The curse of Smallville: From drink-driving arrest to sex-trafficking cult and controversial marriage - the varied fates of the disgraced cast as show marks 25th anniversary

Smallville instantly became one of the most popular shows on TV and launched the budding careers of the cast 25 years ago. 

While the cast achieved overnight success, many of the stars faced hardship and controversy in the years that followed.

The beloved superhero show, which switched to The CW Network after its fifth season, followed the adventures of Clark Kent in his hometown of Smallville before he became the iconic Superman.

It went on for 10 seasons after premiering in 2001, and it received a slew of awards and accolades over the course of its 10-year run.

After it came to an end in 2011, the cast's personal lives were plagued by failed marriages and a number of run-ins with the law.

From Tom Welling's drink-driving arrest to Kristin Kreuk and Allison Mack becoming members of a sex cult, we looked at the varied lives of the cast.

Tom Welling (Clark Kent)

Tom Welling, now 49, was cast as Clark Kent in the show when he was just starting out as an actor and it skyrocketed him into the spotlight immediately.

While starring in the series, he also landed roles in the popular family flicks Cheaper By The Dozen and Cheaper By The Dozen 2, as well as horror movie The Fog.

After Smallville came to an end in 2011, he continued to act, starring in the historical drama Parkland, the sports film Draft Day, and the romcom The Choice.

He then portrayed Lieutenant Marcus Pierce in the popular show Lucifer from 2017 until 2018.

After that, he reprised his role as Clark Kent for one episode of the show Batwoman, and starred in the 2020 series Professionals. He also had a brief appearance in the 2022 CW show The Winchesters.

In 2022, he and fellow Smallville actor Michael launched a podcast together, called Talkville, where they broke down each episode of the show. 

In addition, he revealed in 2021 that he and Michael were working on an animated sequel series to Smallville. 

However, in November 2024, he gave a heartbreaking update on the show, telling Screen Rant: 'The honest answer is we have not been able to get Warner Bros to give us the thumbs-up. 

'We need their permission. We haven't even gotten a response. It's the weirdest thing because it is more of a fan-driven idea. 

'It's not going to be a blockbuster. It's not going to be a financial windfall for any of us. We all like each other, we all like working together, and if we could do it, it'd be fun. 

'But Warner Bros - and I'm not hating on them - they just haven't gotten back to us. It's not a priority for them.'

As for his love life, he married model Jamie White back in 2002, while he was starring in Smallville, but they split in 2013. He then moved on with equestrian and Saddle Club founder Jessica Lee.

They wed in 2019, and welcomed two sons – Thomson born in 2019 and Rocklin born in 2021. 

Tom has stayed mostly out of the spotlight in recent years, opting for a more quiet life in Northern California with his wife and children.

However, Tom found himself back in the spotlight, after it was revealed that he had been arrested in connection with driving under the influence last year.

In May 2025, the initial DUI charges against him were dropped. Instead, Tom pleaded no contest to a lesser charge. 

And this week, he accidentally showed more of himself than intended as he shared his hotel view of the city skyline but failed to notice his own naked reflection.

'Hello NYCC,' the actor wrote in the caption, referring to New York Comic Con, where he turned up to celebrate Smallville's 25th anniversary.

Fans were quick to detect the blunder and the snap went viral, remaining on Tom's account for 10 hours before it was deleted, according to Just Jared. 

Kristin Kreuk (Lana Lang)

Kristin Kreuk, now 43, portrayed Clark's first love Lana Lang in Smallville for the initial eight seasons, before she left the show in 2008.

She did not slow down afterwards, landing roles in The CW show Beauty & the Beast, the martial arts film Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, the horror flick Vampire, the comedy Space Milkshake, the legal drama Burden of Truth, and most recently, the 2024 crime drama Murder in a Small Town.

She also launched her own production company called Parvati Creative Inc with Rosena Bhura, which has produced a few short films.

Kristin took a break from acting in 2018 to focus on her education and got her bachelor's degree from Queen's University.

She also left Hollywood around that time to instead reside in Vancouver, Canada, where she is originally from. 

