Ian Somerhalder facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ian Somerhalder
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Somerhalder in 2023
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Ian Joseph Somerhalder
December 8, 1978 Covington, Louisiana, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actor, business owner |
| Years active | 1997–2024 (acting) |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2 |
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Ian Joseph Somerhalder (born December 8, 1978) is an American business owner and former actor. He is famous for playing Boone Carlyle in the TV show Lost and the vampire Damon Salvatore in the popular teen drama The Vampire Diaries.
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Early Life and First Steps
Ian Somerhalder was born in Covington, Louisiana. His mother, Edna, was a massage therapist, and his father, Robert, was a building contractor (a person who builds and repairs houses). He is the middle of three children, with an older brother and a younger sister.
Somerhalder went to Saint Paul's School, a private school in his hometown. He started a modeling career when he was just 10 years old and continued until he was 13. When he was 17, he decided to focus on acting and moved to New York City to study with a famous acting coach, William Esper.
Acting Career
Somerhalder's acting career began with small roles, but his big break came in 2004 when he was cast as Boone Carlyle in the hit TV series Lost.
Breakthrough Role in Lost
In Lost, Somerhalder played a survivor of a plane crash on a mysterious island. Even though his character, Boone, died in the first season, he was so popular that he was brought back for seven more episodes in later seasons. Somerhalder said that being on Lost was "the greatest experience" of his life at the time.
The Vampire Diaries
In 2009, Somerhalder got the role that made him a star around the world. He played Damon Salvatore, a charming and dangerous vampire, in the The CW show The Vampire Diaries. The show was a huge success and became the highest-rated series on its channel for a long time.
Somerhalder's performance as Damon was loved by fans and critics. He won several Teen Choice Awards and a People's Choice Award for the role. He also started directing episodes of the show in its third season.
Later Roles and Retirement
After The Vampire Diaries ended in 2017, Somerhalder starred in the Netflix science fiction series V Wars in 2019. He played Dr. Luther Swann, a scientist trying to stop a vampire virus.
In 2024, Somerhalder announced that he had retired from acting. He and his family moved to a farm, and he now focuses on his businesses and his work to help the environment.
Helping People and the Planet
Somerhalder cares deeply about animals and the environment. After the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, he helped clean oiled wildlife and made videos to show people how they could help. He also supports his local animal shelter, the St. Tammany Humane Society.
The Ian Somerhalder Foundation
On his 32nd birthday in 2010, he started the Ian Somerhalder Foundation. The foundation's goal is to teach people about protecting animals and the environment. He said, "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."
He is also involved in making documentaries. He was a producer for the films Kiss the Ground and Common Ground, which are about a type of farming called regenerative agriculture that helps heal the soil and fight climate change.
Supporting Young People
Somerhalder and his Vampire Diaries co-stars supported the It Gets Better Project. This project aims to help and support young people who are being bullied or feel like they don't fit in.
Personal Life
From 2010 to 2013, Somerhalder dated his Vampire Diaries co-star, Nina Dobrev.
In 2014, he began dating actress Nikki Reed. The couple got married on April 26, 2015. They have two children, a daughter born in 2017 and a son born in 2023.
Somerhalder is a big animal lover. While filming Lost in Hawaii, he and co-star Maggie Grace adopted a cat they named Roo, who they found in the jungle.
