Tom Welling
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| Tom Welling | |
| Birth name | Thomas John Patrick Welling |
| Born | April 26, 1977 (age 29) Putnam Valley, New York, USA |
| Notable roles | Clark Kent in Smallville |
| Spouse(s) | Jamie White (2002-present) |
Thomas John Patrick Welling (born April 26, 1977 in Putnam Valley, New York) is an American actor and former male fashion model, most famous for playing Clark Kent on the television series Smallville.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life
Tom Welling was born in Putnam Valley, New York. Welling is the son of a now retired General Motors executive and a homemaker. He has two older sisters, Rebecca and Jamie, and a younger brother, Mark, who is also an actor. His father's job required frequent relocation, and Welling's family moved from Putnam Valley, New York to Janesville, Wisconsin, then to Hockessin, Delaware, until finally settling in Okemos, Michigan early in his junior year of high school.
Active in several team sports including baseball, basketball, Welling was also a third string soccer goalkeeper. He graduated from Okemos High School in 1995, and then worked in construction continuing to live with his parents.
[edit] Career
In 1998, Welling was discovered by a catalogue camera scout at a party in Nantucket who suggested he try modeling. In 2000, Welling relocated to Los Angeles where he modeled for Tommy Hilfiger and others, while pursuing an acting career. Welling's first major acting role was as karate teacher Rob Meltzer, younger love interest of Amy Brenneman, in six episodes of Judging Amy in 2001. He later appeared in Special Unit 2 and Undeclared. He was chosen to play Clark Kent in Smallville after a nationwide search. He told TV Guide that he originally turned down the lead role, but after reading the script, decided to take the job.
In December 2003, Welling played the oldest son of Steve Martin in Cheaper by the Dozen, a remake of the 1950 original. He has since appeared in the sequel Cheaper by the Dozen 2, and the horror remake of The Fog. Despite internet rumors, Welling was not considered for the part of Superman in the 2006 film Superman Returns. [1]
Welling asserts that he is not afraid of the so-called "Superman Curse", in which any actor who dons the tights seems to be typecast for life and/or suffers some tragedy. Moreover, he has not technically played Superman but rather Clark Kent. He has also expressed an interest in producing and directing other projects when the Smallville series ends.
[edit] Personal life
Welling married model Jamie White on July 5, 2002, in Martha's Vineyard, after a three year relationship. He currently lives in Vancouver, where the CW series Smallville is made.
[edit] Filmography
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2005 |
|
| 2004 | Television Specials
|
| 2003 |
|
| 2002 | Television Specials
|
| 2001 | Television Series
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[edit] Trivia
- Height: 6'3" (1.91 m)
- Hair color: Dark Brown
- Eyes: Green
[edit] References
- ^ On the Set - Bryan Singer. BlueTights Network. Retrieved on 2006-11-20.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by: Dean Cain |
Played Clark Kent 2001-Present |
Succeeded by: Brandon Routh (concurrent) |
| Superman in popular media | |
|---|---|
| Actors: | Bud Collyer • Kirk Alyn • George Reeves • Danny Dark • Christopher Reeve • Beau Weaver • John Haymes Newton • Gerard Christopher • Dean Cain • Timothy Daly • Tom Welling • George Newbern • Brandon Routh |
| Film: | Superman (1948) • Atom Man vs. Superman • Superman and the Mole Men • Superman (1978) • Superman II • Superman III • Supergirl • Superman IV: The Quest for Peace • Superman Returns • Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut |
| Television: | Adventures of Superman • Superboy • Lois & Clark • Smallville • Look, Up in the Sky! |
| Animation: | 1940s cartoons • The New Adventures of Superman • Superman • Superman: The Animated Series • Legion of Super Heroes |
| Other media: | Radio • Broadway Theater • Newspaper Strips |
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Welling, Tom |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Actor |
| DATE OF BIRTH | April 26, 1977 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Putnam Valley, New York |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
