No, Welling and Reeve are not related
Q: On “Smallville,” is the actor who plays the young Clark Kent related to (the late) Christopher Reeve who played Clark Kent and Superman in the movies? They’re so much alike, I would believe they were father and son if you told me so. — Louis G.
A: Christopher Reeve and Tom Welling are not father and son. Nor is there any indication that they’re even related.
However, they do share several things in common: Reeve turned down the role of Superman when it was first offered to him because he was afraid it would make it difficult for him to do other work. Welling turned it down twice for the same reason: He didn’t want to be stereotyped. And both actors rarely read a Superman comic as boys and had to be introduced to the characters in the life of the Krypton emigre when they took on their respective Superman roles.
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Q: I’m curious about the meaning of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s first name. — Renee R.
A: Dr. Condoleezza Rice (she holds a doctorate in international studies) was given a name derived from a musical term, “con dolcezza” or “con dulce,” which means to perform something with sweetness. Rice grew up in a musical family (which is probably why she was given her name) and could have had a career as a concert pianist, but she decided to follow her two other interests: teaching political science on the college level, and government service. Despite her hectic schedule, she manages to put in time at the keyboard every day.
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Q: I’m curious about a comment Kiefer Sutherland (“24”) made on a TV talk show that he is related to one of the most beloved people in Canadian history. Was he talking about his father, Donald Sutherland, who is a very good actor, but why would he be considered “beloved”? — Vicky B.
A: Sutherland was talking about his maternal grandfather, Tommy Douglas, who introduced the Canadian health care system — considered by many the most progressive in the world — and who was a lifelong defender of civil liberties. In 2004, Canadians voted Tommy Douglas the Greatest Canadian of All Time.
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Q: Has Jennifer Aniston said why she wouldn’t have children, even though it cost her her marriage to Brad Pitt? — Noreen G.
A: Aniston has never commented on this, and only now are we hearing from Brad Pitt, who says the matter of children was not an issue in their breakup, and that the cause for the split was complex. He also says he and Aniston have remained close friends.
Pitt says that’s also true of his relationship with Angelina Jolie: Just friends — although things could change later on.