TOM WELLING

Full Name, Age & Birthplace

Thomas Joseph "Tom" Welling was born on April 26, 1977, in Putnam Valley, New York, USA. As of June 2025, he is 48 years old. 

Early Life & Family Background

Raised in a family that moved frequently—from New York to Wisconsin, Delaware, and Michigan—Tom is the third of four children. He has two older sisters, Rebecca and Jamie, and a younger brother, Mark Welling, who is also an actor . In high school at Okemos High School, Michigan, Tom was active in sports like baseball, basketball, and soccer before graduating in 1995 .

Transition from Construction to Modeling

Upon graduation, Tom worked in construction and lived with his parents. His big break came in 1998 when he was discovered at a party in Nantucket by a casting scout, which led to a modeling career with brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Calvin Klein .

Breakthrough in Acting

Tom made his first TV appearance in 2001, playing Rob “Karate Rob” Meltzer in Judgeing Amy, a recurring role he expanded due to positive audience reception . That same year, he landed the iconic role of Clark Kent in the superhero series Smallville, after a nationwide casting search .

Iconic Role in Smallville (2001–2011)

Running for ten seasons, Smallville became the show defining Tom’s career. Its 2001 pilot pulled in 8.4 million viewers, a record for The WB. Tom initially resisted the role, but after reading the script, he embraced Clark Kent’s emotional depth and growth . He won a 2002 Teen Choice Award and multiple nominations from the Saturn and Teen Choice Awards .

He also directed seven episodes throughout the series, beginning in Season 5, making him a multi-talented presence both on and off screen.

Film & Later Television Work

Tom made his feature-film debut in Cheaper by the Dozen (2003) alongside Steve Martin, followed by roles in Cheaper by the Dozen 2 and the horror remake The Fog (2005) . After Smallville, he appeared in Draft Day (2014) and The Choice (2016). His TV comeback came with Lucifer (2017–2018), portraying Lt. Marcus Pierce/Cain. In 2022, he reprised Clark Kent in The Winchesters and co-launched the fan podcast Talkville with Michael Rosenbaum .

Personal Life & Interests

Tom married Jamie White in 2002; they divorced in 2015. He later married Jessica Rose Lee in 2019, and they have two sons, Thomson (Jan 2019) and Rocklin (June 2021) . Away from the set, Tom enjoys reading, running, basketball, and spending time with his dogs. He’s also a proud Seinfeld fan and can mimic voices like Gollum and Keanu Reeves .

Legacy & Impact

Tom Welling’s ten-season portrayal of Clark Kent set a Guinness World Record for the longest continuous depiction of the character . With a career spanning modeling, acting, directing, producing, and podcasting, he stands out as a versatile and enduring figure in Hollywood and superhero fandom.