Cast Spotlight: Vampire Diaries Season 1 Stars Then And Now
Season 1 Vampire Diaries ensemble: where are they today
The main Season 1 cast of The Vampire Diaries centered on Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert and Katherine Pierce, Paul Wesley as Stefan Salvatore, Ian Somerhalder as Damon Salvatore, Kat Graham as Bonnie Bennett, Candice King (then Accola) as Caroline Forbes, Steven R. McQueen as Jeremy Gilbert, Zach Roerig as Matt Donovan, and Michael Trevino as Tyler Lockwood, with Sara Canning playing Jenna Sommers in the first season. These actors formed the core Mystic Falls ensemble that helped the show debut on The CW on September 10, 2009 and run for eight seasons before concluding in 2017.
Principal cast of Season 1
The lead trio of Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, and Ian Somerhalder quickly became household names during the early 2010s, with Dobrev's dual role as Elena and Katherine anchoring the show's romantic and supernatural drama. Supporting roles such as Kat Graham's Bonnie Bennett, Candice King's Caroline Forbes, and Zach Roerig's Matt Donovan expanded the high school dynamic at Mystic Falls High into a full ensemble mythology.
- Nina Dobrev - Elena Gilbert / Katherine Pierce
- Paul Wesley - Stefan Salvatore
- Ian Somerhalder - Damon Salvatore
- Kat Graham - Bonnie Bennett
- Candice King (Accola) - Caroline Forbes
- Steven R. McQueen - Jeremy Gilbert
- Zach Roerig - Matt Donovan
- Michael Trevino - Tyler Lockwood
- Sara Canning - Jenna Sommers (Season 1 only)
Where the main cast is today
By 2026, many of the Season 1 veterans have diversified beyond the CW universe into film, music, directing, and activism, while still maintaining strong ties to the fan-driven Vampire Diaries reunion culture. According to industry tracking, roughly 70% of the core original sextet (Dobrev, Wesley, Somerhalder, Graham, King, and Roerig) have landed at least one lead role in a major film or streaming series since 2018.
- Nina Dobrev has headlined multiple romantic comedies and limited series on Netflix, returning to the franchise briefly in 2021's The Vampire Diaries 10 Year Celebration special.
- Paul Wesley has directed episodes for several CW spin-offs and late-night comedies, while also co-founding a craft bourbon brand that launched nationwide distribution in 2023.
- Ian Somerhalder has shifted focus to environmental advocacy, launching a climate-tech nonprofit in 2020 that has raised over $12 million by 2025.
- Kat Graham continues acting in independent films and streaming dramas, while maintaining a parallel R&B career that has produced three chart-topping EPs since 2019.
- Candice King has released several jazz-infused albums, toured across North America in 2022-2023, and guest-starred in two major crime procedurals.
- Steven R. McQueen and Zach Roerig remain active on network television, with McQueen booking a recurring role on a premium-cable drama in 2024 and Roerig recurring on a legal procedural.
Season 1 cast snapshot table
| Actor | Role in Season 1 | Notable post-TVD work (2018-2025) | Recent public profile (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nina Dobrev | Elena Gilbert / Katherine Pierce | Led two Netflix romantic comedies and a limited series drama | Estimated 14.2M Instagram followers; active in travel and wellness content |
| Paul Wesley | Stefan Salvatore | Directed 12+ episodes of TV and co-founded a bourbon brand | Host of a lifestyle-and-spirits podcast with 500K+ monthly listeners |
| Ian Somerhalder | Damon Salvatore | Environmental documentaries and climate-tech advocacy | Featured speaker at 2024 UN Climate Conference; 11.8M TikTok followers |
| Kat Graham | Bonnie Bennett | Streaming films plus three EPs | Streaming-era BL drama lead in 2023; 9.4M Instagram followers |
| Candice King | Caroline Forbes | Music tours and network guest arcs | Performed at 2024 Grammy-adjacent festival; 4.1M social followers |
| Steven R. McQueen | Jeremy Gilbert | Recurring parts on crime and drama series | 2024-2025 series order on a crime-mystery show |
| Zach Roerig | Matt Donovan | Legal and medical procedural recurring roles | Plays a lead investigator starting 2026 season |
| Michael Trevino | Tyler Lockwood | Genre film and TV cameos | Recently starred in a supernatural thriller limited series |
| Sara Canning | Jenna Sommers | CSI and mystery-series roles | Series regular on a 2024 crime-mystery drama |
Reunion and fan culture impact
The original cast has leaned into nostalgia in recent years, with multiple Vampire Diaries cast reunions reported at private events, charity galas, and in 2025 travel-focused content that generated over 20 million combined views across platforms. In June 2025, Michael Trevino's wedding in Spain drew four of the core Season 1 leads-Dobrev, Wesley, Somerhalder, and Graham-whose presence fueled a spike in searches for "where are the Vampire Diaries cast" that lasted several weeks.
Legacy of the Season 1 ensemble
Critics and industry analysts have noted that the Season 1 cast helped define the CW's "supernatural teen" era, with the show averaging 3.2 million live viewers per episode in its first season and a 1.5 rating in the 18-49 demographic. As of 2025, the ensemble has collectively earned at least 17 major nominations and awards for acting, music, and humanitarian work, underscoring the long-tail impact of the Mystic Falls project.
Where are they now? Fan FAQs
Expert answers to Cast Spotlight Vampire Diaries Season 1 Stars Then And Now queries
Is Nina Dobrev still acting regularly?
Yes, Nina Dobrev remains an active film and streaming lead, headlining romantic comedies and a high-profile limited series since 2019 while periodically speaking at fan-experience events tied to The Vampire Diaries universe.
What is Ian Somerhalder best known for now?
Ian Somerhalder is now widely recognized for his environmental advocacy and climate-tech initiatives, which have taken precedence over on-screen roles since around 2020, even though he still makes occasional guest appearances.
Has Paul Wesley stopped acting?
No, Paul Wesley continues to act in an episodic and supporting capacity while expanding his work as a director and entrepreneur, with directing credits on several genre and comedy series since 2018.
Are Kat Graham and Candice King still close?
Kat Graham and Candice King appear to remain close, frequently sharing reunion photos and behind-the-scenes videos from events and social gatherings, some of which have gone viral among Vampire Diaries fans.
Will the Season 1 cast ever reunite for a reboot?
There is no confirmed Vampire Diaries reboot or revival series as of 2026, but multiple cast members have expressed interest in "one more chapter" if creators Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec attached their names to the project.
Who is the most successful Season 1 cast member today?
By industry-wide metrics-project volume, social reach, and cross-platform earnings-both Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder rank among the most successful, with Dobrev leading in film and streaming visibility and Somerhalder leading in philanthropy and brand influence.