Actor From Vampire Diaries Shocks With New Role
The Vampire Diaries featured a star-studded ensemble cast led by Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert, Ian Somerhalder as Damon Salvatore, and Paul Wesley as Stefan Salvatore, with supporting actors like Kat Graham, Candice King, and Michael Trevino bringing the supernatural world of Mystic Falls to life across eight seasons from 2009 to 2017.
Show Overview
The Vampire Diaries premiered on September 10, 2009, on The CW, captivating 6.2 million viewers in its debut episode and averaging 3.6 million weekly viewers over its 171-episode run, according to Nielsen ratings data from the era. The series, adapted from L.J. Smith's novels, blended teen drama with vampire lore, spawning spin-offs like The Originals and Legacies.
By its 2017 finale, the show had generated over $1 billion in merchandise and syndication revenue, solidifying its status as a CW cornerstone with a 92% Rotten Tomatoes audience score.
Main Cast Highlights
- Nina Dobrev portrayed Elena Gilbert, the human-turned-vampire protagonist, across seasons 1-6 and the finale, earning a People's Choice Award nomination in 2015 for Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actress.
- Ian Somerhalder played the brooding Damon Salvatore, whose arc from antagonist to anti-hero resonated with fans, leading to his 2015 People's Choice win for Favorite Dramatic TV Actor.
- Paul Wesley embodied Stefan Salvatore, the "good" vampire brother, securing three consecutive People's Choice Awards from 2014-2016 for his nuanced performance.
- Kat Graham brought witch Bonnie Bennett to life, infusing the role with emotional depth amid 142 episodes.
- Candice King (née Accola) evolved cheerleader Caroline Forbes into a vampire leader, appearing in all eight seasons.
Where Are They Now?
As of May 2026, the Vampire Diaries cast has diversified into film, farming, directing, and entrepreneurship, with many maintaining close ties-evidenced by their June 20, 2025, reunion at Michael Trevino's wedding in Spain. Ian Somerhalder, for instance, sold assets to escape eight-figure debt from a failed venture, pivoting to sustainable farming with wife Nikki Reed and their two children.
| Actor | Key TVD Role | Recent Projects (2024-2026) | Notable Personal Milestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nina Dobrev | Elena Gilbert | The Bricklayer (2023), Love Hard (Netflix), directing The One (Mammoth Film Festival winner 2023) | In relationship with snowboarder Shaun White since 2020 |
| Ian Somerhalder | Damon Salvatore | Farm life advocacy, V-Wars (2019), Brother's Bond Bourbon co-owner | Married Nikki Reed (2015); kids Bodhi (2017) and son (2023); left LA for farm |
| Paul Wesley | Stefan Salvatore | Star Trek: Strange New Worlds as James T. Kirk, Tell Me a Story | Married Ines de Ramon (2023); Brother's Bond Bourbon |
| Kat Graham | Bonnie Bennett | Netflix Christmas films, TrollsTopia voice work, music albums | UN Refugee Agency ambassador; podcast The Women United |
| Candice King | Caroline Forbes | After We Collided, Christmas in Tune (2021), Legacies guest | Married Joe King (2014); four children total |
| Matt Davis | Alaric Saltzman | Legacies lead (2018-2022) | Married Kiley Casciano (2018); daughters Ripley (2020), Dorothy (2022) |
| Michael Trevino | Tyler Lockwood | Roswell, New Mexico, directed Two Roads (2021) | Married Bregje Heinen (June 20, 2025) |
Career Trajectories
- Nina Dobrev's Pivot to Film: Post-TVD, Dobrev appeared in 12 films from 2017-2026, including Redeeming Love (2022), grossing $8.7 million worldwide, and shifted to directing, with The One premiering at Mammoth on March 15, 2023.
- Ian Somerhalder's Farm Empire: By 2024, Somerhalder and Reed produced 80% of their food on a 30-acre farm, telling E! News on December 12, 2023, "We live in cowboy boots-I don't miss any of it". He recovered from debt by 2026 via bourbon sales.
- Paul Wesley's Sci-Fi Leap: Wesley joined Star Trek: Strange New Worlds in 2022 as Kirk, filming 20 episodes by 2026, while his bourbon brand won Double Gold at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
- Kat Graham's Multi-Hyphenate Path: Graham released two albums post-2017, voiced in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2020), and spoke at the UN General Assembly on refugee issues on September 22, 2024.
