Born: December 8, 1978
Age: 44
Birthplace: Covington, Louisiana, U.S.

Ian Joseph Somerhalder[1] (born December 8, 1978)[2] is an American actor, model and director.[3] He is known for playing Boone Carlyle in the TV drama Lost and Damon Salvatore in The CW's supernatural drama The Vampire Diaries.
Somerhalder was born and raised in Covington, Louisiana, the son of Edna, a massage therapist, and Robert Somerhalder, an independent building contractor.[4] He is the second of three children, with an older brother, Robert, and younger sister, Robyn.[5] He attended Mandeville High School, a public school in Mandeville, Louisiana.[6] He embarked on a modeling career from age 10 to 13,[7] and by the age of 17 he decided to go into acting.In the summer of 2000, Somerhalder starred in the short-lived WB series Young Americans, a spin-off of Dawson's Creek. He played Hamilton Fleming, the son of the dean of a prestigious boarding school. In 2002, Somerhalder played bisexual character Paul Denton in Roger Avary's adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' novel, The Rules of Attraction, alongside James Van Der Beek, Shannyn Sossamon, and Jessica Biel.[8]
In 2004, Somerhalder scored his breakthrough role when he played Boone Carlyle in the hit TV show Lost. Despite his character's death in the twentieth episode of the first season, Somerhalder returned to the role of Boone for seven more episodes between 2005 and 2010, including the series finale. Somerhalder was one of the first actors to be cast in a role for the series[9] and the first major character to die.[10]
In 2009, Somerhalder appeared in the movie The Tournament where he played the role of an assassin participating in a lethal competition with other assassins. He appears in the coffee table book About Face by celebrity photographer John Russo.[11][12]
In June 2009, Somerhalder was cast in the role of Vampire Damon Salvatore as a series regular in The CW television drama series The Vampire Diaries. The series premiere attracted The CW's highest premiere ratings of any season premiere since the network began in 2006. The series has continued to be the highest rated series on its channel with both Somerhalder's performance and the show receiving a positive response from critics. Somerhalder began directing The Vampire Diaries in its thirdth season and produced the series at the start of season 8. Somerhalder has received several Teen Choice Award's and a People's Choice Award for his participation on the series.[13]
In October 2012 it was reported that Somerhalder had been cast in the film Time Framed, which had begun filming in Los Angeles.[14] In April 2018, Somerhalder was cast in the role of Dr. Luther Swann as a series regular in Netflix Vampire drama series V-Wars.[15]
Somerhalder was involved in the cleanup after the Deepwater Horizon oil drilling disaster on April 22, 2010. His efforts included cleaning of oiled wildlife and taping public service announcements to let the public know how they could help.[16] Somerhalder also supports the St. Tammany Humane Society, an organization for animal shelter and welfare. On November 13, 2010, he hosted a Bash on the Bayou charity fundraiser for the Society. During the event, Somerhalder was presented with a donation of $11,100 by The Vampire Diaries fandom for his birthday project.[17][18][19][20]
Together with his The Vampire Diaries co-stars Candice Accola and Michael Trevino, Somerhalder supports the It Gets Better Project, which makes it a goal to prevent suicide among LGBT youth[21] associated with The Trevor Project.[22] For his second campaign, Somerhalder teamed up with The Vampire Diaries co-star Paul Wesley to release a limited edition shirt designed by a fan, with the words "Blood Brothers Since 1864."[23] This campaign sold almost 10,000 shirts.[24]
Somerhalder announced, via Twitter and in various interviews that he was setting up "Ian Somerhalder Foundation" (launched on December 8, 2010, Somerhalder's 32nd birthday), which he hopes will educate people on the importance of protecting the environment and animals: "Instead of gifts this year, my birthday wish is that we come together and raise funds to support projects that protect our habitat and nurture our furry friends.[25][26] He opposes GMO foods and factory farming, and supports ecologist Allan Savory in his crusade to let cows graze in sync with nature to enrich soil, enhance biodiversity, and reverse climate change. In 2011 Somerhalder visited Savory in Africa and announced he was making a documentary about him with the goal of winning him a Nobel Prize.[27][28]
Somerhalder is also a celebrity campaigner for RYOT, a Los Angeles-based media company known for RYOT.org, its cause-based, take action online news source.[29]
Somerhalder dated his The Vampire Diaries co-star Nina Dobrev from 2010 to 2013.[30] In mid-2014, Somerhalder began dating actress Nikki Reed.[31] They confirmed their engagement in February 2015[32] and married on April 26, 2015, in Malibu, California.[33] On May 2, 2017, the couple announced they were expecting a child.[34] They welcomed their child, a daughter, Bodhi Soleil, on July 25, 2017.[35]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | Celebrity | Unconfirmed | Uncredited |
2001 | Life as a House | Josh | |
2002 | Changing Hearts | Jason Kelly | |
2002 | The Rules of Attraction | Paul Denton | |
2004 | In Enemy Hands | U.S.S. Swordfish Danny Miller | |
