The former Superman actor sacrificed major television roles to focus on raising his son. That son has now graduated from college and is as handsome as his father.
Dean Cain, best known for playing Superman in “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” chose fatherhood over fame when he declined what could have been one of the highest-paying roles on television.
Dean Cain and son Christopher during the “Home on the Range” Premiere on March 21, 2004, at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images
The 58-year-old actor made this decision during a custody battle with his ex-girlfriend Samantha Torres over their son Christopher, and he’s never regretted it.
From Superman to Superdad
Born on July 31, 1966, in Mount Clemens, Michigan, Dean has a unique family story. His biological father, Roger Tanaka, is Japanese, though he never knew him.
At the age of four, when his mother, Sharon Thomas, married director Christopher Cain, he and his brother Roger were adopted. His original last name was Tanaka, but he adopted his stepfather’s surname, Cain, following the marriage.
Dean Cain, and his parents, Sharon and Christopher, attend “The Amazing Panda Adventure” Burbank Premiere on August 20, 1995, at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California | Source: Getty Images
Dean was raised in Malibu following his mother’s new marriage, and he attended Santa Monica High School, where he excelled as a quarterback. Initially, he envisioned a career in professional football rather than acting.
While pursuing a history degree at Princeton University, he had a two-year relationship with Brooke Shields and achieved a seasonal record of 12 interceptions for the university’s football team.
Dean Cain and Brooke Shields at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on November 9, 1995 | Source: Getty Images
After his graduation in 1988, he signed with the Buffalo Bills. However, a knee injury during training camp prematurely concluded his professional career.
“My original plan was to play football for 10 years and be a screenwriter,” he said. “Then, when it was over so quickly, I was sitting at the computer, going, ‘Now I’ve got to be a screenwriter?'”
Dean Cain during Starlite Foundation Carnival on September 7, 1990, in Santa Monica, California | Source: Getty Images
The injury rerouted his path to acting. Although he’d been in his father’s 1984 movie, “The Stone Boy,” he started with commercials and TV spots, including a 1990 appearance in “Beverly Hills, 90210.”
However, his big break came in 1993, when he landed the role of Superman/Clark Kent in “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.”
Dean Cain attends the Century City premiere of ‘Home Alone 2: Lost in New York’ on November 15, 1992, at the United Artists Theatre in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images
Ultimately, the adoption experience profoundly shaped Dean’s views on family. The actor appeared on Today in November 2016 to discuss World Adoption Day, a cause close to his heart.
“So, my biological mother remarried, and my father adopted me, which was a huge deal, and he’s my like my favorite human,” Dean shared. “He’s so wonderful to me and did a great job raising me that I named my son after him.”
Dean Cain and his parents, Sharon and Christopher, attend a special VIP screening of “September Dawn” on May 2, 2007, at the Directors Guild of America in Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images
The actor also credits his father for keeping him on the right path. He admitted he was a wild kid who could’ve made bad choices, but his dad’s strength and their family bond stopped that. His strong father figure would also later influence his own parental choices.
The Journey to Single Fatherhood
Dean and his then-girlfriend Samantha Torres welcomed their son Christopher on June 11, 2000. The couple had already split when Torres learned she was pregnant. However, their relationship took a difficult turn when Dean filed for joint custody in December 2001, which led to a bitter 18-month legal battle.
Dean Cain and son Christopher at the 2004 Target A Time for Heroes Celebrity Carnival to benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation on June 13, 2004 | Source: Getty Images
Dean once used the term “disgusting” to describe his experience with the custody battle involving Torres and their son. During this time, accusations surfaced that he abused drugs and alcohol—allegations he refuted by taking tests to prove his sobriety.
“I know I’m a fit father,” he said. “I’m better at being a father than I have been at anything else in my entire life.”
Samantha Torres and son Christopher in SoHo on March 18, 2005, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
The custody dispute ended in May 2003 with the former couple being awarded joint custody. Dean believed his parenting style clashed significantly with Torres’s, especially given their child was raised outside of marriage. He felt the legal battles only worsened the situation.
In his opinion, the law should change. It seemed better for dividing things like property than deciding what’s best for a child.
Dean Cain, son Christopher, and friend, Elizabeth, in the West Village on March 17, 2005, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
In 2011, however, Dean assumed sole custody of Christopher, an arrangement that was mutually agreed upon by both parents so their son could be raised in one household. This decision forever changed the course of his life and career.
