The talented and ever-charismatic Jensen Ackles and Justin Hartley are no strangers to the small screen, with both fan-favorite leading men having starred in a slew of smash-hit shows throughout their illustrious respective careers. Ackles is perhaps best known for his sensational tenure as the tough-as-nails demon hunter Dean Winchester in the dark fantasy knockout Supernatural, a beloved role he portrayed from 2005 to 2020 and one that helped the series become a certified cult classic.
Likewise, Justin Hartley skyrocketed to prominence when he joined the decorated ensemble cast of the tear-jerking drama This Is Us, appearing alongside famous faces like Milo Ventimiglia and Sterling K. Brown in the universally-lauded original that dominated the ratings during its six-season run. Despite being two of the entertainment industry’s most recognizable performers, some of their devoted fans may have forgotten that the talented duo both had notable roles in the 2000s superhero juggernaut Smallville before they were ultimately reunited in 2024 in the action drama Tracker.
Ackles & Hartley’s Career Beginnings on ‘Smallville’
Before they were battling demons week-after-week and giving audiences a good cathartic cry, small-screen superstars Jensen Ackles and Justin Hartley both achieved widespread recognition when they appeared in the 2001 superhero extravaganza Smallville. Serving as a coming-of-age tale chronicling the early days of the Man of Steel himself, Clark Kent (Tom Welling), in the titular Kansas town, the smash-hit series follows the teenage hero as he falls in love with the beautiful girl next door, Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk), as well as his ever-shifting relationship with future adversary Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum).
Smallville ran for 10 seasons and helped its talented young cast become certified household names, averaging around 4.34 million viewers per episode with its electrifying premiere attracting an impressive 8.4 million viewers. Series creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar had a strict “no tights, no flights” rule that made sure Kent would not fly or wear his iconic Superman suit during the show’s run, instead wanting to strip the iconic character to his “bare essence” and examine how he gradually evolved into becoming the famed DC superhero.
Ackles had actually auditioned for the role of Clark Kent and was runner-up to play the part before Welling was ultimately cast, with the actor eventually joining the popular series in 2004 and portraying Lana’s love interest, Jason Teague. The pair met while she was studying abroad in Paris and Jason follows her back to Smallville where he takes a job at the high school as the assistant football coach, though his true intentions and familial ties are eventually revealed. Ackles was allegedly written out of the show after the fourth season finale due to his commitments to the network’s new dark fantasy series Supernatural.
In the TV show, Hartley took on the role of Oliver Queen, also known as Green Arrow, starting from Season 6 and beyond. He eventually became the leader of a small but powerful team of superheroes called the Justice League. The producers chose him to play this part and he continued in it throughout its eighth season, even co-writing an episode titled “Sacrifice” during that time. Additionally, Hartley directed another episode, “Dominion.” He remained on the series until it ended.
Both Leading Men Become Beloved TV Staples
After their respective tenures on Smallville, both Jensen Ackles and Justin Hartley went on to find further success in the world of television, with the charismatic leading men both appearing in beloved shows and becoming bona fide staples of the small screen. Ackles memorably starred as half of the demon-hunting duo in Supernatural opposite Jared Padalecki. The cult sensation ran from 2005 to 2010 and has amassed a dedicated fan following during its groundbreaking tenure. Ackles also currently portrays Ben/Soldier Boy in the satirical superhero drama The Boys.
Hartley nabbed prominent parts in The Young and the Restless, Revenge, and Mistresses before he skyrocketed to further superstardom with his compelling performance as Kevin Pearson in the tear-jerking drama series This Is Us, appearing alongside famous faces like Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, and Sterling K. Brown throughout the acclaimed show’s six seasons. Hartley received two Screen Actors Guild Awards for his impressive contributions to the dazzling ensemble, and after the touching program’s completion, the actor began playing savvy survivalist and gifted tracker Colter Shaw in the 2024 action drama Tracker.
Ackles joined Tracker in a guest role at the tail-end of the first season as Colter’s estranged brother Russell, whom he is forced to team up with and help investigate the disappearance of a former army friend who goes missing. Fans were thrilled to see the two Smallville alums reunite on screen after years, with audiences looking forward to future potential episodes that will have Colter once again cross paths with Russell. Hartley told ScreenRant in 2024:
“I try to give the people what they want. You know what I mean? And Jensen and I have been friends for so long, and we never got a chance to work together because the man is so damn busy. And then we’re always working in different places…I thought, ‘What a great opportunity to work with that dude.’ He’s so great.”
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2025-03-16 21:04