A supporting character published by
DC Comics.
Perry White first appeared
in
Superman #7 in November 1940.
Perry White is the hardnosed editor of the Daily Planet, Metropolis's main
newspaper. White has two origins. Originally, White became the editor of the
Planet after working his way up through the ranks, having started as a newsboy
in the 1930's. He was a correspondent during World War II and returned to the
states to become famous for his stories exposing organized crime. He eventually
became editor of the Daily Planet where he distinguished himself by building
a paper that is known the world over.
After the Crisis on Infinite Earths reboot, Perry White's origin changed. White
was born and raised in Suicide Slum, one of the worst areas of Metropolis. He
became a copy boy for the Planet while still a child and rose up through the ranks.
As a young reporter, he was friends with rising business man Lex Luthor, until
he became suspicious of Luthor's business practices. Luthor arranged for White
to go out of the country on assignment to put him off the trail. In the meantime,
White's fiance, Alice, and Luthor had an affair, resulting in Alice becoming
pregnant. Alice broke off the affair with Luthor without realizing she was expecting
and married White upon his return. The son was raised as Perry and Alice's child and
was named Jerry.
White rose to become the managing editor of the Daily Planet. He built a reputation
as a tough but fair newspaper man. In past years, he has discovered his wife's infidelity
and that Jerry is not his son. Unfortunately, Jerry was killed and the strain of
all of this caused White and his wife to split up for a time. They have since reunited
and are raising an orphan boy that they have adopted.
Perry White is often portrayed as a heavyset man with a penchant for cigars. He
is famous for his exclamation "Great Caesar's Ghost!"
White has been portrayed through the years on both stage and screen by a variety of actors.
On the Superman television series, Perry White was portrayed by John Hamilton.
The Superman movies cast Jackie Cooper in the roll, while Lane Smith
played the role in Lois and Clark: the Adventures of Superman series.