What The Stars Of Smallville Are Up To Now

There have been plenty of television series centered around Superman and his associated characters over the years, but "Smallville" stands out as one of the greatest. That's not to say the others aren't fantastic, but "Smallville" helped redefine the Man of Steel for a new generation, and it did it without letting the Last Son of Krypton fly until the very end. That kind of boldness requires excellent storytelling, and "Smallville" nailed it ... most of the time.

The series was on the air for 10 seasons, from 2001 to 2011, and was filled with some exceptional talent. Tom Welling's take on Clark Kent managed to reinvent the comic book character for new audiences by instilling his charm and charisma into a genuinely likable character, hearkening back to Christopher Reeve's take on Superman. Of course, he didn't knock out 217 episodes on his own. He had an impressive roster of co-stars, helping to bring Smallville, Metropolis, and the rest of Superman's universe to life.

Michael Rosenbaum arguably played the best version of Lex Luthor seen on a live-action television series. His love-turned loathing of Clark defined the series as much as Kristin Kreuk's Lana Lang. The cast was brilliant, and the core characters who fleshed out Superman's adolescence feature some high-profile players. The series has been off the air for over a decade, but the actors haven't all retired. Here's what the stars of "Smallville" are up to these days.

Like most of his co-stars on "Smallville," Michael Rosenbaum didn't have a lot of name recognition before landing the part of Alexander "Lex" Luthor. However, he's been working in Hollywood since 1997, so while his face wasn't known to many, his voice certainly was. Rosenbaum entered the DC Comics universe via voiceover work on numerous animated series, where he voiced the Flash, Deadshot, Trapper, and others. Most of his work has been behind the microphone, making "Smallville" something of an outlier.

Rosenbaum absolutely nailed Lex Luthor, and his is considered one of the best performances the character has had. He left the series after Season 8 and only returned once for the finale in 2011 (per Entertainment Weekly). After leaving "Smallville," Rosenbaum continued lending his voice to various characters in film and video games, but he also appeared in a few movies, one of which he wrote and directed. "Back in the Day" came out in 2011, and few people saw it. According to Lou Lumenick of the New York Post, it's a "stale, schmaltzy and testosterone drenched comedy." 

Rosenbaum has kept himself busy, primarily with work behind the microphone. He hosts a celebrity podcast, "Inside of You," which features many of his friends and fellow celebs. Working behind the microphone isn't limited to speaking for Rosenbaum, either, as he's also the lead singer of Sun Spin, a band he formed with his friend Rob Danson during the pandemic. They dropped their first album, "Best Days," in 2021. 

Kristin Kreuk had two credits when she landed the role of Lana Lang on "Smallville." It wasn't her first lead in a television series, but it was the one that put her on the map. She remained Clark's primary love interest until the seventh season wrapped, leaving to pave the way for Lois Lane to capture Clark Kent's attention. She also wanted to pursue other interests, telling Metro, "I've been doing 'Smallville' since I was 18, so it's been my whole adult life."

Kreuk's time on television paid off, and soon after leaving "Smallville," she landed the role of Catherine Chandler in "Beauty and the Beast." That role kept her occupied until it went off the air in 2016, and she's been working consistently in various areas. Kreuk parlayed her experience on the small screen into a film career, but it hasn't gone well. She appeared in several films in small parts, and her big break came in 2009 when she was cast to play the lead in "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li." The movie was a bomb, though, and didn't help Kreuk's career.

Still, she had success in television for years, and she transitioned back to that medium as her film prospects waned. She's since starred in "Burden of Truth," "Ghostwriter," and "Reacher," where she plays Charlene "Charlie" Hubble" (per Deadline). Kreuk's career has also included modeling gigs for Neutrogena, voiceover work, and producing through her production company, Parvati Creative Inc. (via The Georgia Straight).

Although "Smallville" launched the careers of many of the principal actors, the series cast several veterans in the adult roles. John Glover is one such veteran, as he began working in the industry in the early 1970s. His resume includes parts in "Annie Hall," Scrooged," and "Gremlins 2: The New Batch," to name a few. When he joined the cast of "Smallville" as Lionel Luther, he'd been working for over 30 years, making him one of the most seasoned actors on the show.