'I always struggled with Los Angeles. I didn't know how to fit there,' she told Reader's Digest in 2018. 

'It didn't feel grounding. Ultimately, I'd love to be able to live and work in my own country where I feel like I'm reflected in the community and the community reflects me. I don't feel that in the States.'

In 2018, it was revealed that Kristin had spent seven years as a member of Keith's sex cult NXIVM.

Keith started NXIVM in the 1990s in Albany as a purported self-improvement group that then expanded across the country.

It first became known for its 'Executive Success Program' courses, which purported to give students the ability to achieve their goals in life by overcoming mental blocks.

But Keith launched a secret branch, known as the DOS, in 2015 that was just for women.

Prosecutors later said the secret society was comprised of brainwashed female 'slaves' who were blackmailed into having sex with him, following dangerously restrictive diets and being branded with his initials. 

Initially, it was reported that Kristin had recruited her costar Allison into the group, who went on to become the queen bee of DOS. 

On Instagram, Kristin denied 'recruiting' anyone and insisted that she 'never experienced any illegal or nefarious activity' during her time in the group.

She explained that she signed up for an 'executive success program' with NXIVM around 2005, which she 'understood to be a self-help/personal growth course' to help her handle her 'previous shyness'.

'I left about five years ago and had minimal contact with those who were still involved,' she wrote.

'The accusations that I was in the "inner circle" or recruited women as "sex slaves" are blatantly false.

'During my time, I never experienced any illegal or nefarious activity. I am horrified and disgusted by what has come about DOS.

'Thank you to all of the brave women who have come forward to share their stories and expose DOS. I can't imagine how difficult this has been for you.'

She added that she was 'deeply disturbed and embarrassed to have been associated with NXIVM. I hope that the investigation leads to justice for all of those affected.'

Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor)

Michael Rosenbaum, now 54, starred as Clark's best friend Lex Luthor in Smallville up until the eighth season, and it was just the beginning for him.

He also famously voiced The Flash in the animated series Justice League, Static Shock, and Justice League Unlimited, and Kid Flash in Teen Titans. 

His other acting credits include the film Hit And Run (which also starred Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell), Fox sitcom Breaking In, TV Land's Impastor, thriller The Neighbor, and Marvel's Guardian's of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Vol. 3.

He also directed and wrote the 2014 comedy Back in the Day as well as narrating the reality series Hunted.

In recent years, he began focusing on other endeavors outside of acting. He released two albums with his band, Sun Spin, and wrote his own children's book.

In addition, he teamed up with Tom to launch their podcast together in 2022, while also running his own successful podcast, Inside of You, in which he interviews various celebrities.

He also taped a reality series with his longtime friend and fellow actor Jon Heder called Scared with Michael Rosenbaum and Jon Heder, but there's currently no release date set for it.

'I wanted to do a reality show. We love horror movies so we go to the scariest places on Earth,' he told Los Angeles Daily News in 2023 of the show.

'[Jon] and I are just good friends and I could sense that people would want to watch that.

'You have to do things that make you smile and do things that give you energy. Yeah, people have to work hard for a living and work at jobs they don't like, but if you can do something on the side that you like, whether it makes you money or not, do it. 

'Because it will save your mental health.'

Sam Jones III (Pete Ross)

Sam, now 43, portrayed Clark's other best friend Pete Ross in Smallville during the first three seasons.

Since then, he has acted in the medical drama show ER, the sitcom Blue Mountain State, the film Glory Road, Lifetime movie For One Night (opposite Raven-Symone), Home of the Brave (alongside Samuel L. Jackson, Jessica Biel and Christina Ricci), Hallmark movie Safe Harbor, the thriller All Light Will End, and Spike TV comedy series Blue Mountain State.

He became embroiled in scandal in 2009 after he was arrested by members of the Drug Enforcement Agency in relation to a drug trafficking case.

DEA agents said he was a 'co-conspirator' in several major drug deals. 

He ultimately pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell more than 10,000 pills of Oxycodone in December 2010.

Sam was sentenced to one year behind bars and was released in October 2012.

