Ian Somerhalder

Ian Somerhalder Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: December 8, 1978

Age: 45 years old

Birth Place: Covington, Louisiana

After an early departure from his first hit series, "Lost" (ABC, 2004-2010), actor Ian Somerhalder became a fan favorite as the standout star of the immensely popular supernatural drama, "The Vampire Diaries" (The CW, 2009-17). Starting out as a successful model, Somerhalder transitioned to acting with the short-lived teen drama, "Young Americans" (The WB, 1999-2000) before landing roles in features like "Life as a House" (2001) and "The Rules of Attraction" (2002). His first major role, that of over-protective brother Boone Carlyle who may be in love with his step-sister on the phenomenon, "Lost" was cut short when Somerhalder's character was killed in a freak accident during the first season. Even the actor was stunned by the unexpected turn of events. Although he made periodic return visits to the "Lost" island, Somerhalder soldiered on with such middling efforts as the horror feature "Pulse" (2006) and the highly sexualized series "Tell Me You Love Me" (HBO, 2007-08). His true breakout role came along when Somerhalder was cast as troubled loner vampire Damon Salvatore on the supernatural drama series "The Vampire Diaries" (The CW, 2009-17). As one third of a love triangle that included his undead brother Stefan and human Elena, Somerhalder quickly became the bad boy favorite of the show. Adding to the veracity of their smoldering onscreen pairing was the news that he and Dobrev had become a real-life couple. Handsome, talented and politically active, Somerhalder was determined to be known as more than just another pretty face.

Credits

Live with Kelly and MarkStream

Guest
Talk
2023

Common Ground

Actor
Movie
2023

Kiss the Ground

Executive Producer
Movie
2020

Kiss the Ground

Self
Movie
2020

V WarsStream

Actor
Dr. Luther Swann
Series
2019
60%

The Kelly Clarkson ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2019

Access Daily

Guest
Show
2019

8th Annual Directv Celebrity Beach Bowl

Actor
Show
2014

Young Hollywood's Greatest

Actor
Show
2014

Evolution Of...

