Clayton's family was deeply rooted in the entertainment industry, but he initially followed in his father's footsteps, pursuing a career in law. To support himself during his studies at Fordham University, Clayton worked as a radio actor and singer. After completing his education, he took on a job as a law clerk, only to realize two years later that radio was a far more lucrative career. He subsequently changed his last name to Collyer and dedicated himself to acting full-time.
By the age of 32, Collyer was already performing on every major network. His most iconic radio role was that of the title character in "The Adventures of Superman," which he assumed in 1940. Collyer brought the character to life by using distinct voices for Superman and Clark Kent, and his renditions of the famous lines "This is a job for Superman!" and "Up, up, and away!" have become ingrained in popular culture. Collyer continued to portray Superman until 1949, just a year before the series concluded, and also lent his voice to animated shorts produced by Max Fleischer.
In addition to his work on "The Adventures of Superman," Collyer became involved in radio game shows around the same time. He served as the co-host of ABC's "Break the Bank" for five years and the host of "Winner Take All." One of the few radio personalities to successfully transition to television, Collyer went on to host the TV versions of his two radio shows.
In the early 1950s, Collyer became the host of the popular game show "Beat the Clock," which aired in both prime time and daytime for the next 11 years. In late 1956, he also began hosting his most successful program to date, "To Tell the Truth," which lasted for an impressive 12 years. Collyer's iconic catchphrase, "Will the real [contestant's name] please stand up?" became an integral part of American pop culture.
Sadly, Clayton Collyer passed away at the age of 61, just one year after his final appearance on "To Tell the Truth." His death was attributed to a circulatory ailment.