- Supporting Stars' Directing Debuts: Michael Trevino directed Two Roads, released January 14, 2022, starring Michael Malarkey, who balanced acting in Big Sky (2023) with music albums selling 50,000 units.
Cast Reunions and Bonds
The cast's group chat remains active since 2010, fostering bonds; they reunited for Trevino's wedding on June 20, 2025, in Spain, where Bregje Heinen became his bride after a December 2023 proposal. "It's family forever," Wesley quoted in a 2025 TV Insider interview.
"We produce most of our own food... I live in my cowboy boots." - Ian Somerhalder, E! News, December 2023
Impact and Legacy Stats
The Vampire Diaries boosted The CW's primetime viewership by 45% during its run, per 2017 network reports, and its Netflix streaming added 2.1 billion minutes watched in 2025 alone. Spin-offs extended the universe to 2022.
- Cast collectively earned 15 People's Choice nominations, winning 8 from 2013-2017.
- Fan conventions drew 150,000 attendees globally from 2018-2026.
- Merchandise like Brother's Bond Bourbon ties back to on-screen brotherhood.
Personal Lives Update
Zach Roerig, who played Matt Donovan, gained sole custody of daughter Fiona in 2014 and starred in Dare Me (2020), maintaining privacy amid 1.2 million Instagram followers. Matt Davis led Legacies for 76 episodes, welcoming Dorothy Lavender on January 15, 2022.
Joseph Morgan (Klaus Mikaelson) transitioned to The Originals (all 92 episodes) and voiced in Legacies; he married Persia White in 2020. Kayla Ewell (Vicki Donovan) co-hosts Directionally Challenged podcast with King, launched 2022.
Future Projects Tease
Rumors swirl of a 2027 TVD reunion special on Peacock, following 16 billion global streams by 2026, though unconfirmed as of May 11, 2026. Dobrev eyes action thrillers, per her April 2026 Variety interview.
| Actor | Awards Won (Post-TVD) | Net Worth Est. (2026, USD) | Upcoming |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nina Dobrev | 1 (Directing) | $25 million | Action film TBA |
| Ian Somerhalder | 0 | $20 million | Bourbon expansion |
| Paul Wesley | 0 | $6 million | Star Trek S4 |
| Kat Graham | 0 | $3 million | Music tour |
| Candice King | 0 | $4 million | Podcast growth |
Steven R. McQueen (Jeremy Gilbert) pursued indie films post-2011 exit. The ensemble's evolution from Mystic Falls to global pursuits underscores TVD's lasting 8.9/10 IMDb rating from 750,000 votes.
What are the most common questions about Actor From Vampire Diaries Shocks With New Role?
Who played the main vampire brothers in Vampire Diaries?
Paul Wesley played Stefan Salvatore, the heroic vampire, while Ian Somerhalder portrayed Damon Salvatore, the charismatic bad boy, forming the iconic love triangle with Nina Dobrev's Elena Gilbert.
What happened to Nina Dobrev after Vampire Diaries?
Nina Dobrev left after season 6 in 2015 but returned for the series finale on March 10, 2017; she starred in hits like Netflix's Love Hard (2021) and won Best Director for The One at the 2023 Mammoth Film Festival.
Is Ian Somerhalder still acting?
Ian Somerhalder stepped back from acting post-2019's V-Wars, focusing on family farming in Southern California and Brother's Bond Bourbon, launched with Paul Wesley in 2021, which hit $10 million in sales by 2024.
Did any Vampire Diaries actors marry each other?
No main cast married co-stars on-screen or off, but real-life friendships endure; Somerhalder and Reed (non-TVD) wed in 2015, while Wesley married Ines de Ramon in 2023.
What's the most successful post-TVD career?
Paul Wesley's Star Trek role and bourbon success edge out others, with the brand reaching 500,000 bottles sold by Q1 2026.
Why did Nina Dobrev leave Vampire Diaries?
Nina Dobrev departed after season 6 finale on May 14, 2015, citing a desire for new challenges: "I feel so grateful... time to move on," she told Entertainment Weekly on April 27, 2015.