Thomas John Patrick "Tom" Welling (born April 26, 1977) is an American actor, director, producer, and former model, best known for his portrayal of Clark Kent in the CW series Smallville.
A high school athlete, Welling initially worked in construction and in 1998 he successfully modeled men's clothing for several popular brands. In 2000, he made a successful transition to television. He has been nominated and received several awards for his continuing portrayal of Clark Kent. He also had a recurring role in Judging Amy. He has also been involved behind the camera as a executive producer and a director. His films include Cheaper by the Dozen, its sequel, and the 2005 remake of the fog.
Early life
Thomas John Patrick Welling was born in upstate New York on April 26, 1977. His family moved frequently, making stops in Wisconsin, Delaware, and Michigan. Welling attended Okemos High School in Okemos, Michigan, where he started acting in plays, but then switched into sports. Welling played baseball and soccer, but his favorite sport is basketball. Welling is one of four children. His brother, Mark Welling is also an actor.
Originally a construction worker, in 1998 a catalog camera scout discovered Welling at a party in Nantucket and suggested he try modeling. Welling modeled for Louisa Modeling Agency until 2000, when he relocated to Los Angeles. There he modeled for Tommy Hilfiger, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Calvin Klein while pursuing an acting career. Welling has stated that he did not like modeling and that he was not good at it because it was all on the outside or from an external point of view. He pursued acting because he wanted to express a range of emotions. In his first major acting role, Welling portrayed karate teacher Rob Meltzer, a.k.a "Karate Rob", a younger love interest of Amy Brenneman's character on the CBS series Judging Amy, which aired in 2001. Welling was originally signed for three episodes; after receiving enthusiastic fan reviews, the producers kept him for three more. Welling also had a small role in UPN's Special Unit 2, and he appeared in the debut episode of the FOX sitcom Undeclared
