Why Eric Johnson Left Smallville After Only One Season As Whitney Fordman

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Summary

Eric Johnson played Whitney Fordman in Smallville, who was initially an antagonist but later became a friend to Clark.
Whitney was the first major character to be killed off in Smallville, though original plans could have seen him killed off even sooner.
The character's death allowed for Lana's growth and moving on from her first love, making it an important part of the series' storyline.

Eric Johnson only lasted a single season on the DC series Smallville as Whitney Fordman. A complex character with major impacts on some of Smallville's best episodes, Whitney was a star football player who was also in a relationship with Lana Lang. In this, the character initially functioned as an antagonist to Clark. The tension between them was set up in the series' pilot episode, where Whitney and the football team strapped Clark up to a cross in a cornfield as a prank. Using meteor rocks to do so, this prank almost became deadly for Clark.
Smallville ran for an incredible 10 seasons and continues to influence Superman depictions, including in the DC Universe. Many Smallville cast members came and went through this time, but Whitney was the first major character to be killed off. Not based directly on any comic book character, Whitney's journey from antagonist to friend was an emotional and effective one, that saw the bully softening and becoming friends with Clark after losing his father. At the end of season 1, Whitney left to join the Marines, and was killed in battle shortly after.

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