Lex Luthor (Smallville)

Lex Luthor
Occupation	Fictional character
Years active	2001–2011 (Smallville)
Known for	Portrayal of Lex Luthor in Smallville
Notable work	Smallville

Lex Luthor is a character featured in the television show Smallville, brought to life by actor Michael Rosenbaum. Adapted from the DC Comics figure, Lex was developed for television in 2001 by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. Rosenbaum portrayed Lex as a main cast member from the pilot episode through the seventh season, later returning for a guest appearance in the two-part series finale.

Within the storyline, Lex is dispatched to Smallville by his father Lionel Luthor to oversee the local LuthorCorp fertilizer facility. Following a near-death car accident, Clark Kent rescues him, initiating a complicated friendship. As time progresses, Lex’s growing obsession with Clark’s hidden truths combined with his own ambitions causes their relationship to deteriorate. The strained dynamic with Lionel escalates until Lex ultimately kills his father to uncover Clark’s secret.

The portrayal of Lex in Smallville begins with a morally complex character, motivated by curiosity and a thirst for power, eventually evolving into Clark’s primary foe. Rosenbaum’s performance garnered him both a Saturn Award and a Teen Choice Award.

Role in Smallville

Lex Luthor, son of Lionel Luthor (John Glover), arrives in Smallville tasked with managing LuthorCorp’s fertilizer plant. Having been exposed to a meteor shower during childhood, he becomes bald but enjoys perfect health. As he matures, after being rescued from drowning by Clark Kent, they form a friendship. Initially, Lex’s intrigue about Clark drives his efforts to unravel Smallville’s mysteries.

During season one, Lex aids Clark in pursuing Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk) while investigating his own automobile accident. Doubting Lex’s motives, Jonathan Kent hires reporter Roger Nixon to investigate Clark. Lex also partners with Dr. Hamilton (Joe Morton) to examine meteor rocks and uncovers an octagonal artifact inscribed with alien symbols connected to Clark’s spacecraft.

In season two, Lex murders Nixon to protect Jonathan and assumes the role of curator of the Kawatche Caves after discovering identical symbols there. His fascination grows as he suspects Clark is deciphering the cave inscriptions. Meanwhile, Lionel competes for control over the caves and artifact. Lex briefly dates Dr. Helen Bryce (Emmanuelle Vaugier), who later attempts to assassinate him.

Season three reveals that Lionel holds Lex responsible for the death of his brother Julian, although Lex accepted blame to shield their mentally ill mother. Lex's fixation on Clark leads to the end of their friendship after Clark uncovers Lex spying on his family.

In season four, Lex rises to become CEO of LuthorCorp and seeks three ancient stones bearing symbols matching those previously found. He suspects Clark has located these stones and clashes with Jason Teague (Jensen Ackles). His reckless behavior backfires when an ex-lover frames him for murder.

By season five, Lex’s obsession with Clark’s secret intensifies; he orchestrates a hostage situation involving metahuman criminals that ultimately fails. Under Brainiac’s (James Marsters) influence—who possesses alien artifacts—Lex is further manipulated. In season six, he marries Lana under deceptive circumstances; she fakes her death and frames him for murder.

Season seven depicts Lex’s complete descent into villainy. He forms a brotherly connection with Grant Gabriel (Michael Cassidy), a clone of his deceased brother whom Lex had killed after Grant challenged his authority at the Daily Planet. Discovering Lionel's involvement in Veritas—a clandestine group aware of an alien visitor called "The Traveler"—Lex kills his father to seize control of their secrets. Utilizing an orb linked to Veritas, he confronts Clark at the Fortress of Solitude after injuring his hand in the Arctic.

In season eight, with Lex absent, Tess Mercer (Cassidy Freeman) assumes leadership of LuthorCorp as his appointed successor while searching for him. It is revealed that Lex implanted a nano-transmitter in Tess’s optic nerve; he retaliates by deploying a kryptonite bomb that disables Lana’s bio-enhanced suit, forcing her separation from Clark. Oliver Queen (Justin Hartley) appears to kill Lex by destroying his medical transport.

