Tom Welling is an all-rounder: an actor, model, producer, and director. However, he is best known to audiences all over the world for playing Clark Kent in Smallville, the long-running series that told the coming-of-tale of the boy who became Superman. Welling was the star of the show, appearing in over 200 episodes and being nominated for well over a dozen awards. His other major credits to date include a recurring role as Lieutenant Marcus Pierce aka Cain in the DC Comics-based series Lucifer, Charlie Baker in the hit Steve Martin movie Cheaper by the Dozen (and its sequel), and most recently, that of Samuel Campbell in CW fantasy series, The Winchesters.

Welling was born in New York in April 1977, so he was still a toddler when the first, iconic Superman film was released. He dabbled in acting and sports as a youth, but he was working in the construction industry when he was discovered by a talent scout looking for models for a Tommy Hilfiger campaign. Shortly afterwards, he moved to Los Angeles and began modelling for the likes of Calvin Klein whilst also auditioning for acting roles. In 2001, Welling got his major break when he was cast as the young Clark Kent in Smallville. The show became a huge success, running for 10 seasons and making Welling’s name. He recently began a podcast with fellow Smallville star Michael Rosenbaum, talking through all 217 episodes.

Smallville concluded in 2011, but Welling has been busy ever since, proving that he is no one-trick-pony, as his recent role as grandfather Samuel Campbell in The Winchesters proves.