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Ian Somerhalder

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Ian Somerhalder
NameIan Somerhalder
CaptionSomerhalder in 2014
Birth date8 December 1978
Birth placeCovington, Louisiana, U.S.
OccupationActor, model, director, activist
SpouseNikki Reed (m. 2015)

Ian Somerhalder is an American actor, model, and activist best known for his roles in popular television series. He gained widespread recognition for portraying Boone Carlyle on the hit drama *Lost* and later achieved global fame as the vampire Damon Salvatore on The CW's *The Vampire Diaries*. His work extends beyond acting into environmental and social advocacy, notably through The Ian Somerhalder Foundation.

Early life and education

Born in Covington, Louisiana, he is the son of Edna, a massage therapist, and Robert, a building contractor. He grew up on a rural farm and attended St. Paul's School before beginning a modeling career at age 10 with a campaign for Dolce & Gabbana in New York City. He later studied at the William Esper Studio for acting and briefly attended the New York University School of Arts.

Career

His early career included modeling for brands like Versace and Gucci, as well as appearances in music videos for artists like Madonna and Weezer. His film debut was in the *Black and White* in 1999, followed by roles in *The Rules of Attraction* and the television series *Young Americans*. His breakthrough came with the role of Boone Carlyle on ABC's *Lost*, which aired from 2004 to 2010. He later starred as Damon Salvatore on The CW's *The Vampire Diaries* from 2009 to 2017, a role that earned him multiple People's Choice Awards and a dedicated international fanbase. He has since directed episodes of *The Vampire Diaries* and starred in the Netflix series *V Wars*.

Personal life

He married actress Nikki Reed in 2015 at a ceremony in Topanga, California. The couple have two children together. He is an avid environmentalist and owns a farm in Los Angeles. His personal interests include sustainable agriculture, animal welfare, and yoga.

Philanthropy and activism

In 2010, he founded The Ian Somerhalder Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on environmental protection, animal rights, and youth empowerment. He has been a vocal advocate for renewable energy and has worked with organizations like The Climate Reality Project and PETA. He served as a United Nations Environment Programme Goodwill Ambassador and has spoken at events such as the World Economic Forum on issues of sustainability and conservation.

Filmography

A selected list of his acting credits includes: *The Rules of Attraction (2002) as Paul Denton *Lost (2004–2010) as Boone Carlyle *The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017) as Damon Salvatore *The Anomaly (2014) as Harkin Langham *V Wars (2019) as Dr. Luther Swann

Awards and nominations

Throughout his career, he has received numerous accolades, primarily for his work on *The Vampire Diaries*. These include several People's Choice Awards for Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actor and a Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Villain. He has also been honored with awards from PETA and environmental groups for his activism.

Category:American male television actors Category:American male film actors Category:American animal rights activists Category:1978 births Category:Living people