An actor who played Clark Kent, better known as Superman, landed in hot water after police arrested him for driving under the influence (DUI). What’s worse, the “Smallville” actor’s arrest coincided with his wife’s birthday. 

California police arrested ‘Smallville’ series Superman actor Tom Welling for drunk driving just after midnight in Yreka

At 12:09 a.m., police officers arrested a man for drunk driving in Yreka, California. The man turned out to be Tom Welling, an actor who portrayed the beloved comic book superhero, Superman, in the “Smallville” television series.

Police arrested the 47-year-old celebrity after determining that he was driving under the influence (DUI). In California, as with most of the 50 states, the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for an adult driver over the age of 21 is 0.08%. While the Superman actor’s BAC isn’t available, his charges from the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office include driving with a BAC of over 0.08%.

Police officers have a couple of tactics for determining whether a driver is inebriated. One of the most accurate means is a breath analyzer device, more commonly referred to as a “breathalyzer.” More conventionally, officers may administer a standardized field sobriety test (SFST), involving physical tasks like walking and balancing. 

Tragically, Welling’s crime coincided with his celebration of his wife’s birthday. According to ABC News, Welling left a family-oriented birthday message on his wife’s Instagram. “Happy Birthday to our Angel who makes our dreams come true and inspires us even more!” Welling wrote on the birthday post. “We love you to the moon and back!”

It’s a more common issue than you might think. Police officers arrest over one million drivers every year for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Welling’s case, like Justin Timberlake’s mid-2024 DUI arrest, is a reminder that celebrities aren’t above the law.