He also made headlines in 2010 after a sex tape that he had filmed with model girlfriend Karissa Shannon leaked online. 

He hasn't acted since 2018, and based on his Instagram, he is now very into working out as he often shares videos of himself in the gym and photos showing off his physique.

Allison Mack (Chloe Sullivan)

Allison Mack, 44, starred as Chloe Sullivan, another member of Clark's inner circle, in Smallville for the first nine seasons, and then returned for small appearances throughout season 10 and 11.

Her character was so popular she landed her own spin-off mini-series called Smallville: Chloe Chronicles.

After her time in Smallville came to an end, she scored a role in the FX sitcom Wilfred, portraying the love interest of Elijah Wood's character. She also starred in the 2011 crime drama Marilyn. 

She began attending NXIVM seminars while living in New York City in 2011. Months later, she moved to Albany to be closer to NXIVM and Keith instead of pursuing an application to Yale Drama School. 

Allison was arrested in 2018 by the FBI and charged with racketeering conspiracy, forced labor conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, sex trafficking conspiracy, sex trafficking, and attempted sex trafficking due to her role in Keith's NXIVM cult.

She pleaded guilty in 2019 to racketeering and racketeering conspiracy charges.

Allison admitted during the trial that at Keith's direction, she obtained compromising information and images of two unidentified women – called 'collateral' within the group – that she threatened to make public if they didn't perform 'so-called acts of love'.

Prosecutors also said she ordered victims 'to perform labor, take nude photographs, and in some cases, to engage in sex acts with Keith'. 

She wrote a letter to the judge ahead of her sentencing in which she apologized for her role in NXIVM and said following Keith was the biggest regret of her life.

'It is now of paramount importance for me to say, from the bottom of my heart, I am so sorry,' she said.

'I threw myself into the teachings of Keith Raniere with everything I had. I believed, whole-heartedly, that his mentorship was leading me to a better, more enlightened version of myself. I devoted my loyalty, my resources, and, ultimately, my life to him.

'This was the biggest mistake and regret of my life.'

She also apologized to the victims she and Keith lured into the sex cult, calling her former master a 'twisted man'.

'I am sorry to those of you that I brought into NXIVM,' Allison wrote. 'I am sorry I ever exposed you to the nefarious and emotionally abusive schemes of a twisted man. I am sorry that I encouraged you to use your resources to participate in something that was ultimately so ugly.

'I do not take lightly the responsibility I have in the lives of those I love and I feel a heavy weight of guilt for having misused your trust, leading you down a negative path.'

Allison was sentenced to three years behind bars but spent less than two years in prison before she was released in July 2023. 

It's unclear what she's up to now. 

Annette O'Toole (Martha Kent)

Annette O'Toole, now 74, was cast as Clark's adoptive mother, Martha Kent, in Smallville, 18 years after she famously portrayed Lana Lang in Superman III.

She continued the role for six seasons before she ultimately left the show.

Afterwards, she went on to star in the series Halt and Catch Fire, comedy thriller Women Who Kill, 2018 biopic A Futile and Stupid Gesture, The Punisher, The Good Doctor, and Blow the Man Down in 2019.

She has appeared in the Netflix show Virgin River, which recently debuted its sixth season.

Annette has also had a booming music career, teaming up with her composer, actor and singer husband Michael McKean to write a series of songs for various movies.

They famously penned the Oscar-nominated track A Kiss At The End of the Rainbow for the film A Mighty Wind.

She also went on tour with her husband on numerous occasions as his backup singer. 

Annette married Michael in 1999. She has two daughters from her previous marriage to actor Bill Geisslinger. 

She is also stepmother to Michael's two sons from his past marriage. 

John Schneider (Jonathan Kent)

John Schneider, now 66, played Clark's adoptive father, Jonathan Kent, in Smallville for the first five seasons.

By the time he was cast in the series, he was already pretty well known thanks to his previous role as Bo Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard and his success as a country artist.

After Smallville, his career continued to soar. He starred in the Nip/Tuck, ABC Family show The Secret Life of the American Teenager, 90210, Desperate Housewives, and the soap opera The Haves and the Have Nots.