Actor
Show
2014

The Anomaly

Actor
Harkin Langham
Movie
2014

The Queen Latifah Show

Guest
Talk
2013

Caught on Tape

Actor
Movie
2013

Live! With Kelly and Michael

Guest
Talk
2012

Larry King NowStream

Guest
Talk
2012

The Talk

Guest
Talk
2010

Access Hollywood Live

Guest
Show
2010

How to Make Love to a Woman

Actor
Daniel Meltzer
Movie
2010

The Vampire DiariesStream

Actor
Damon Salvatore
Series
2009
86%

The Vampire DiariesStream

Director
Series
2009
86%

Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream

Guest
Talk
2009

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

Guest
Talk
2009

Fireball

Actor
Lee Cooper
Movie
2009

The Tournament

Actor
Miles Slade
Movie
2009

Wake

Actor
Tyler
Movie
2009

Lost City Raiders

Actor
Jack Kubiak
Movie
2008

The Lost Samaritan

Actor
William Archer
Movie
2008

Tell Me You Love Me

Guest Star
Nick
Show
2007

Chelsea Lately

Guest
Talk
2007

The Better Show

Guest
Show
2007

Marco Polo

Actor
Marco Polo
Show
2007

Marco Polo

Actor
Marco Polo
Movie
2007

Rachael Ray ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2006

Pulse

Actor
Dexter
Movie
2006

The Sensation of Sight

Actor
Drifter
Movie
2006

The Tyra Show

Guest
Talk
2005

Entertainment Tonight Canada

Guest
Show
2005

Fearless

Actor
Jordan Gracie
Show
2005

LostStream

Actor
Boone Carlyle
Series
2004
86%

LostStream

Guest Star
Boone Carlyle
Series
2004
86%

LostStream

Guest Voice
Boone Carlyle
Series
2004
86%

Tavis Smiley

Guest
Talk
2004

In Enemy Hands

Actor
Danny Miller
Movie
2004

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

CSI: MiamiStream

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Series
2002

The Rules of AttractionStream

Actor
Paul Denton
Movie
2002
44%

Changing Hearts

Actor
Jason Kelly
Movie
2002

SmallvilleStream

Guest Star
Adam Knight
Series
2001
78%

Live With Regis and Kelly

Guest
Show
2001

Anatomy of a Hate Crime: The Matthew Shepard Murder

Actor
Movie
2001

Anatomy of a Hate Crime

Actor
Russell Henderson
Movie
2001

Life as a HouseStream

Actor
Josh
Movie
2001
47%

CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationStream

Guest Star
Tony Del Nagro
Series
2000

Young Americans

Actor
Hamilton Fleming
Series
2000
42%

Now and Again

Guest Star
Series
1999
100%

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream

Guest Star
Charlie Baker
Series
1999
78%

The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

Guest
Talk
1992

Today

Guest
News
1952

News aboutIan Somerhalder

Teen Dramas

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Untitled design (5)

12 Most Divisive TV Love Triangles: ‘Sex and the City,’ ‘Buffy’ & More

Smallville Amy Adams Shad Moss Ian Somerhalder

13 Actors Who Guest-Starred on ‘Smallville,’ Which Ended 10 Years Ago

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‘Legacies’: Who From ‘Vampire Diaries’ & ‘Originals’ Should Guest Star on the Mystic Falls Drama? (POLL)

V Wars Netflix

Fans React to ‘V Wars’ Cancellation at Netflix

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Q&A

Ian Somerhalder Says Luther Swann ‘Is Trying to Hold up the Jenga Pieces’ of ‘V Wars’

dolores ww cover

12 of TV’s Most Unconventional Relationships (PHOTOS)

v wars cover

Ian Somerhalder Returns to the Vampire Genre in Netflix’s ‘V-Wars’ (PHOTOS)

The Vampire Diaries, needoflove

Ian Somerhalder Shows off His New ‘V-Wars’ Character

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Find out What the Last Line of ‘The Vampire Diaries’ Almost Was

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES

Ian Somerhalder Returning to TV in Netflix Vampire Series ‘V-Wars’

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES

‘The Vampire Diaries’: Writer Elisabeth R. Finch Reveals Harassment on Set

Ian Somerhalder, The Vampire Diaries
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Watch: A Supercut of Salvatore Brothers Battles From the New ‘Vampire Diaries’ DVD Set

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Best Lines on TV This Week (March 3 – March 9): “Welcome to the House That Fear Built. Come on In.”

The Vampire Diaries
Q&A

‘The Vampire Diaries’ Series Finale: Kevin Williamson on Damon’s Humanity, Elena’s Return, and [Spoiler]’s Death

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES

A Look Back at Classic Instagram Snaps from the Cast of ‘The Vampire Dairies’

The Vampire Diaries - Paul Wesley as Stefan, Nina Dobrev as Elena, Ian Somerhalder as Damon

8 Epic Moments from ‘The Vampire Diaries’ Through the Years

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES
Finale

Saying Goodbye to ‘The Vampire Diaries’: Ian Somerhalder Hopes ‘Fans Will Feel Satisfied and Happy’

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Best Lines on TV This Week (Feb. 10 – Feb. 16): ‘Since When Are You Fillory Clinton?’

The Vampire Diaries

‘The Vampire Diaries’: Ian Somerhalder and Michael Malarkey on the Final Season

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‘Vampire Diaries’ Damon and Valerie React to Stefan’s Disappearance – Watch Our Exclusive Clip!

Nina Dobrev in The Vampire Diaries

Goofing Off Behind the Scenes on ‘The Vampire Diaries’ (PHOTOS)

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Will ‘Steroline’ Come Back Strong? ‘The Vampire Diaries’ Cast Talks Next Season (VIDEO)

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20 TV Stars Who Boarded Our Comic-Con Yacht: Saturday Highlights (PHOTOS)