Sacrifices for Christopher
Dean’s experience with “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman” taught him valuable lessons about the demands of being a lead actor. The show ran for four seasons until 1997, and he saw firsthand how shooting a lengthy show could impact someone’s personal life.
Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher of “Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman” in 1996 | Source: Getty Images
“A series just takes over your whole life, and that’s why, as a father, I would not be the lead actor on any other show for the past 18 years,” Dean explained. “I have turned down the lead so many times, because I won’t do it until my son graduates.”
The actor revealed the extent of his sacrifice during a screening of the 2021 Christian drama film “God’s Not Dead: We the People.”
“It affected my career like I can’t even explain. I turned down being one of, if not the highest-paid actor on television, for a show that ended up going six years,” he told Fox News Digital. “The contract was very attractive. But I was in the middle of a custody dispute, so I could either be a father or take that job.”
Dean Cain and son Christopher Cain arrive at Niche Media & Hendrix Electric Vodka’s Holiday Launch Party on December 28, 2005, at the Hotel Jerome in Aspen, Colorado | Source: Getty Images
When asked how long it took him to make this decision, the actor said it was almost instant. His own adoption story led him to prioritize fatherhood. He has often spoken of his father’s deep influence, referring to it as the most important in his life.
However, he also believes that fathers are vital for a family, not just in the United States, but everywhere. Dean even cited statistics during his interview, indicating that children, particularly boys, face increased chances of incarceration or other difficulties without a father figure.
This commitment shaped Dean’s career for 18 years, meaning he took on shorter projects, like Hallmark movies, which could be shot in three weeks and allowed him to return home quickly or bring Christopher with him.
Dean Cain and son Christopher Dean Cain arrive at the Premiere Of Open Road Films’ “The Promise” on April 12, 2017, at TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images
Life as a Single Dad
By 2014, when Christopher was 14 years old, Dean had fully embraced his role as a single father and also talked to him about remaining unmarried.
“I’ve never been married, never ever,” he said. “I think he’s pretty proud of dad, but to be honest, I’m pretty proud of him. I think he’s my favorite human being on the planet.”
Dean fully embraced being a father, which included cooking for the household. He joked that he made all his child’s meals because there were no other choices. He also mentioned his talent for cooking steak and creatively using leftovers.
Fortunately, his son appreciates his culinary abilities, often comparing his homemade steaks favorably to those served in restaurants.
Even with the difficulties of juggling work and raising a child, Dean cherished everyday moments. He said his ideal day was simply spending time at home with his son, without any set plans.
He also considered himself the playful parent, admitting they ignored typical household rules about playing indoors and enjoyed chasing each other and using the furniture as part of their games.
His home also welcomed Christopher’s half-siblings, Torres’s twins Elijah and Isabelle. He acknowledged that their family situation might be seen as unconventional, but emphasized that their home was filled with warmth and unity.
Christopher’s College Years and Graduation
In 2019, Dean appeared on “The Talk” to discuss dropping Christopher off at High Point University in North Carolina. The emotional father admitted he was on the verge of tears while the screens showed pictures of him and his son.
The actor also joked about wanting to move there to be close to Christopher. A year earlier, he had shared with Hoda Kotb that his son’s happiness means the world to him.
“My boy’s happy… and I’m happy!” Dean said. He also mentioned being affectionate with his son, unlike his own father who wasn’t a hugger.
The proud father moment came full circle when Christopher graduated from High Point University in 2023. Dean posted a photo on Instagram and wrote, “The Graduate!!! #ProudDad ❤️ @highpointu.”
This milestone represented the culmination of Dean’s years of sacrifice and dedication to raising his son. But the actor will always put Christopher first, as evidenced by the many other photos on his social media.
In fact, fans have often commented on these photos, noting the strong resemblance between father and son. “Your son has your smile. What a wonderful picture,” wrote one admirer. Another observed, “Fantastic picture! ❤️ Your son has grown into a very handsome young man!”
“His father’s smile 😍,” noted another fan. “So handsome. Like father like son ♥️,” shared a netizen. One commenter simply stated, “Aww look as like his dad [sic].”
Looking back on his journey from Superman to Superdad, Dean has no regrets about choosing fatherhood over fame, just like former teen idol Bobby Sherman. “And I would never change what I’ve done in terms of being a father vs. a career,” he said.
