Whereas many grew up listening to Michael Rosenbaum because the voice of The Flash on Justice League and Justice League Limitless, the actor is arguably extra well-known on the DC block for his run as Lex Luthor on Smallville. Amongst his costars on the WB-turned-CW collection was John Glover, who performed Lex’s father, Lionel Luthor, whose parenting abilities left a lot to be desired. In actual life although, Rosenbaum and Glover are on nice phrases with each other, as evidenced by the previous leaving the latter a candy birthday message, which in flip prompted Glover to share the birthday love with a fellow DC legend.
Let’s begin off with the primary message, with Rosenbaum taking to Twitter to want Glover a cheerful 79th birthday by utilizing a nonetheless of their two Smallville characters collectively. Have a look!
completely satisfied birthday to the worst pretend dad a man can have. however a terrific dad in actual life. love you johnny. @RealJohnGlover pic.twitter.com/fHywZzRUaOAugust 7, 2023
Paradoxically, Lex and Lionel Luthor’s respective narrative arcs unfolded oppositely of each other, with Lex beginning out as Clark’s finest buddy and Lionel initially serving because the present’s essential antagonist by making an attempt to uncover Clark’s secrets and techniques. As Smallville obtained deeper into its run, these positions modified, with Lex embracing his future of changing into Clark’s arch-nemesis and Lionel changing into one in every of Clark’s allies. Whereas Lionel was killed off on the finish of Season 7 and Lex seemingly met the identical destiny that season too, each Rosenbaum and Glover returned for Smallville’s tenth and closing season, with Lex being revealed to nonetheless being barely alive, and Glover as a substitute taking part in a Lionel from one other universe. A minimum of we will take consolation understanding Rosenbaum and Glover’s relationship is loads easier in comparison with this father/son duo.
After all, anybody conversant in John Glover’s physique of labor is aware of that Smallville is much from his solely DC Comics media-related credit score, and I’m not simply speaking about his look in Shazam! a number of years again. Previous to Smallville’s airing, together with being seen as Dr. Jason Woodrue in Batman & Robin, he additionally voiced Edward Nygma, a.okay.a. The Riddler, in three episodes of Batman: The Animated Series, adopted by an episode every of Superman: The Animated Collection and The New Batman Adventures. Because it seems, Paul Dini, one in every of Batman: The Animated Serie’ co-creators, shares the identical birthday as Glover, so the actor shared his personal social media most to commemorate the author turning 66.
We share a birthday and @Paul_Dini wrote a number of of my riddler episodes. 🎂🎂🎂 https://t.co/KrkILQfaKUAugust 7, 2023
That’s numerous DC like to throw round, although I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that every one three of those males even have varied Marvel credit on their resume. Dini labored on animated exhibits like Final Spider-Man and Hulk and the Brokers of S.M.A.S.H., Glover guest-starred in an episode of Agent Carter, and Rosenbaum performed Martinex within the latter two Guardians of the Galaxy motion pictures. Nonetheless, so far as Glover and Rosenbaum are involved, Smallville stays one in every of their hottest initiatives greater than twenty years later, and if you happen to’d wish to revisit their variations of Lex and Lionel Luthor, the present may be streamed with a Hulu subscription.
For these of you together with your eyes to the long run, you look via our guides of upcoming DC motion pictures and upcoming DC TV exhibits, and we’ll let if both Michael Rosenbaum or John Glover find yourself being recruited for any of those initiatives. For a wider have a look at the small display screen facet of issues this yr, our 2023 TV schedule is obtainable for perusal.