Ian Somerhalder

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.

2.1. 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.

3.1. 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.

4.1. 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.

5.1. Film

5.2. Television

5.3. Web Series

5.4. As Director