He owns his own production company called John Schneider Studios, which was based out of Louisiana, and he has written and produced a slew of independent films.

In 2018, he competed on season 27 of Dancing With the Stars with Emma Slater, but they were the sixth couple to be eliminated .

He has been married four times. His first marriage was to former Miss America Tawny Elaine Godin from 1983 until 1986.

John then tied the knot with a woman named Elvira 'Elly' Castle in 1993, and together, they welcomed a daughter.

He also adopted her two children from her previous marriage. But in 2014, it was revealed that they were divorcing.

Then, in 2015, he started dating his producing partner Alicia Allain and they wed in 2019. They were together up until her tragic death from breast cancer in 2023.

John went on to marry Paul Sorvino's widow Dee Dee Sorvino in July 2024.

He's faced his own fair share of scandals over the years. In 2018, it was reported that he had been sentenced to three days in jail for failing to pay $150,000 in delinquent alimony to his ex Elly. 

He ultimately spent only five hours behind bars due to 'overcrowding'.

At the time, the actor stated to Fox News that he had fallen on hard times after having to spend most of his money repairing his movie studio in Louisiana after it had been destroyed during a flood in March 2016. 

In recent years, John has faced scrutiny online after he made a series of eyebrow-raising comments.

In December 2023, he said then-President Biden 'should be publicly hung' in a shocking post on X.

'Mr. President, I believe you are guilty of treason and should be publicly hung,' the Smallville alum wrote. 'Your son too. Your response is...? Sincerely, John Schneider.' 

Afterwards, however, he insisted that his post never implied threats or violence in a statement to TMZ.

'Despite headlines claiming otherwise, in my post, I absolutely did not call for an act of violence or threaten a US President as many other celebrities have done in the past,' he said.

'I suggest you re-read my actual post and pay attention to the words before believing this nonsense.

'It's my position, which I am entitled to have, that some of our nations leaders in Washington have lost their way, and corruption runs rampant, both on our nation's borders and abroad.

'Transparency and accountability must happen in order for our constitutional republic to survive. There is no threat implied or otherwise in that statement.'

In February 2024, he was also slammed after he compared Beyoncé to a urinating dog following the announcement of her country album. 

During an interview with conservative network One American News, John was asked about his thoughts on 'leftist' musicians, like the singer, who venture into different genres. 

'The lefties in the entertainment industry just won't leave any area alone, right? They just have to seize control over every aspect, don't they?' the host asked him.

John then replied: 'They've got to make their mark, just like a dog in a dog walk park. You know, every dog has to mark every tree, right? So that's what's going on here.'

Afterwards, some fans labeled him as 'racist', but he told DailyMail.com at the time that it was 'absurd and just ridiculous' as a dog marking a tree was 'an expression he's used his whole life'.

John Glover (Lionel Luthor)

John Glover had a guest role as Lex's father, Lionel Luthor, in Smallville during its first season, before he joined as a main cast member from season two to eight.

And to many fans' delight, he returned for a few appearances in the final season of the show.

His later roles include the horror anthology film Sanitarium, adventure drama Sweet Talk, thriller We Go On, the series Fear of the Walking Dead, the DC superhero flick Shazam!, and CBS' Evil.

Most recently, he guest starred in the Sex And The City reboot And Just Like That... in one episode and lent his voice to the animated 2024 series Gremlins.

He's also a successful stage actor and has appeared in numerous Broadway shows, including Waiting for Godot and The Drowsy Chaperone.

Glover, now 82, has also narrated numerous audio books.

The actor, who is openly gay, married a sculptor named Adam Kurtzman in 2016.

Erica Durance (Lois Lane)

Erica Durance's breakout role was as Lois Lane in Smallville starting in season four until the show ended in 2011.

She then went on to star in the medical drama Saving Hope as Dr Alex Reid, as well as the series Supergirl and a slew of Lifetime and Hallmark films.

She was married to a man named Wesley Parker from 1996 until 1999. 

Erica, now 48, then started dating actor David Palffy in 2001 and they tied the knot in 2005.

Together, they welcomed two sons but split in 2023 after 18 years of marriage.