2004 | The Old Man and the Studio | Matt | Short film |
2006 | National Lampoon's TV: The Movie | Unconfirmed | Uncredited |
2006 | Pulse | Dexter McCarthy | |
2006 | The Sensation of Sight | Drifter | |
2008 | The Lost Samaritan | William Archer | |
2009 | Wake | Tyler | |
2009 | The Tournament | Miles Slade | |
2010 | How to Make Love to a Woman | Daniel Meltzer | |
2013 | Caught On Tape | Officer Lewis | |
2013 | Time Framed | Agent Black | Short film |
2014 | The Anomaly | Harkin Langham |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1997 | The Big Easy | I.Q. | Episode: "The Black Bag" |
1999 | Now and Again | Brian | Episode: "A Girl's Life" |
2000 | Young Americans | Hamilton Fleming | Main role |
2001 | Anatomy of a Hate Crime | Russell Henderson | TV film |
2002 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Tony Del Nagro | Episode: "Revenge Is Best Served Cold" |
2002 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Charlie Baker | Episode: "Dominance" |
2003 | CSI: Miami | Ricky Murdoch | Episode: "The Best Defense" |
2004 | Fearless | Jordan Gracie | Unsold TV pilot |
2004 | Smallville | Adam Knight | 6 episodes |
2007 | Marco Polo | Marco Polo | TV film |
2007 | Tell Me You Love Me | Nick | Recurring role; 6 episodes |
2008 | Lost City Raiders | Jack Kubiak | TV film |
2009 | Fireball | Lee Cooper | TV film |
2004-2007; 2010 | Lost | Boone Carlyle | Main role (season 1); Special Guest Star (seasons 2-3, 6); 28 episodes |
2014 | Years of Living Dangerously | Himself | Documentary series; Episode: "Ice & Brimstone" |
2009-2017 | The Vampire Diaries | Damon Salvatore | Main role; Producer (season 8) |
TBA | V-Wars [36] | Dr. Luther Swann | Main Role; Netflix Original Series |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2009 | The Vampire Diaries: A Darker Truth | Damon Salvatore | Episode: "A Darker Truth Part 4" |
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
2015 | The Vampire Diaries | Episode: "The Downward Spiral" |
2016 | The Vampire Diaries | Episode: "Days of Future Past" |
2017 | The Vampire Diaries | Episode: "We Have History Together" |
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | Young Hollywood Awards | Exciting New Face - Male | N/A | Won |
2005 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Breakout Performance - Male | Lost | Nominated |
2006 | Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Lost (with cast) | Won |
2010 | Young Hollywood Awards[37] | Cast to Watch (with Paul Wesley and Nina Dobrev) | The Vampire Diaries | Won |
Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Villain | Won | ||
Teen Choice Awards | Choice Male Hottie | Nominated | ||
2011 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actor Fantasy/Sci-Fi | Won | |
Teen Choice Awards | Choice Vampire | Nominated | ||
Teen Choice Awards | Choice Male Hottie | Nominated | ||
People's Choice Awards | Favorite TV Drama Actor | Nominated | ||
2012 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite TV Drama Actor | Nominated | |
Genesis Awards | Humane Society | N/A | Won | |
Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actor Fantasy/Sci-Fi | The Vampire Diaries | Won | |
Teen Choice Awards | Choice Male Hottie | Won[38] | ||
Do Something Awards | Best TV Star | Nominated | ||
Do Something Awards | N/A | Nominated | ||
Environmental Media Awards | EMA Futures Award | N/A | Won | |
Fright Night Awards | Favorite Male TV/Movie Vampire | The Vampire Diaries | Won | |
International Green Awards | Most Responsible Celebrity | N/A | Won | |
2013 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Dramatic TV Actor | The Vampire Diaries | Nominated |
Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actor: Fantasy/Sci-Fi | Won | ||
2014 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actor | Won[39] | |
People's Choice Awards | Favorite On-Screen Chemistry (with Nina Dobrev) | Won | ||
mtvU Fandom Awards | Ship of the Year (with Nina Dobrev) | Won[40] | ||
Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actor Fantasy/Sci-Fi | Won | ||
Teen Choice Awards | Choice Male Hottie | Won | ||
Teen Choice Awards | Choice Twit | N/A | Nominated | |
Teen Choice Awards | Choice Social Media King | N/A | Nominated | |
Young Hollywood Awards | Best Threesome (with Paul Wesley and Nina Dobrev) | The Vampire Diaries | Won | |
2015 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actor | Nominated | |
People's Choice Awards | Favorite TV Duo (with Nina Dobrev) | Won | ||
Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actor Fantasy/Sci-Fi | Nominated | ||
Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV: Chemistry (with Kat Graham) | Nominated | ||
Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV: Liplock (with Nina Dobrev) | Won | ||
mtvU Fandom Awards | Ship of the Year (with Kat Graham) | Nominated | ||
2016 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actor | Nominated | |
Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actor Fantasy/Sci-Fi | Nominated | ||
Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV: Chemistry (with Kat Graham) | Nominated | ||
2017 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actor | Nominated | |
Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actor Fantasy/Sci-Fi | Nominated | ||
Teen Choice Awards | Choice Changemaker | N/A | Nominated |
Charities
Ian Somerhalder supports the following charitable causes: Environment, Animals.
[ Source: Wikipedia ]