Glover's work on "Smallville" didn't keep him in every episode. Still, he managed to show up in 145 of them, including the pilot and series finale. This afforded him opportunities to find work elsewhere, and he had walk-on roles on various shows, including "Numb3rs" and "Heroes." He didn't work in film much while on "Smallville," but he's since appeared in several, including another DC Comics project, "Shazam!" Glover also joined the "Walking Dead" franchise, scoring the role of Theodore "Teddy" Maddox on "Fear the Walking Dead" and the spinoff, "Dead in the Water."

While he's appeared in several projects, Glover's career has slowed down in recent years. He's shifted to voiceover work in some areas and focused much of his attention on theater. Glover is a veteran of stage and screen and has played on Broadway since 1972. After "Smallville," he appeared in "Death of a Salesman," "Macbeth," "The Cherry Orchard," "Saint Joan," and "The Importance of Being Earnest," which ended in 2019 (per Playbill).

John Schneider played Jonathan Kent on "Smallville" for 103 episodes, some of which he directed. He left the series after his character died in the fifth season, but before that happened, he managed to score a story with his old co-star, Tom Wopat, reuniting them on screen for the first time since their days on "The Dukes of Hazzard" and its TV movies. It was Schneider's role as Bo Duke that made him famous, and it was also his first television role. Schneider had a few appearances on "Smallville" after he left the main cast, reprising his role in the final season (per IGN).  

When he left "Smallville," he continued working in films and television. He's appeared in dozens of movies and television series over the years, though none are as prominent as "Smallville." Schneider has also transitioned to working in Hallmark and Lifetime Original Movies, having starred in one of each between 2020 and 2021. While acting has undoubtedly been a significant part of Schneider's life for decades, it's not his only career — he's also a successful country music singer.

While working on "The Dukes of Hazzard," Schneider branched out into music. According to Taste of Country, his first album, "It's Now or Never," reached number 8 on the U.S. Country Billboard Charts. His debut single, a cover of Elvis Presley's hit, reached number 4. He's since released over 30 albums and more than 20 singles, four of which topped the charts upon release (per Forbes).

Sam Jones III began acting as a teenager, with roles in several popular series, including "NYPD Blue," which was his first acting role. He showed up on a few series before becoming one of the principal actors who started on "Smallville" with the pilot. He played Pete Ross, Clark Kent's best friend at Smallville High. Jones' work on the show was exceptional, but he didn't remain for long. The actor departed the series in the third season, before the final episode. He returned once in the seventh season to close out his character's story.

Jones kept himself busy, working on various shows and in films and TV movies. His career hit something of a snag in 2010 when a sex tape he filmed with his then-girlfriend, Karissa Shannon, was leaked, resulting in a lawsuit and inevitable deal with Vivid Entertainment (per TMZ). That wasn't the worst thing to happen to him that year though. In December, he was arrested as part of a DEA sting operation as a co-conspirator in several drug deals that had occurred the previous year, per the New York Daily News.

TMZ reported that the actor agreed to a plea bargain and was sentenced to 366 days for taking part in a conspiracy to sell more than 10,000 Oxycodone pills. Although sentenced to a year behind bars, he was released after nearly ten months. Since his release, Jones has returned to his craft, appearing in a few movies that haven't garnered much attention.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Aaron Ashmore has one of those faces people swear they've seen in something before, and they're probably right. The actor has been confusing fans about his credits for years, thanks to being an identical twin to Shawn Ashmore, who is also a successful actor. Both actors dabbled in comic book-related projects, though they're separate by publishers: Shawn was in Marvel's "X-Men" films, while Aaron played Jimmy Olson in DC's "Smallville." He joined the cast in 2006, as the focus shifted from the eponymous town to grander things happening in Metropolis.

"Smallville" has been good for Ashmore's career, though he worked steadily in TV and film before landing the gig. His fans likely recognize him from "Veronica Mars" or any of the plethora of TV movies he did between 1993 and 2004. Of course, he hasn't been sitting back and taking it easy since finishing up with "Smallville." Ashmore has taken leading roles in numerous television series, including "Warehouse 13," "Killjoys," and "Locke & Key," which is another comic book property from IDW.

