Smallville returns for a fourth season September 22 on the WB network, and that means more shirtless sightings of Tom Welling, the hot young actor who plays the teenaged Clark Kent.

Smallville takes us to the years before Superman learned to fly. But, our teenaged Clark Kent (Welling) is still out to save the world, or at least the town.

Clark has not yet become a reporter. He doesn’t even wear glasses. But, he still must struggle to come to grips with his emerging superpowers - and the effects of kryptonite - while battling the strange things that have plagued the idyllic Midwest hamlet since the meteor shower. Welling was born on 26 April 1977, in West Point, New York. His early years were spent in Wisconsin, Delaware, and Michigan. His father was a retired executive for General Motors.

In his early years at school, Tom showed some of the acting ability he would later use, when he appeared in several school plays and pageants.

A jock in high school, he developed a passion for basketball, dabbled with baseball, and excelled at soccer, which he played as Goalkeeper on the high school Varsity team.

On graduating from Okemos High School, in Okemos Michigan, in 1995, he decided that college was not really an option, so instead he became a construction worker, living at home with his parents for a few more years.

On vacation with friends in Nantucket when he was 21 year old Tom was approached by an Abercrombie and Fitch catalogue scout, working for the famed photographer Bruce Weber. A week after the meeting he headed to Lake George, New York, to do a shoot for A&F. It was the beginning of his modeling career.

He joined the Louisa Modeling Agency, and modeled for them throughout Europe. However the modeling world never really suited him, and in January 2000, he decided to move to Los Angeles, to try his luck as an actor.

His first big break was landing six episodes on Judging Amy, playing opposite Amy Brenneman in a romantic role that drew raves. He landed the role of Clark Kent after a nationwide search for a fresh face to play the part.

Hundreds of young actors auditioned for the part, and Tom wasn’t even sure of whether he wanted the part or not. But, the casting directors were so sure he was the best choice for the role, that they chased him for the part, and he finally took the role after receiving a cell phone call at a gas station.

Welling has relocated to Vancouver while filming the series.

This season on Smallville, Clark grows older and finds his life becomes even more complicated.