future. ~Erin Grace

Filmography:

Superman (2025)
Twisters (2024)
The Greatest Hits (2024)
Pearl (2022)
Look Both Ways (2022)
Project Pay Day (2021)
The Sunlit Night (2019)
Affairs of State (2018)