Season ten discloses that Lex engineered multiple clones; most suffer rapid aging and defects. One clone attempts vengeance against Clark but dies prematurely. The finale features a composite clone maintained on life support while an alternate reality Lionel sacrifices himself to save Lex. Accepting their inevitable rivalry, Lex tells Clark that overcoming Darkseid requires inspiring humanity. The series concludes seven years later with Lex elected as President of the United States.

Portrayal

In developing Smallville, creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar sought to present Lex Luthor as a sympathetic and complex figure, contrasting with the more humorous interpretation by Gene Hackman in the Superman film series. The casting process proved difficult, as Gough and Millar favored a comedian, believing such performers inherently desire to "please and be loved."Michael Rosenbaum auditioned twice, with his second try featuring a nuanced scene that combined wit, charm, and menace, ultimately earning him the role.

Prior to Rosenbaum's selection, Martin Cummins auditioned for Lex but was later cast as Dr. Garner, a neuroscientist conducting experiments on Clark Kent. Zachary Levi, who initially tried out for Clark Kent, also tested for Lex and impressed the production team; however, despite moving to Vancouver and shaving his head in preparation, he was not chosen. Apart from Rosenbaum, four actors—Matthew Munn, Wayne Dalgish, Lucas Grabeel, and Connor Stanhope—portrayed Lex during his childhood across different episodes.

Rosenbaum appreciated scenes that unveiled Lex’s darker facets, such as in "Hug," where Lex wields a machine gun, revealing the character’s evolving complexity. To achieve Lex’s signature bald appearance, Rosenbaum shaved his head daily and underwent extensive makeup work to conceal his natural hairline. After completing seven seasons on Smallville, Rosenbaum departed to explore other roles but returned for the 2011 series finale as a tribute to the audience.

Storyline progression

During season one, Rosenbaum interpreted Lex as a conflicted hero wrestling with moral ambiguity and striving to make the right choices. The fraught dynamic with his father, introduced in the pilot episode, reaches a climax in the season one finale when Lex faces a critical decision: save his father trapped beneath debris or let him perish. Rosenbaum emphasized that this moment illustrates Lex’s internal struggle coping with life without Lionel. He likened it to the delicate balance between reason and impulse, comparing it to a driver briefly losing control.

Season two delved deeper into Lex’s darker tendencies, highlighting his reluctance to rescue his father and his resentment toward Jonathan over perceived injustices, thereby enriching his psychological depth. The episode "Memoria" from season three uncovered the truth behind the death of Lex’s infant brother Julian—initially hinting at Lex’s responsibility before revealing he was protecting their mother.

Season four further developed Lex’s longstanding affection for Lana, initially suggested in season one. His efforts focused on shielding Lana from her boyfriend Jason Teague, who sought the stones of knowledge; simultaneously, Lex aimed to remove Jason to win Lana for himself. Writer Darren Swimmer questioned Lex’s earlier motivations by asking why a wealthy billionaire would invest so much effort into Lana. According to Todd Slavkin, season five represented "the darkening of Lex Luthor." By the episode "Aqua," Lex abandoned any pretense of friendship with Clark and fully revealed his sinister side.

Throughout season five, Lex’s ambition intensified as he pursued a Kansas senate seat. A pivotal moment occurred in "Lexmas," where after surviving a shooting, Lex experiences an alternate reality devoid of wealth or influence but also loses Lana following childbirth. This profound loss cemented his determination to relentlessly "go for the prize," fueling his unyielding quest for power.

Characterization

Lex's primary driving force is his fascination with the unknown, which motivates his morally complex decisions from the moment he encounters Clark following a Porsche crash. Clark's continual involvement in the unusual occurrences around Smallville heightens Lex's determination to uncover hidden truths. According to Rosenbaum, Lex perceives only two options: joining forces with his father in Metropolis or delving into the enigma of Clark's extraordinary abilities. As the series progresses, Lex's darker, more sinister aspects come to light, transforming early subtle hints into a fully developed villain. In the season two opener "Vortex," a close-up shot after Lex shoots Nixon was designed to reveal his shadowy side, leaving viewers uncertain whether he experienced remorse or satisfaction. Rosenbaum cautions that when Lex "loses control," he becomes genuinely perilous. This ongoing internal conflict between virtue and malevolence enriches his character, positioning Lex as a tragic anti-hero destined to become Superman’s most formidable adversary.

