Tom Welling | |
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 Welling in 2020 | |
| Born | Thomas Joseph Welling (1977-04-26)April 26, 1977 (age 48) Putnam Valley, New York, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1998–present |
| Television | |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 |
Thomas Joseph Welling[1] (born April 26, 1977)[2] is an American actor, director, producer, podcaster, and model. He is best known for his role asClark Kent in The WB (nowThe CW) superhero dramaSmallville (2001–2011). He also co-starred in the third season of theFox fantasy comedy-dramaLucifer as Lt. Marcus Pierce/Cain (2017–2018).
A high school athlete, Welling initially worked in construction and, in 1998, he began modelling men's clothing for several popular brands. In 2000, he transitioned to television. He has been nominated and received several awards for his role as Clark Kent. In 2001, he had a recurring role as Rob "Karate Rob" Meltzer in the second season of theCBS legal dramaJudging Amy. His films includeCheaper by the Dozen (2003),Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005),The Fog (2005),Draft Day (2014), andThe Choice (2016). In 2022, he starred as Samuel Campbell in the dark fantasy seriesThe Winchesters. He has also been involved behind the camera as an executive producer and a director.
Welling was born inPutnam Valley, New York.[3][4] His family moved frequently, making stops in Wisconsin, Delaware, and Michigan.[4] Welling attendedOkemos High School inOkemos, Michigan, where he started acting in plays, but then switched to sports. Welling played baseball and soccer, but his favorite sport is basketball.[4] Welling is one of four children, with two older sisters, Rebecca and Jamie,[5] and a younger brother, Mark Welling, who is also an actor.[3]
Originally a construction worker, Welling was discovered in 1998 at a party in Nantucket by casting director Jennifer Starr who was there finding fresh faces for aTommy Hilfiger campaign and suggested he try modeling.[6] Welling modeled forLouisa Modeling Agency until 2000,[4] when he relocated to Los Angeles. There he modeled for Tommy Hilfiger, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Calvin Klein while pursuing an acting career.[3] In 2000, Welling appeared in Angela Via's music video "Picture Perfect" where he played Vía's love interest. Welling has said that he did not like modeling and that he was not good at it because it was all on the outside or from an external point of view. He pursued acting because he wanted to express a range of emotions,[5] but Welling still models occasionally and appeared in the May 2008 issue ofVogue, the so-calledSuperhero Issue.[7] In his first major acting role, Welling played karate teacher Rob "Karate Rob" Meltzer, a younger love interest of Amy Gray (Amy Brenneman) in the second season of theCBS legal dramaJudging Amy, which aired in 2001. Welling was originally signed for three episodes, but after receiving good feedback, the producers kept him for three more.[4] Welling also had a small role in the pilot episode of theUPN science fiction sitcomSpecial Unit 2, and he appeared in the pilot episode of the short-livedFox sitcomUndeclared.[4]
Welling was cast inthe WB superhero dramaSmallville after a nationwide search for an actor to playClark Kent. In an interview with a teen magazine, Welling spoke about the day he auditioned for the role: "I was on my way back from theWarner Bros. studio, and I stopped in a gas station to call my manager and tell him how it went. I called and got him on the phone and he said, 'Can you hold on a second?' Next thing I know, there are literally seven people on the other line and almost in unison they say, 'Tom, you got it!'"[4] Thepilot aired in October 2001 and became the highest-rated debut for The WB, with 8.4 million viewers.[8] Welling toldTV Guide that he turned down the lead role twice, but after reading the script, decided to take the job. LikeChristopher Reeve, he was not aSuperman fan before being cast as Clark Kent. In fact, he said, he continued to not readSuperman comics: "I made a conscious decision to stay away from that material. We're doing something different at a time before all that, I don't want that to affect what I'm doing, even subconsciously."[9] He did get the chance to meet two previousSuperman actors: Christopher Reeve, who appeared in season 2: episode 17 titled "Rosetta", andDean Cain, who appeared in season 7: episode 4 titled "Cure".[10]
Welling was named one ofPeople magazine's "Breakthrough Stars of 2001", and also won theTeen Choice Award as "Choice Breakout Star (Male)" in 2002 for his role as Clark Kent.[11] Following the third season, Welling was interviewed bySmallville Magazine and said that if he could play one character on the show that was not Clark Kent, it would beLex Luthor; "Lex Luthor! I wouldn't mind having my head shaved—as an actor, [it is the ultimate,] getting to play the complete opposite of your character."[12]
In 2003, Welling said he met with directorBrett Ratner about potentially playing Clark Kent/Superman in the superhero filmSuperman Returns (2006), but scheduling conflicted withSmallville.[13] Comic book artistAlex Ross even did two sketches of Welling as the "Man of Steel" to see what the actor would look like in the famous costume.[14] In August 2009, Welling won anotherTeen Choice Award as "Choice TV Actor (Action Adventure)" forSmallville.[15]
In 2019, Welling reprised his role as Clark Kent in theBatwoman episode of the CW Arrowverse crossover event "Crisis on Infinite Earths", along with hisSmallville co-starErica Durance as Lois Lane.[16][17] Welling's reprisal concluded his incarnation's story where it showed Clark gave up his powers, retired as an average farmer, and has at least two daughters with Lois.
