1. Early Life
Ian Somerhalder's early life in Louisiana provided the foundation for his diverse career, beginning with modeling and transitioning into acting, driven by a strong passion for the craft.
1.1. Birthplace and Family
Somerhalder was born on December 8, 1978, in Covington, Louisiana, United States, where he also grew up. He is the second of three children, with an older brother named Robert and a younger sister named Robin. His mother, Edna (née Israel), is a massage therapist, while his father, Robert Somerhalder Sr., is an independent building contractor. Somerhalder graduated from Saint Paul's School, a private institution in Covington. His parents divorced when he was 14, and he subsequently lived with his mother.
1.2. Ethnic Background
Somerhalder's ancestry is diverse, including English, Irish, and French heritage. His mother, Edna, is of Choctaw and Irish descent, originally from Mississippi, with his great-grandfather being pure Choctaw. His father, Robert, is of Cajun descent. This mixed background contributes to his unique heritage.
1.3. Modeling Career
Somerhalder began his career as a model at the age of 10, continuing until he was 13. During this period, he worked with prominent fashion brands such as Calvin Klein, Gucci, Versace, and Guess, appearing in their advertisements.
1.4. Transition to Acting
At 17, Somerhalder decided to shift his focus from modeling to acting. He began formal training with renowned acting teacher William Esper, marking his initial steps into establishing himself within the entertainment industry.
2. Career
Somerhalder's professional journey in the entertainment industry spans various roles in television and film, culminating in significant directing and producing endeavors, before his recent retirement from acting to pursue other passions.

2.1. Early Television and Film Roles
In the summer of 2000, Somerhalder starred in the short-lived WB series Young Americans, a spin-off of Dawson's Creek, where he played Hamilton Fleming, the son of a prestigious boarding school's dean. In 2002, he portrayed the bisexual character Paul Denton in Roger Avary's film adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' novel, The Rules of Attraction, alongside James Van Der Beek, Shannyn Sossamon, and Jessica Biel. His early television appearances also include roles in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (as Tony Del Nagro), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (as Charlie Baker), CSI: Miami (as Ricky Murdoch), and a six-episode arc in Smallville as Adam Knight. He also appeared in the unsold TV pilot Fearless as Jordan Gracie. Other early film credits include Life as a House (as Josh), Changing Hearts (as Jason Kelly), In Enemy Hands (as Danny Miller), and the short film The Old Man and the Studio (as Matt).
2.2. Breakthrough Roles
Somerhalder achieved his breakthrough in 2004 with his role as Boone Carlyle in the ABC series Lost. Despite his character being the first major one to die in the series (in the twentieth episode of the first season), he reprised the role for seven more episodes between 2005 and 2010, including the series finale. He described being part of Lost as "the greatest experience" of "the greatest year of his life."
In 2009, Somerhalder took on the role of the vampire Damon Salvatore as a series regular in The CW television drama series The Vampire Diaries. The series premiere garnered the highest premiere ratings for The CW since its inception in 2006. His performance and the show itself received positive critical responses, and the series consistently remained the highest-rated on the network. For his work on The Vampire Diaries, he received several Teen Choice Awards and a People's Choice Award.
2.3. Other Acting Roles
Beyond his breakthrough roles, Somerhalder appeared in the 2009 film The Tournament, playing Miles Slade, an assassin participating in a deadly competition. He also acted in the short film Time Framed (2013) as Agent Black and in The Anomaly (2014) as Harkin Langham. From 2019 to 2020, he starred as Dr. Luther Swann in the Netflix science fiction horror series V Wars, a role for which he also served as an executive producer.
2.4. Directing and Producing
Somerhalder expanded his contributions behind the camera during his time on The Vampire Diaries, beginning to direct episodes in the show's third season and serving as a producer from season 8. He also directed an episode of V Wars. In addition to his work in television, he has taken on executive producer roles for environmental documentaries, including Kiss the Ground (2020), which focuses on regenerative agriculture, and its follow-up, Common Ground (2023).