In the season six finale, Rosenbaum improvised a disturbing scene with Lana that underscored Lex’s unpredictability. Additionally, humor was woven into Lex’s persona, including self-mocking remarks about his hair loss, which add a human dimension and reflect his jealousy of Clark. Writer Steven DeKnight explains this envy arises from Lex feeling like an outsider compared to Clark’s seemingly flawless existence.

By season five, Lex’s ambition for power escalates significantly; both producers and Rosenbaum concur that his political aspirations are boundless, ultimately targeting the presidency and broad public acclaim.

From a visual standpoint, Lex is often presented wearing cool-colored attire—such as blacks, greys, purples, and blues—set against sleek glass and steel environments that emphasize his calculated and strategic nature.

Relationships

Rosenbaum recognizes that although the friendship between Lex and Clark is doomed to fail, it remains vital to Lex during the early stages. If Clark could perceive the darkness within Lex, he might better understand his behavior. This layered examination of their dynamic sets Smallville apart from conventional teen dramas.

Lex attempts to compensate for emotional voids caused by familial losses through romantic relationships, paralleling Lana Lang’s own struggles. Both actor and writer agree that Lex yearns for unconditional love—something only his late mother truly provided. However, these relationships frequently end in betrayal or pain, reinforcing his guarded demeanor.

Lex’s longstanding infatuation with Lana culminates in a complicated romance after her breakup with Clark. While some writers suggest Lana dates Lex merely to provoke Clark, others interpret her feelings as genuine but unfulfilled due to her unresolved emotional issues. Rosenbaum believes Lex truly loves Lana but is afraid of vulnerability because of past wounds. Their eventual separation represents a poignant turning point for both characters.

Lex’s troubled relationship with his father Lionel is characterized by manipulation and emotional abuse. Rosenbaum describes it as a constant struggle in which Lex fears losing himself to Lionel’s corrupting influence. When it is revealed that Lionel was responsible for killing Lex’s grandparents, Lex hands him over to the FBI—a decisive act driven by moral conflict and self-preservation.

Reception

Michael Rosenbaum received several Saturn Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor on Television due to his portrayal of Lex Luthor, securing a win in 2002. Additionally, he was nominated for the Cinescape Genre Face of the Future Award alongside Kristin Kreuk, and earned multiple Teen Choice Award nominations in categories such as Choice Sidekick and Choice Villain between 2002 and 2009.

Young adult novels

Lex Luthor is featured in various Smallville novels published by Aspect. In Smallville: Strange Visitors, he investigates fraudsters who exploit meteor rock remedies and uses a front company to obtain their meteor rock reserves. Meanwhile, in Smallville: Dragon, Lex hosts a social gathering that is interrupted by a reptilian creature connected to meteor rocks and faces an encounter with a former lover sent by his father as a challenge.

Smallville

The storyline of the television show is extended through the comic series Smallville: Season 11, penned by Bryan Q. Miller. Within this narrative, Lex renames LuthorCorp to LexCorp while grappling with memory loss caused by poisoning from Tess Mercer. He reevaluates his former friendship with Clark Kent and harbors suspicion toward Superman after his identity becomes public. The poison not only sharpens Lex's intellect but also links his mind with Tess Mercer’s consciousness. Once Tess's situation is resolved through technological means, it is disclosed that Lex and Bruce Wayne were childhood friends who lost contact following the murder of Bruce’s parents; Bruce now perceives Lex as morally compromised. After participating in battles against cosmic threats, Lex considers running for president—a goal he has held since before his amnesia.

Arrowverse

Despite an invitation from Warner Bros. to reprise his role as Lex Luthor in the Arrowverse crossover event Crisis on Infinite Earths, Michael Rosenbaum declined; consequently, the character only appears in reference as the President. Nevertheless, the comic companion Crisis on Infinite Earths Giant depicts several versions of Lex Luthor forming "The Council of Luthors," an alliance aiming to eliminate Supermen throughout the multiverse and dominate without resistance. Operating from a satellite orbiting Earth-99, this council incites a coalition of Supermen to oppose them. The Smallville incarnation of Lex employs a kryptonite-powered exosuit similar to those worn by other council members to combat Superman threats across different universes.