On July 13, 2022, Welling and fellowSmallville actorMichael Rosenbaum launched the podcastTalkville, where the two co-stars comment on every episode ofSmallville.[18][19]
In 2017, Welling made his much-awaited return to television when he was cast to co-star in the third season of theFox fantasy comedy-dramaLucifer. He played Marcus Pierce, a police lieutenant at the precinct and the main antagonist of the season who is the immortalCain.[20]
When asked why he suddenly decided to return to television, he told Entertainment weekly: 'Shortly after I got a call from a very dear friend of mine,Greg Beeman, who was our showrunner onSmallville for many years and had directed episodes of Lucifer, and he goes, “I hear that your name’s in the mix to be on Lucifer. I know you, I’ve worked on the show, you’re going to love it, don’t overthink it.” So then I binge-watched about six episodes of the show, because I was familiar with the show, but they were like, “Take a look at these six that we recommend for you to watch, these are our favorites,” and I watched them all, and Wednesday morning the conversation was, “I don’t want to do 10 episodes,” and they said, “Well, you have to do 10, it’s 10 or nothing.” I said, “I want to do more, I want to do 15,” and so we signed on for 15 episodes, because I like it that much, and having met the cast and the crew they’re so much fun. They have a good time, they get their work done, they’re professional, but they’re enjoying themselves. I like the show, the show’s fun. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, but they solve bit crimes and their issues and stuff like that.'[21]
In December 2003, Welling made his feature film debut as Charlie Baker, the oldest son and second-oldest in the Baker family which had 12 children, in the family comedyCheaper by the Dozen withSteve Martin andBonnie Hunt, which is a remake of the1950 movie starringClifton Webb andMyrna Loy, based on the 1948book about the family ofFrank andLillian Gilbreth and written by two of their children.[11] Welling talked about why he was interested in the project in an interview with Paul Fischer: "The top three reasons I decided to do this film were, one, Steve Martin, two, Steve Martin and three, Steve Martin. That was the number one draw for me. Then, after reading the script, I really liked this character, Charlie. I liked what he went through, what he had to go through, and I felt I understood where he was coming from. And I just wanted to be a part of it."[5] Welling had always been a fan of Martin's and said that he "absolutely loved" working with him.[5]
In 2005, Welling co-starred in the horror filmThe Fog, a remake ofJohn Carpenter's1980 film of the same name, as Nick Castle (a character originally played byTom Atkins).[22] At the same timeThe Fog was in production, Welling was still working on the last few episodes of the fourth season ofSmallville. The same year, he reprised his role as Charlie Baker inCheaper by the Dozen 2.
In 2013, Welling was among the all-star cast of the historical dramaParkland, based on the bookReclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy by authorVincent Bugliosi. The story centers on the chaotic events that occurred at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas on the day PresidentJohn F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963.[23] In 2014, Welling co-starred in Ivan Reitman's sports dramaDraft Day. He played a veteran quarterback whose career is at a crossroads.