2.5. Retirement from Acting
In a 2024 interview, Somerhalder announced his retirement from acting, a decision he made after relocating outside of Los Angeles. He stated that he would continue to be involved in producing and his environmental activism, shifting his focus to these areas.
3. Activism and Advocacy
Somerhalder is a passionate advocate for environmental causes, animal welfare, and various social issues, leveraging his public platform to raise awareness and support.

3.1. Environmentalism
Somerhalder has been a vocal proponent of environmental protection and sustainable practices. He actively participated in the cleanup efforts following the Deepwater Horizon oil drilling disaster on April 22, 2010, assisting with oiled wildlife and filming public service announcements to inform the public on how to help. He opposes GMO foods and factory farming. He is a strong supporter of ecologist Allan Savory's approach to regenerative agriculture, which involves allowing cows to graze in harmony with nature to enrich soil, enhance biodiversity, and combat climate change. In 2011, Somerhalder visited Savory in Africa and announced his intention to produce a documentary about him, with the goal of helping Savory win a Nobel Prize. He is also a celebrity campaigner for RYOT, a Los Angeles-based media company focused on cause-based online news.
3.2. Animal Welfare
His dedication to animal welfare is evident through his support for organizations like the St. Tammany Humane Society, an animal shelter and welfare organization. On November 13, 2010, he hosted "Bash on the Bayou," a charity fundraiser for the Society, where he received a donation of 11.10 K USD from The Vampire Diaries fandom for his birthday project. He also sponsors and frequently participates in Mardi Paws, a dog parade and organization held in his hometown of Covington, to spread awareness for his foundation. While filming Lost, Somerhalder and co-star Maggie Grace adopted a feral cat named Roo, which they found "literally dying" on set.
3.3. Social Causes and Philanthropy
Somerhalder has engaged in various social campaigns. Alongside his The Vampire Diaries co-stars Candice Accola and Michael Trevino, he supports the It Gets Better Project, an initiative aimed at preventing suicide among LGBT youth in collaboration with The Trevor Project. For a second campaign, he partnered with his co-star Paul Wesley to release a limited-edition shirt designed by a fan, featuring the words "Blood Brothers Since 1864," which sold nearly 10,000 units.
3.4. Ian Somerhalder Foundation
On December 8, 2010, his 32nd birthday, Somerhalder launched the Ian Somerhalder Foundation. The foundation's mission is to educate people on the critical importance of protecting the environment and animals. Somerhalder expressed his birthday wish that year as a collective effort to raise funds for projects that safeguard habitats and nurture animals.
4. Personal Life
Somerhalder's personal life includes significant relationships, marriage, and family, alongside his ventures into entrepreneurship.
4.1. Relationships and Marriage
From 2010 to 2013, Somerhalder dated his The Vampire Diaries co-star Nina Dobrev. In 2014, he began a relationship with actress Nikki Reed, known for her role in the Twilight film series. They announced their engagement in January 2015 and married on April 26, 2015, in Malibu, California.
4.2. Family
Somerhalder and Reed have two children. Their daughter, Bodhi Soleil, was born on July 25, 2017. In 2023, they welcomed their second child, a son.
4.3. Business Ventures
Somerhalder has also ventured into the business world. In 2020, he co-founded Brother's Bond Bourbon, a straight bourbon whiskey, with his former The Vampire Diaries co-star and close friend, Paul Wesley.
