Ian Somerhalder


Ian Joseph Somerhalder is an American actor, model, activist and director. He is known for playing Boone Carlyle in the TV drama Lost, Damon Salvatore in The CW's supernatural drama The Vampire Diaries and Dr. Luther Swann in Netflix's sci-fi horror series V Wars.

Early life

Somerhalder was born and raised in Covington, Louisiana, the son of Edna, a massage therapist, and Robert Somerhalder, an independent building contractor. He is the second of three children, with an older brother, Robert, and younger sister, Robyn. He attended Mandeville High School, a public school in Mandeville, Louisiana. He embarked on a modeling career from age 10 to 13, and by the age of 17 he decided to go into acting.

Career

In the summer of 2000, Somerhalder starred in the short-lived WB series Young Americans, a spin-off of Dawson's Creek. He played Hamilton Fleming, the son of the dean of a prestigious boarding school. In 2002, Somerhalder played bisexual character Paul Denton in Roger Avary's adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' novel, The Rules of Attraction, alongside James Van Der Beek, Shannyn Sossamon, and Jessica Biel.
In 2004, Somerhalder scored his breakthrough role when he played Boone Carlyle in the hit TV show Lost. Despite his character's death in the twentieth episode of the first season, Somerhalder returned to the role of Boone for seven more episodes between 2005 and 2010, including the series finale. Somerhalder was the first major character to die.
In 2009, Somerhalder appeared in the movie The Tournament where he played the role of an assassin participating in a lethal competition with other assassins. He appears in the coffee table book About Face by celebrity photographer John Russo.
In June 2009, Somerhalder was cast in the role of Vampire Damon Salvatore as a series regular in The CW television drama series The Vampire Diaries. The series premiere attracted The CW's highest premiere ratings of any season premiere since the network began in 2006. The series has continued to be the highest rated series on its channel with both Somerhalder's performance and the show receiving a positive response from critics. Somerhalder began directing The Vampire Diaries in its third season and produced the series at the start of season 8. Somerhalder has received several Teen Choice Award's and a People's Choice Award for his participation on the series.
In October 2012, Somerhalder was cast in the film Time Framed, which had begun filming in Los Angeles. In April 2018, Somerhalder was cast in the role of Dr. Luther Swann as a series regular in the Netflix science fiction horror series V Wars.
The series premiered on Netflix on December 5, 2019 and was cancelled in March 2020.

Foundations and causes

Somerhalder was involved in the cleanup after the Deepwater Horizon oil drilling disaster on April 22, 2010. His efforts included cleaning of oiled wildlife and taping public service announcements to let the public know how they could help. Somerhalder also supports the St. Tammany Humane Society, an organization for animal shelter and welfare. On November 13, 2010, he hosted a Bash on the Bayou charity fundraiser for the Society. During the event, Somerhalder was presented with a donation of $11,100 by The Vampire Diaries fandom for his birthday project.
Together with his The Vampire Diaries co-stars Candice Accola and Michael Trevino, Somerhalder supports the It Gets Better Project, which makes it a goal to prevent suicide among LGBT youth associated with The Trevor Project. For his second campaign, Somerhalder teamed up with The Vampire Diaries co-star Paul Wesley to release a limited edition shirt designed by a fan, with the words "Blood Brothers Since 1864." This campaign sold almost 10,000 shirts.
On December 8, 2010, Somerhalder's 32nd birthday, he launched the "Ian Somerhalder Foundation" which he hopes will educate people on the importance of protecting the environment and animals: "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 opposes GMO foods and factory farming, and supports ecologist Allan Savory in his crusade to let cows graze in sync with nature to enrich soil, enhance biodiversity, and reverse climate change. In 2011 Somerhalder visited Savory in Africa and announced he was making a documentary about him with the goal of winning him a Nobel Prize.
Somerhalder is also a celebrity campaigner for RYOT, a Los Angeles-based media company known for RYOT.org, its cause-based, take action online news source.

Personal life

In mid-2014, Somerhalder began dating actress Nikki Reed. They confirmed their engagement in February 2015 and married on April 26, 2015, in Malibu, California. Their daughter, Bodhi Soleil was born on July 25, 2017.

Filmography

Film

Television

Web

As director

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
2002Young Hollywood AwardsExciting New Face – Male
2005Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV Breakout Performance – MaleLost
2006Screen Actors Guild AwardOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesLost
2010Young Hollywood AwardsCast to Watch The Vampire Diaries
2010Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV VillainThe Vampire Diaries
2010Teen Choice AwardsChoice Male HottieThe Vampire Diaries
2011Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV Actor Fantasy/Sci-FiThe Vampire Diaries
2011Teen Choice AwardsChoice VampireThe Vampire Diaries
2011Teen Choice AwardsChoice Male HottieThe Vampire Diaries
2011People's Choice AwardsFavorite TV Drama ActorThe Vampire Diaries
2012People's Choice AwardsFavorite TV Drama ActorThe Vampire Diaries
2012Genesis AwardsHumane Society
2012Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV Actor Fantasy/Sci-FiThe Vampire Diaries
2012Teen Choice AwardsChoice Male HottieThe Vampire Diaries
2012Do Something AwardsBest TV StarThe Vampire Diaries
2012Do Something AwardsTwitter
2012Environmental Media AwardsEMA Futures Award
2012Fright Night AwardsFavorite Male TV/Movie VampireThe Vampire Diaries
2012International Green AwardsMost Responsible Celebrity
2013People's Choice AwardsFavorite Dramatic TV ActorThe Vampire Diaries
2013Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV Actor: Fantasy/Sci-FiThe Vampire Diaries
2014People's Choice AwardsFavorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV ActorThe Vampire Diaries
2014People's Choice AwardsFavorite On-Screen Chemistry The Vampire Diaries
2014mtvU Fandom AwardsShip of the Year The Vampire Diaries
2014Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV Actor Fantasy/Sci-FiThe Vampire Diaries
2014Teen Choice AwardsChoice Male HottieThe Vampire Diaries
2014Teen Choice AwardsChoice Twit
2014Teen Choice AwardsChoice Social Media King
2014Young Hollywood AwardsBest Threesome The Vampire Diaries
2015People's Choice AwardsFavorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV ActorThe Vampire Diaries
2015People's Choice AwardsFavorite TV Duo The Vampire Diaries
2015Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV Actor Fantasy/Sci-FiThe Vampire Diaries
2015Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV: Chemistry The Vampire Diaries
2015Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV: Liplock The Vampire Diaries
2015mtvU Fandom AwardsShip of the Year The Vampire Diaries
2016People's Choice AwardsFavorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV ActorThe Vampire Diaries
2016Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV Actor Fantasy/Sci-FiThe Vampire Diaries
2016Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV: Chemistry The Vampire Diaries
2017People's Choice AwardsFavorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV ActorThe Vampire Diaries
2017Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV Actor Fantasy/Sci-FiThe Vampire Diaries
2017Teen Choice AwardsChoice Changemaker