Ian Somerhalder
American actor (born 1978)
Ian Somerhalder
Somerhalder in 2023
Born Ian Joseph Somerhalder
(1978-12-08 ) December 8, 1978 (age 45) Occupation Actor Years active 1997–2024 Spouse
Children 2
Ian Joseph Somerhalder ( SUM -ər-hawl-dər ; born December 8, 1978) is an American retired actor. He is known for playing Boone Carlyle in ABC 's science fiction adventure drama television series Lost (2004–2010) and Damon Salvatore in the CW supernatural teen drama series The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017).
Early life
Ian Joseph Somerhalder was born on December 8, 1978,[ 1] in Covington, Louisiana , United States.[ 2] [ 3] [ 4] His mother, Edna (née Israel ),[ 5] is a massage therapist of half Choctaw and half Irish descent[ 6] originally from Mississippi ,[ 7] while his father, Robert Somerhalder Sr., is an independent building contractor [ 8] with Cajun ancestry.[ 9] [ 10] [ 11] Somerhalder is the second of three children, with an older brother and a younger sister.[ 12] : 2 [ 13]
Somerhalder graduated from Saint Paul's School , a private school in Covington.[ 14] He embarked on a modeling career from age 10[ 8] [ 13] to 13.[ 15] Somerhalder's parents divorced[ 11] when he was 14, and he subsequently lived with his mother.[ 12] : 3 At age 17, Somerhalder decided to refocus on acting[ 3] and began studying with acting teacher William Esper .[ 12] : 8 [ 16]
Career
Somerhalder at the 2015 Wizard World Convention, February 2015.
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 .[ 17]
In 2004, Somerhalder scored his breakthrough role when he played Boone Carlyle in Lost . Despite his character's death in the twentieth episode of the first season, he returned to the role of Boone for seven more episodes between 2005 and 2010, including the series finale . He was the first major character to die.[ 18] Following his departure from the show, ABC signed him to another one-year contract.[ 19] In 2005, he stated that being a part of Lost was "the greatest experience" of "the greatest year of his life".[ 20] [ 21]
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.[ 22] [ 23] Also in 2009, Somerhalder began playing 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 his performance and the show receiving a positive response from critics. He began directing The Vampire Diaries in its third season and produced the series at the start of season 8. He received several Teen Choice Award 's and a People's Choice Award for his participation on the series.[ 24]
Somerhalder acted in the short subject Time Framed (2013).[ 25] He played Dr. Luther Swann as a series regular in the Netflix science fiction horror series V Wars , which ran from 2019 to 2020.[ 26] [ 27] [ 28]
In 2020, Somerhalder shot footage for and served as an executive producer on the film Kiss the Ground, a documentary centered on regenerative agriculture .[ 29] He returned as an executive producer on its follow-up documentary, Common Ground , in 2023.[ 30]
In a 2024 interview, Somerhalder revealed that he had retired from acting a while back after relocating outside of Los Angeles, though he would still be involved in producing and environmental activism.[ 31]
Foundations and causes
Paul Wesley , Nina Dobrev and Somerhalder in 2012
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.[ 32] 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.[ 33] [ 34] [ 35] [ 36]
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 [ 37] associated with The Trevor Project .[ 38] 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."[ 39] This campaign sold almost 10,000 shirts.[ 40]
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.[ 41] [ 42] To spread awareness for his foundation, Somerhalder sponsors and often walks in Mardi Paws , a parade and organization held in his hometown of Covington.[ 43] 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 .[ 44] [ 45]
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.[ 46]
Personal life
Somerhalder dated his Vampire Diaries co-star Nina Dobrev from 2010 to 2013.[ 47] In 2014, he began dating actress Nikki Reed .[ 48] They married on April 26, 2015, in Malibu, California .[ 49] They had a daughter in 2017[ 50] [ 51] and a son in 2023.[ 52]