5. Filmography
5.1. Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Celebrity | Unconfirmed | Uncredited |
| 2001 | Life as a House | Josh | |
| 2002 | Changing Hearts | Jason Kelly | |
| The Rules of Attraction | Paul Denton | ||
| 2004 | In Enemy Hands | U.S.S. Swordfish Danny Miller | |
| The Old Man and the Studio | Matt | Short film | |
| 2004 | Recess | Cooley | |
| 2006 | National Lampoon's TV: The Movie | Unconfirmed | Uncredited |
| Pulse | Dexter McCarthy | ||
| The Sensation of Sight | Drifter | ||
| 2008 | The Lost Samaritan | William Archer | |
| 2009 | Wake | Tyler | |
| The Tournament | Miles Slade | ||
| 2010 | How to Make Love to a Woman | Daniel Meltzer | |
| 2013 | Caught On Tape | Officer Lewis | |
| Time Framed | Agent Black | Short film | |
| 2014 | The Anomaly | Harkin Langham |
5.2. Television
| 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; 8 episodes |
| 2001 | Anatomy of a Hate Crime | Russell Henderson | TV film |
| 2002 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Tony Del Nagro | Episode: "Revenge Is Best Served Cold" |
| 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 |
| 2004-2007; 2010 | Lost | Boone Carlyle | Main role (season 1); Special Guest Star (seasons 2-3, 6); 28 episodes |
| 2004 | Smallville | Adam Knight | 6 episodes |
| 2007 | Marco Polo | Marco Polo | TV film |
| Tell Me You Love Me | Nick | Recurring role; 6 episodes | |
| 2008 | Lost City Raiders | Jack Kubiak | TV film |
| 2009 | Fireball | Lee Cooper | TV film |
| 2009-2017 | The Vampire Diaries | Damon Salvatore | Main role; Producer (season 8) |
| 2014 | Years of Living Dangerously | Himself | Documentary series; Episode: "Ice & Brimstone" |
| 2019 | V Wars | Dr. Luther Swann | Main role; executive producer |
| 2020 | Kiss the Ground | Himself | Documentary; executive producer |
5.3. Web Series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | The Vampire Diaries: A Darker Truth | Damon Salvatore | Episode: "A Darker Truth Part 4" |
5.4. As Director
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | The Vampire Diaries | Episode: "The Downward Spiral" |
| 2016 | Episode: "Days of Future Past" | |
| 2017 | Episode: "We Have History Together" | |
| 2019 | V Wars | Episode: "The Junkie Run of the Predator Gene" |
6. Awards and Nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Young Hollywood Awards | Exciting New Face - Male | - | - |
| 2005 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Breakout Performance - Male | Lost | - |
| 2006 | Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Lost (with cast) | - |
| 2010 | Young Hollywood Awards | Cast to Watch (with Paul Wesley and Nina Dobrev) | The Vampire Diaries | - |
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Villain | - | ||
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice Male Hottie | - | ||
| 2011 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actor Fantasy/Sci-Fi | - | |
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice Vampire | - | ||
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice Male Hottie | - | ||
| People's Choice Awards | Favorite TV Drama Actor | - | ||
| 2012 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite TV Drama Actor | - | |
| Genesis Awards | Humane Society | - | - | |
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actor Fantasy/Sci-Fi | The Vampire Diaries | - | |
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice Male Hottie | - | ||
| Do Something Awards | Best TV Star | - | ||
| Do Something Awards | - | - | ||
| Environmental Media Awards | EMA Futures Award | - | Won | |
| Fright Night Awards | Favorite Male TV/Movie Vampire | The Vampire Diaries | Won | |
| International Green Awards | Most Responsible Celebrity | - | Won | |
| 2013 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Dramatic TV Actor | The Vampire Diaries | - |
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actor: Fantasy/Sci-Fi | - | ||
| 2014 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actor | - | |
| People's Choice Awards | Favorite On-Screen Chemistry (with Nina Dobrev) | - | ||
| mtvU Fandom Awards | Ship of the Year (with Nina Dobrev) | - | ||
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actor Fantasy/Sci-Fi | - | ||
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice Male Hottie | - | ||
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice Twit | - | - | |
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice Social Media King | - | - | |
| Young Hollywood Awards | Best Threesome (with Paul Wesley and Nina Dobrev) | The Vampire Diaries | - | |
| 2015 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actor | - | |
| 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) | - | ||
| 2016 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actor | - | |
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actor Fantasy/Sci-Fi | - | ||
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV: Chemistry (with Kat Graham) | - | ||
| 2017 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actor | - | |
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actor Fantasy/Sci-Fi | - | ||
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice Changemaker | - | - |