Ashmore's work didn't slow down during the COVID-19 pandemic; instead, he's worked more than most. His role of Gil Timmins on "Ginny & Georgia" has been well received, and according to Survived The Shows, he's set to return for Season 2. Ashmore has kept himself busy since leaving "Smallville," but make sure you're watching the right Ashmore brother when you see his charming face appear, because both brothers have successful careers working in film and television.

Jensen Ackles isn't a name that's often associated with "Smallville," and there's a good reason for that. When Ackles landed the role of Jason Teague on "Smallville's" fourth season, he'd already made an impression on countless fans of "Dawson's Creek" and "Dark Angel." Still, none of his early work truly stands out these days because of what he did after leaving "Smallville" in 2005. That same year, Ackles landed the role of Dean Winchester on "Supernatural," and it's a role he played for more than 300 episodes across 15 years.

These days, it's easy to forget about his time coaching a young Clark Kent, given his massive fan base surrounding "Supernatural." Still, Ackles never entirely left the DC Comics universe, as he's lent his voice to several animated series, including playing Jason Todd/Red Hood in "Batman: Under the Red Hood." He's even played the Dark Knight himself, Batman, in "Batman: The Long Halloween." Ackles continued working in comic book adaptations by taking on the role of Soldier Boy in the third season of "The Boys," so it's fair to say he has a niche in which he excels.

Outside of the small screen, Ackles has done some work in film, but his most recent movie was shut down. He was set to play Wood Helm on "Rust," but the film's production was terminated following the fatal on-set shooting of the director of photography, Halyna Hutchins, in 2021 (via CNN). As of mid-2022, Ackles hasn't booked another feature film.

If you don't recognize his face from the show, you can rest assured Terence Stamp played a significant role in "Smallville." Unfortunately, he never stepped in front of the camera, offering only his disembodied voice as he played Clark Kent's Kryptonian father, Jor-El. Despite being dead for years, Jor-El's memories were interwoven into the Fortress of Solitude, which acted as his link to his still-living son. Jor-El was a villain (of sorts) in the series, which Stamp knows a lot about, given his early work in the franchise.

Stamp played none other than General Zod in "Superman: The Movie" and its sequel, "Superman II," so he was the perfect casting choice to play Superman's father. Stamp has been working in theater and feature films since 1959, making him the most senior actor to work on "Smallville." While his voice showed up throughout most seasons, he only worked on 23 episodes. Still, he made an impact and was a critical character in Clark's development.

Stamp has worked consistently for decades, and he didn't stop when his time on "Smallville" ended. He lent his voice to another DC project, "Static Shock," and did some video game voiceover work through the 2000s. Stamp continued appearing in movies, with 2021's "Last Night in Soho" being his most recent. Though he's now in his eighties, Stamp hasn't retired and may show up in a project or two before he decides to hang it up for good. 

Callum Blue began working in television a few years before "Smallville" launched. However, he wouldn't find his way to the series for some time. Before joining "Smallville," he appeared in a handful of prominent roles on "Dead Like Me," "Related," and "The Tudors," all of which showcased his inimitable acting style. In 2009, he got a chance to appear on "Smallville," where he played General Zod (per Entertainment Weekly). That casting came after more than two dozen acting credits, so he was well established when he took on the role of Superman's nemesis.

He remained on the series through the ninth season, appearing only briefly in the tenth. His character had an inevitable end, but Blue managed to play him in such a way that you almost wished he would stick around. Ultimately, that didn't happen, and Zod stepped aside for a far more dangerous foe to take his place. Blue didn't slow down after his time in "Smallville" and has worked consistently.

While he's landed a few recurring roles on several series, he hasn't been able to gain a foothold on anything comparable to "Smallville." That's not to say his work hasn't been good, but there's a hot "Superman" show, and then there's whatever else is on TV. He's worked the latter for a while, though he did make the jump to the Hallmark Channel via "Mix Up in the Mediterranean" in 2021, so he may be following the example set by many of his former castmates.