Tom Welling
From Smallville Wiki
Thomas John Patrick Welling (born April 26th, 1977) is an American actor and a former model. He is most famous for the role of Clark Kent on the television series Smallville.
Welling was born in Putnam Valley, New York. His father is a retired General Motors executive and his mother a home engineer. He has two older sisters, Rebecca and Jamie, and a younger brother, Mark, who is also an actor. His father's job often required relocation, first moving from Putnam Valley, New York (his birthplace) to Hockessin, Delaware, then settling in Okemos, Michigan at the beginning of Tom's sophomore year in high school.
Welling was active in many team sports including baseball, basketball, and excelling in soccer, playing the position of goalkeeper. He graduated from Okemos High School in 1995. After graduation he worked as a construction worker and continued to live with his parents.
Contents |
[edit] Career
In 1998, Welling was discovered by a catalog shoot scout who suggested he try modeling. In 2000, Welling relocated to Los Angeles where he modeled for Tommy Hilfiger and others, while simultaneously pursuing an acting career. Welling's first major role was six episodes on Judging Amy in 2001, playing opposite Amy Brenneman, and as a love interest and karate teacher. He later appeared in Special Unit 2 and Undeclared. He was chosen as Clark Kent in Smallville after a nationwide search.
In December 2003, Welling played the oldest son of Steve Martin in the big screen adaptation of Cheaper by the Dozen. He has now since appeared in the sequel Cheaper by the Dozen 2, and the horror remake of The Fog. Despite rumors that have swept the internet, Welling was not considered for the part of Superman in the movie Superman Returns. Director Bryan Singer was searching for a fresh new face to play the role and had specifically stated in an interview on the movie's website that Welling had not been considered.
Welling married Jamie White on July 5th, 2002, in Martha's Vineyard, after a three year relationship. He currently lives in Vancouver, where the CW series Smallville is filmed.
[edit] Episodes Directed
Since Season 5, Tom has directed one episode each season. Some of the episodes he has directed include:
Season 5
- Fragile (co-written by Todd Slavkin & Darren Swimmer) - Clark and Martha take in a little girl, Maddie, after her foster mother is brutally stabbed to death. However, it is discovered that Maddie has the power to shatter glass and she becomes the prime suspect. Meanwhile, Chloe asks both Lex and Lana about their budding relationship.
Season 6
- Hydro (co-written by Brian Peterson & Kelly Souders) - After Lana confesses to Chloe she has reservations about marrying Lex due to her lingering feelings for Clark, the Daily Planet gossip columnist, Linda Lake runs a story detailing their exact conversation. Determined to prove she didn't give the story to Lake, Chloe investigates her fellow co-worker and discovers Lake has the ability to turn herself into water and uses it to secretly overhear conversations for her column. Meanwhile, Lois begins to suspect Oliver is the Green Arrow and enlists Clark's help to prove it.
Season 7
- Apocalypse (co-written by Al Septien & Turi Meyer) - Clark discovers that Kara sent messages from Krypton in the past that indicate that Brainiac wants to kill baby Kal-El so Clark will not exist in the future. Clark is torn because he thinks the world would be better off if he had never arrived in Smallville so Jor-El arranges for Clark to see what life would have been like if he hadn't existed.
[edit] Notes
- Tom is one of three main cast members who have directed episodes; the others include Michael Rosenbaum and John Schneider, both of whom have directed one episode each.
- Tom has directed more episodes (three) than any other cast member.
[edit] Quick Facts
- He has a pug named Cook.
- His Astrological sign is Taurus.
- He is 6' 3".
- His spouse is Jamie White.
- He has two older sisters named Rebecca and Jamie, and a younger brother named Mark.
[edit] Trivia
- Tom's favorite television show is Seinfeld.
- Tom's favorite movie is Mutiny on the Bounty.
- Tom was in the music video "Picture Perfect" by Angela Via. He and Angela shared a kiss at the end of the music video.
- Tom can do the voice of Gollum (Lord of the Rings), as well as a pretty accurate Keanu Reeves impression.
- Tom modeled alongside Ashton Kutcher. The two are good friends.
- Tom has modeled for Tommy Hilfiger, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Calvin Klein.
- Tom, along with the rest of the Smallville cast, doesn't particularly like shooting at the "Kent Farm" because it's such a far drive from home after a long day.
- In the February 2006 issue of The Official Smallville Magazine, Tom was listed as having played Clark Kent for the longest amount of time on television.
- Tom and his wife Jamie White were married on July 5, 2002. They now live in Vancouver, near the set of Smallville.
- During his time off, Tom enjoys reading, running, playing basketball, and spending time with his dogs.
- Tom turned down two auditions for the role of Clark Kent on Smallville. Once he finally auditioned, they offered the part to him, and he immediately accepted.
- Tom has played three different named personalities of Clark Kent: Clark Kent, Kal (on red kryptonite), and Kal-El (while brainwashed by Jor-El). He also portrayed a paranoid Clark, under the influence of silver kryptonite (Splinter).
- Tom has portrayed two versions of Clark possessed by another being: a Clark possessed by Lionel Luthor (Transference), and a Clark possessed by teenager Dawn Stiles (Spirit). He has also portrayed Tina Greer in disguise (Visage).
- Tom has also portrayed two entirely different characters on Smallville: a young Jor-El (Relic), and Bizarro.
[edit] Filmography
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2005 |
|
| 2004 | Television Specials
|
| 2003 |
|
| 2002 | Television Specials
|
| 2001 | Television Series
|
[edit] Promotional Picture Gallery
|
|
|
|
[edit] External links
Categories: Crew | Cast | Directors
