Ian Somerhalder

December 8, 2024

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

Ian Somerhalder, born December 8, 1978, began his career as a child model, and he has become one of America’s best-known actors — and a prominent environmental activist. He became famous when he played Boone Carlyle in “Lost,” a hit T.V. show, and he remarked that the series was one of the most significant events of his life. He became a household name when featured in “The Vampire Diaries.” He is also a model and has worked with fashion brands like Gucci, Penshoppe, Versace, and Calvin Klein. Allow us to help you celebrate the versatile actor right here.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Ian Joseph Somerhalder

Nickname:

Smolderholder

Birth date:

December 8, 1978

Age:

Zodiac Sign:

Sagittarius

Height:

5' 9"

Relationship Status:

Married

Net Worth:

$12 million

Background

Ian Somerhalder is one of the most popular actors in the world. His good genes, acting skills, and humanitarian endeavors have made him a living legend. He started getting featured in billboard ads when he was only 10 years old, but it was his acting career that etched his face into the minds of millions of people. Somerhalder was born on December 8, 1978, in Covington, Louisiana, and his parents are Edna and Robert Somerhalder. His zodiac sign is Sagittarius, and he has English, French, and Scott-Irish ancestry. He began his career as a child model. He was the face of Jeans for a good couple of years.

His first acting job was an episode in Gilbert Shilton’s “The Big Easy” (1997). He got his first leading role in “Young Americans” (2000), and with that, he established himself as a good actor. His breakthrough came in 2004 when he appeared in “Lost,” a successful television show. The year 2009 was another phenomenal year for him. In that year, he appeared in “The Tournament,” a movie, and “The Vampire Diaries,” a highly rated series. By the third season of “The Vampire Diaries,” he started to direct some episodes. Somerhalder formed a lot of relationships while on the set of the series. He met his long-term girlfriend, Nina Dobrev, and he met lifelong friend Paul Wesley.

Somerhalder eventually got married to actress Nikki Reed, and the couple welcomed a child in 2017. In 2019, he featured in “V Wars,” a Netflix series that was later canceled. Somerhalder cares deeply about the earth, animals, and the sustainable use of resources. He set up the Ian Somerhalder Foundation to make tangible contributions to them.

Career timeline

1988

He Makes His Modeling Debut

Somerhalder starts modeling at the age of 10 for Ralph Lauren.

1997

He Makes His Acting Debut

"The Big Easy" is Somerhalder's first acting job.

2014

He Makes His Directorial Debut

Somerhalder directs "The Downward Spiral," which is episode 16 of the sixth season of "The Vampire Diaries."

2017

He Gets Married

Somerhalder marries Nikki Reed, an actress he met while shooting "The Vampire Diaries."

Why We Love Ian Somerhalder

He is an environmentalist
Somerhalder is an ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme. He grew up playing outdoors, and he loves nature as a result.
He loves animals
Somerhalder has devoted his time and resources to helping wild and domesticated animals. We love his passion for animals and share his conviction against animal cruelty.
He dresses well
You will never see a poorly dressed Somerhalder, which is not surprising as the actor is also a model. We love people who pay attention to their appearance.

5 Surprising Facts

He would have become a marine biologist
Somerhalder loves animals, and he says he would have become a marine biologist if his acting career didn't work out.
He loves Cap'n Crunch
We all have our guilty pleasures, but Somerhalder's guilty pleasure is eating Cap'n Crunch cereals.
He owns a bourbon brand
Somerhalder partnered with Paul Wesley, his friend, to set up their bourbon brand.
He owns a pizza Parlor
Somerhalder partnered with his siblings to set up McClain's Pizzeria, Hailey, Idaho.
He puts truffle oil in his food
Somerhalder loves the flavor of truffle in his food, which explains why he puts truffle oil in everything he eats.