The Varied Fates of the Smallville Cast: From Stardom to Scandal

Twenty-five years ago, "Smallville" premiered, launching the careers of its young cast and captivating audiences with its reimagining of Superman's origins. The show, which ran for 10 seasons from 2001 to 2011, followed Clark Kent's journey in his hometown before he became the iconic superhero. While "Smallville" brought many of its stars into the spotlight, the years since its conclusion have seen a spectrum of career paths and personal challenges.

Clark Kent

Tom Welling, who portrayed Clark Kent, leveraged the show's success with roles in "Cheaper By The Dozen" and "Cheaper By The Dozen 2," as well as the horror film "The Fog." Post-"Smallville," Welling continued acting in projects like "Parkland," "Draft Day," and "The Choice." He also took on a role as Lieutenant Marcus Pierce in the series "Lucifer" and reprised his "Smallville" character for an episode of "Batwoman."

In 2022, Welling launched the podcast "Talkville" with co-star Michael Rosenbaum to discuss each "Smallville" episode. The pair also began developing an animated sequel series, though Welling recently expressed frustration with Warner Bros. for not approving the project.

Welling married model Jamie White in 2002, divorcing in 2013. He later married Jessica Lee in 2019, with whom he has two sons. While Welling has largely remained out of the public eye, he was arrested for DUI in 2025, though the charges were later dropped. He subsequently pleaded no contest to a lesser offense. Recently, Welling inadvertently shared a naked reflection in a hotel window photo posted online.

Lana Lang

Kristin Kreuk, who played Clark's first love Lana Lang for eight seasons, transitioned to roles in "Beauty & the Beast," "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li," and "Burden of Truth." She also launched a production company and took a break from acting to pursue a bachelor's degree at Queen's University.

In 2018, it was revealed that Kreuk had been a member of the NXIVM self-improvement group, which later faced accusations of sex trafficking and forced labor. Kreuk denied recruiting others or engaging in illegal activities, stating she left the group around five years prior and was "horrified and disgusted" by the revelations.

Lex Luthor

Michael Rosenbaum, who portrayed Lex Luthor until the eighth season, lent his voice to animated characters like The Flash and Static Shock. His acting credits include "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" and "Vol. 3." Rosenbaum also directed and wrote the comedy "Back in the Day" and hosts the podcast "Inside of You."

Alongside Welling, he co-hosts "Talkville." Rosenbaum also has a reality series in development with Jon Heder called "Scared with Michael Rosenbaum and Jon Heder."

Pete Ross

Sam Jones III, who played Clark's friend Pete Ross for the first three seasons, appeared in "ER," "Blue Mountain State," and the film "Glory Road." In 2009, Jones was arrested and later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell Oxycodone, receiving a one-year prison sentence. He was released in 2012. Jones has not acted since 2018 and appears focused on fitness.

Chloe Sullivan

Allison Mack, who played Chloe Sullivan for nine seasons, appeared in the FX sitcom "Wilfred" after "Smallville." Mack became involved with NXIVM in 2011, moving to Albany to be closer to the organization and its leader, Keith Raniere. She was arrested in 2018 and pleaded guilty in 2019 to racketeering charges. Mack admitted to obtaining compromising material on women to extort them and facilitate Raniere's demands. She was sentenced to three years in prison and released in July 2023.

Martha Kent

Annette O'Toole, who played Martha Kent, reprised the role for six seasons. She later appeared in "Halt and Catch Fire," "The Punisher," and the Netflix series "Virgin River." O'Toole also has a music career, co-writing songs with her husband, Michael McKean, including the Oscar-nominated track "A Kiss At The End of the Rainbow."

Jonathan Kent

John Schneider, known for his role as Jonathan Kent and his prior role as Bo Duke in "The Dukes of Hazzard," continued his acting career in "Nip/Tuck," "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," and "The Haves and the Have Nots."

Schneider owns John Schneider Studios and has produced independent films. He competed on "Dancing With the Stars" in 2018. After four marriages, he wed Alicia Allain in 2019, who passed away in 2023. He married Dee Dee Sorvino, widow of Paul Sorvino, in July 2024.

Schneider faced legal issues for failing to pay alimony, resulting in a short jail sentence in 2018. He also drew public criticism for controversial remarks made on social media and in interviews regarding political figures and musicians.

Lionel Luthor

John Glover, who played Lionel Luthor, has had roles in "Fear the Walking Dead," "Shazam!," and "Evil." He has also maintained a career in theater and has narrated audiobooks. Glover, who is openly gay, married sculptor Adam Kurtzman in 2016.

Lois Lane

Erica Durance, recognized for her role as Lois Lane, starred in the medical drama "Saving Hope" and appeared in "Supergirl." She was married to David Palffy from 2005 until their divorce in 2023. They had two sons together.