While working on Lost, Somerhalder and Maggie Grace adopted a feral cat named Roo which they found "literally dying" in the jungle on the set, which later became Grace's "travel buddy."[ 53] Somerhalder had stated that being a part of Lost was "the greatest experience" of "the greatest year of his life".[ 54] [ 55] Somerhalder has remained close friends with his former Vampire Diaries co-star Paul Wesley , and in 2020, they announced the launch of a straight bourbon whiskey named Brother's Bond Bourbon.[ 56]
Filmography
Film
Television
Web
Year
Title
Role
Notes
2009
The Vampire Diaries: A Darker Truth
Damon Salvatore
Episode: "A Darker Truth Part 4"
[ 61]
As director
Awards and nominations
Year
Award
Category
Work
Result
2002
Young Hollywood Awards
Exciting New Face – Male
—
Won
2005
Teen Choice Awards
Choice TV Breakout Performance – Male
Lost
Nominated
2006
Screen Actors Guild Award
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Lost (with cast)
Won
2010
Young Hollywood Awards
Cast to Watch (with Paul Wesley and Nina Dobrev )
The Vampire Diaries
Won
[ 64]
Teen Choice Awards
Choice TV Villain
Won
Teen Choice Awards
Choice Male Hottie
Nominated
2011
Teen Choice Awards
Choice TV Actor Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Won
Teen Choice Awards
Choice Vampire
Nominated
Teen Choice Awards
Choice Male Hottie
Nominated
People's Choice Awards
Favorite TV Drama Actor
Nominated
2012
People's Choice Awards
Favorite TV Drama Actor
Nominated
Genesis Awards
Humane Society
—
Won
Teen Choice Awards
Choice TV Actor Fantasy/Sci-Fi
The Vampire Diaries
Won
Teen Choice Awards
Choice Male Hottie
Won
[ 65]
Do Something Awards
Best TV Star
Nominated
Do Something Awards
Twitter
—
Nominated
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
Nominated
Teen Choice Awards
Choice TV Actor: Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Won
2014
People's Choice Awards
Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actor
Won
[ 66]
People's Choice Awards
Favorite On-Screen Chemistry (with Nina Dobrev)
Won
mtvU Fandom Awards
Ship of the Year (with Nina Dobrev)
Won
[ 67]
Teen Choice Awards
Choice TV Actor Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Won
Teen Choice Awards
Choice Male Hottie
Won
Teen Choice Awards
Choice Twit
—
Nominated
Teen Choice Awards
Choice Social Media King
—
Nominated
Young Hollywood Awards
Best Threesome (with Paul Wesley and Nina Dobrev)
The Vampire Diaries
Won
2015
People's Choice Awards
Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actor
Nominated
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)
Nominated
2016
People's Choice Awards
Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actor
Nominated
Teen Choice Awards
Choice TV Actor Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Nominated
Teen Choice Awards
Choice TV: Chemistry (with Kat Graham)
Nominated
2017
People's Choice Awards
Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actor
Nominated
Teen Choice Awards
Choice TV Actor Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Nominated
Teen Choice Awards
Choice Changemaker
—
Nominated
References
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^ "Obituary for Margaret Israel Fitzgerald" . Hattiesburg American . April 2, 2010. Retrieved September 19, 2023 – via newspapers.com .
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^ [1] [dead link ]
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^ "Ian Somerhalder returns home to lead Mardi Paws Dog Parade, now rolling in Covington" . NOLA Weekend . February 27, 2020. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021. Retrieved July 21, 2021 .
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^ "Young Hollywood Award Winners" . All Voices . May 14, 2010. Archived from the original on July 6, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2012 .
^ "Teen magic" . Hindustan Times . Press Trust of India . July 24, 2012. Archived from the original on December 22, 2013.
^ Hilton, Perez (January 8, 2014). "Ian Somerhalder Beats Out the Competition for Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actor at the 2014 People's Choice Awards!" . PerezHilton.com . Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved May 16, 2014 .
^ " 'Veronica Mars' Hits A Neptune High, Wins Top Honors At The mtvU Fandom Awards" . MTV News . Archived from the original on May 19, 2019. Retrieved July 25, 2014 .
External links
Awards for Ian Somerhalder
International National Other