Tom Welling facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tom Welling
Welling in 2024
Born	Thomas Joseph Welling (1977-04-26) April 26, 1977 (age 48) Putnam Valley, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Model actor director
Years active	1998–present
Television	Smallville Lucifer Professionals The Winchesters
Spouse(s)	Jessica Rose Lee ​ (m. 2019)​
Children	2

Thomas Joseph Welling (born April 26, 1977) is an American actor, director, producer, podcaster, and model. He is famous for playing Clark Kent in the superhero TV show Smallville (2001–2011). He also appeared in the fantasy comedy-drama Lucifer as Lt. Marcus Pierce (2017–2018).

Before acting, Welling was a high school athlete. He worked in construction and started modeling clothes in 1998. By 2000, he began his career in television. He has won and been nominated for several awards for his role as Clark Kent. His movies include Cheaper by the Dozen (2003) and Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005). In 2022, he starred as Samuel Campbell in the TV series The Winchesters. Welling has also worked behind the scenes as a producer and director.

Early Life and Family

Welling was born in Putnam Valley, New York. His family moved often, living in Wisconsin, Delaware, and Michigan. He went to Okemos High School in Okemos, Michigan. There, he first tried acting in school plays but later focused on sports. Welling played baseball and soccer, but basketball was his favorite sport. He has two older sisters, Rebecca and Jamie, and a younger brother, Mark Welling, who is also an actor.

Acting Career

Starting Out in Acting

Tom Welling was working in construction when he was discovered in 1998. A casting director saw him at a party and suggested he try modeling. He modeled for different agencies until 2000, when he moved to Los Angeles. There, he continued modeling for big brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein while trying to become an actor.

Welling appeared in a music video for Angela Via in 2000. He has said he didn't really like modeling because it felt fake. He wanted to act to show real emotions. In 2001, he got his first major acting role as Rob "Karate Rob" Meltzer in the TV show Judging Amy. He was supposed to be in only three episodes but stayed for six because people liked his performance. He also had small roles in other TV shows like Special Unit 2 and Undeclared.

Starring in Smallville

Tom Welling became very famous for playing Clark Kent in the superhero show Smallville. He was chosen after a big search across the country. He once shared how he found out he got the part: "I stopped at a gas station to call my manager. He said, 'Can you hold on a second?' Then, seven people were on the line, and they all said, 'Tom, you got it!'"

The first episode of Smallville aired in October 2001. It was a huge success, with 8.4 million viewers. Welling actually turned down the role twice at first. He decided to take it after reading the script. He wasn't a big Superman fan before the show and chose not to read the comics. He wanted to keep his character fresh and different. He did get to meet two actors who played Superman before him: Christopher Reeve and Dean Cain.

Welling was named one of People magazine's "Breakthrough Stars of 2001." He also won a Teen Choice Award in 2002 for his role as Clark Kent. He later won another Teen Choice Award in 2009. In 2019, Welling returned as Clark Kent in an episode of Batwoman. This episode showed that his character had given up his powers and was living as a farmer with Lois Lane and their daughters.

In July 2022, Welling and his Smallville co-star Michael Rosenbaum started a podcast called Talkville. On the podcast, they talk about every episode of Smallville.

Role in Lucifer

In 2017, Tom Welling returned to TV in the show Lucifer. He played Marcus Pierce, a police lieutenant who was also the immortal character Cain.

He decided to join the show after a friend, Greg Beeman, who directed Smallville episodes, told him he would love it. Welling watched several episodes and enjoyed the show. He liked that the cast and crew had fun while working hard. He originally wanted to do more episodes than first offered because he liked the show so much.

Movies Tom Welling Has Been In

In December 2003, Welling made his first movie appearance in the family comedy Cheaper by the Dozen. He played Charlie Baker, the oldest son in a family with 12 children. He said he wanted to do the movie because of Steve Martin, who also starred in it. Welling loved working with Martin.

In 2005, Welling was in the horror movie The Fog. At the same time, he was still filming Smallville. That same year, he played Charlie Baker again in Cheaper by the Dozen 2.

In 2013, Welling was part of the cast in the historical drama Parkland. This movie was about the events at Parkland Hospital on the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. In 2014, he co-starred in the sports drama Draft Day, playing a veteran quarterback.

Behind the Camera

Producing and Directing

Tom Welling also worked as a producer for Smallville. He was a co-executive producer for the ninth season and a full executive producer for the tenth and final season.

He also served as an executive producer for the TV show Hellcats, a comedy-drama about college cheerleaders. The show aired in 2010.

Welling made his directing debut in 2006 with an episode of Smallville called "Fragile." He went on to direct several other episodes of the show, including "Hydro," "Apocalypse," and "Booster."

Personal Life

Tom Welling married model Jamie White in 2002. They lived in Vancouver, British Columbia, before moving back to Los Angeles. They later divorced in 2015.

In 2014, Welling started dating Jessica Rose Lee. They got engaged in 2018 and married on November 30, 2019. They have two sons, born in January 2019 and June 2021.

In his free time, Welling enjoys playing golf. He has said that he prefers to keep his private life separate from his work. He also mentioned that he didn't enjoy modeling because it didn't allow him to express himself.

Filmography

Movies

Television Shows

Crew Roles

Music Videos

Awards and Nominations

Tom Welling has received several awards and nominations during his acting career.

Nominations

• Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA: 5 nominations
  • Saturn Award nomination, (2002), Best Actor in a Television Series (Smallville)
  • Saturn Award nomination, (2003), Best Actor in a Television Series (Smallville)
  • Saturn Award nomination, (2004), Best Actor in a Television Series (Smallville)
  • Saturn Award nomination, (2005), Best Actor in a Television Series (Smallville)
  • Saturn Award nomination, (2006), Best Actor in a Television Series (Smallville)
• Teen Choice Awards: 10 nominations, 2 wins
  • Teen Choice Award nomination (2002), Choice Actor: Drama/Action Adventure (Smallville)
  • Teen Choice Award nomination, (2003), Choice Actor: Drama/Action Adventure (Smallville)
  • Teen Choice Award nomination, (2004), Choice Actor: Drama/Action Adventure (Smallville)
  • Teen Choice Award nomination, (2004), Choice Breakout Star: Male (Cheaper by the Dozen)
  • Teen Choice Award nomination, (2005), Choice Actor: Drama (Smallville)
  • Teen Choice Award nomination, (2006), Choice Chemistry (Smallville)
  • Teen Choice Award nomination, (2006), Choice Actor: Drama/Action Adventure (Smallville)
  • Teen Choice Award nomination, (2008), Choice Actor: Action (Smallville)

Awards Won

Images for kids

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  Welling in 2009

See also

In Spanish: Tom Welling para niños