ForSmallville's ninth season, Welling served as a co-executive producer.[11] He returned as Clark Kent for the show's tenth and final season in Fall 2010 and became a full executive producer, as credited in a May 20, 2010 press release by the CW.[24]
Welling served as an executive producer of the CW comedy-dramaHellcats based on journalist Kate Torgovnick's bookCheer: Inside the Secret World of College Cheerleaders.[25][26] The series first aired onThe CW beginning in the fall of 2010,[24] and was canceled on May 17, 2011. According to Welling, the reason of cancellation was because of the change of CW president of entertainment fromDawn Ostroff toMark Pedowitz.[27]
Welling made his directorial debut in 2006 with theSmallville episode "Fragile" (5.18). He also directed "Hydro" (6.10); the show's 150th episode, "Apocalypse" (7.18); "Injustice" (8.21); the second part ("Legends") of the two-hour episode "Absolute Justice" (9.11); and two episodes ofSmallville's final season, "Patriot" (10.09) and "Booster" (10.18).
On July 5, 2002, Welling married model Jamie White[3] on Martha's Vineyard with Welling's friends and then-Smallville co-starsKristin Kreuk andMichael Rosenbaum in attendance.[28] Welling and White resided in Vancouver, British Columbia,[5] but returned to Los Angeles in March 2011. On October 17, 2013, White filed for divorce from Welling. The divorce was finalized in November 2015.[29]
In 2014, Welling began dating equestrian and Saddle Club founder Jessica Rose Lee. In April 2018, they announced their engagement.[30] The couple has two sons, born in January 2019 and June 2021.[31][32][33] Welling and Lee married on November 30, 2019, at Sunstone Vineyards & Winery inSanta Ynez, California.[34]
Welling plays golf in his spare time.[35][36]
He said inYM that he dislikes interviews; "I don't want to be a celebrity for the sake of being a celebrity. I want to work and then go home and live in private."[37] Welling has also said he disliked modeling because it was not fulfilling and was not an expressive job.[38]
On January 26, 2025, Welling was arrested inYreka, California fordriving under the influence.[39] On May 19, 2025, the DUI charge was dropped after he pleaded no contest, which required him to serve one year of probation, pay $619 in fines and $150 in restitution,[40] and attend a DUI program.[40]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Cheaper by the Dozen | Charlie Baker | |
| 2005 | The Fog | Nicholas "Nick" Castle | |
| Cheaper by the Dozen 2 | Charlie Baker | ||
| 2013 | Parkland | Secret Service AgentRoy Kellerman | |
| 2014 | Draft Day | Brian Drew | |
| 2016 | The Choice | Dr. Ryan McCarthy | |
| 2024 | Clear Cut | Keen | |
| Mafia Wars | Terry | ||
| 2026 | Chasing Summer | Chase | Post-production |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Judging Amy | Rob Meltzer | 6 episodes |
| Special Unit 2 | Male victim | Episode: "The Depths" | |
| Undeclared | Tom | Episode: "Prototype" | |
| 2001–2011 | Smallville | Kal-El / Clark Kent / Superman | Main role |
| 2017–2018 | Lucifer | Lt. Marcus Pierce /Cain | 19 episodes |
| 2019 | Batwoman | Kal-El / Clark Kent / Superman | Episode: "Crisis on Infinite Earths Part 2" |
| 2020 | Professionals | Vincent Corbo | 10 episodes |
| 2022 | The Winchesters | Samuel Campbell | 3 episodes |
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–2011 | Smallville | Director Episode 5.18 "Fragile" Episode 6.10 "Hydro" Episode 7.18 "Apocalypse" Episode 8.21 "Injustice" Episode 9.11 "Absolute Justice Part 2" Episode 10.09 "Patriot" Episode 10.18 "Booster" |
| 2009–2010 | Co-executive producer 22 episodes | |
| 2010–2011 | Hellcats | Co-executive producer 22 episodes |
| 2020 | Professionals | Executive producer 10 episodes |
| Year | Title | Artist | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | "Picture Perfect" | Angela Via | Vía's love interest |
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| Totals[a] | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wins | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Nominations | 15 | |||||||||||||
Note
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The following is a list of awards and nominations received by Tom Welling throughout his acting career.
| Year | Award | Category | Film/TV Series | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Teen Choice Award | Choice Breakout TV Star – Male | Smallville | |
| 2009 | Choice Action TV Actor |
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