Thomas John Patrick "Tom" Welling (born April 26, 1977) is an American actor, director, producer and model best known for his portrayal of Clark Kent in The WB/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 for and received several awards for his portrayal of Clark Kent.