Michael Rosenbaum Honored to Be Favorite Lex Luthor

Michael Rosenbaum Reflects on His Lex Luthor Legacy from Smallville

In an exclusive conversation with Us Weekly, Michael Rosenbaum expressed his gratitude for being hailed as the definitive Lex Luthor over two decades after the debut of Smallville. “It took me quite a while to realize how people felt about my portrayal,” Rosenbaum shared. “It was only in the last five to ten years that I began to see lists ranking characters, and frankly, I didn’t believe I was considered among the best for a long time.”

Rosenbaum originated the role of Lex Luthor during the first season of Smallville, which premiered in 2001. He remained with the show until its seventh season in 2007, returning for the series finale in 2011. “After all these years, you hope your work is recognized and appreciated,” he said. “With so many portrayals of Lex Luthor before me, my goal was always to deliver a performance that would resonate with the audience.”

Interestingly, Rosenbaum noted that social media was not prevalent during Smallville’s original run, which meant fan feedback was often delayed. “It was unpredictable back then,” he recounted.

Rosenbaum also expressed his humility over the ongoing affection from fans. “It’s heartwarming to see new generations discovering Smallville and sharing it with their kids,” he remarked. “We played a foundational role for the superhero genre on television, paving the way for shows like Flash and Arrow.”

According to Rosenbaum, the quality of Smallville stemmed from its compelling writing and strong performances. “The series set the stage for the superhero boom we see today in both TV and film,” he said.

Beyond his acting career, Rosenbaum formed a close friendship with his former co-star Tom Welling, who portrayed Clark Kent. The camaraderie solidified post-show, especially through collaborative ventures like their rewatch podcast, TalkVille. “We were always friendly, but it wasn’t until we started working on these projects that we grew closer,” he admitted. Welling has even been supportive of Rosenbaum’s recent foray into children’s literature with his book, The Talented Farter.

The book is a humorous tale about a boy with a unique ability to make fart sounds reminiscent of everyday noises. “It’s all about adding a bit of humor to life,” Rosenbaum stated. “Farts are part of our reality, and they never fail to make people laugh.”

The Talented Farter is currently available, delivering laughter and nostalgia for fans young and old.