Noughties TV star unrecognisable in mugshot amid DUI arrest

A Hollywood heart-throb who portrayed Superman on a hit TV series looked unrecognisable amid his shock arrest.

An actor who was considered the ultimate Hollywood heart-throb for portraying Superman on the hit TV series Smallville was virtually unrecognisable amid his arrest over the weekend.

In a mugshot available to the public, Tom Welling appeared dishevelled and unlike his preppy Clark Kent character when he had a run-in with police in Yreka, California, on Sunday for allegedly driving under the influence.

Tom Welling is unrecognisable in a mugshot following his DUI arrest on Sunday. Picture: Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office

According to police records obtained by TMZ, the 47-year-old was arrested in a parking lot outside fast-food chain Arby’s around 2am for a DUI, and it was reported that his blood alcohol level was at or above the US legal limit of 0.08 per cent.

He was booked at the Siskiyou Country Sheriff’s Office, but was released hours later around 7am. The actor is scheduled to front a judge on March 11.

The actor is known for portraying Clark Kent in Smallville.

Welling starred in the series for 10 seasons from 2001 to 2011.

Although Welling has starred in hits such as Lucifer, The Fog and the Cheaper By the Dozen films opposite Steve Martin, he is best known for his portrayal of Superman in Smallville from 2001 to 2011 for 10 seasons.

With the Smallville cast (left to right): Annette O'Toole, John Schneider, Welling, Kristen Kreuk, Michael Rosenbaum, Aaron Ashmore, Allison Mack and Sam Jones III.

“The more time goes by, the more I appreciate that experience. I know I wouldn’t have anything that I have right now if it wasn’t for that show,” Welling told Variety in 2018, adding that he calls the series his “version of college where I just wanted to learn as much as I could”.

Welling has also starred in Lucifer and the Cheaper By The Dozen films. Picture: John Sciulli/Getty Images

With his wife Jessica Rose Lee.

Welling would go on to marry equestrian and entrepreneur Jessica Rose Lee at a vineyard in California’s Santa Ynez in 2019 after five years of dating. The couple have since welcomed two sons: Thomson Wylde and Rocklin Von.

Just one day before Welling’s arrest, he paid tribute to his wife with a loving post on Instagram to mark her birthday.

“Happy Birthday to our Angel who makes our dreams come true and inspires us even more! We love you to the moon and back!” he wrote alongside photos of them on a ranch.

Lee was equally complimentary back in November when as she celebrated four years living on their ranch in Northern California.

“Celebrating 4 years on our ranch, and a love that makes it all possible,” she gushed at the time.

Originally published as Noughties TV star unrecognisable in mugshot amid DUI arrest