Date Of Birth

December 8, 1978

Biography

Born on December 8, 1978 in Covington, Louisiana, Ian Joseph Somerhalder is an American actor, male fashion model, and producer. His father was of French and English descent, while his mother is of Irish and Choctaw descent. They divorced when he was 13, and Ian grew up with his mother, who raised him on Eastern medicine and organic foods. He has kept to this strict, healthy diet, which was a likely reason for his foray into the world of modeling. He began his career at the age of 10, getting a contract with the Ford agency in New York. Some of the companies he has worked for include Calvin Klein, American Eagle Outfitters, Guess? and more. 

As for acting, Ian Somerhalder has appeared on several television shows and films. Though he was seen on series like The Big Easy and Young Americans, one of his most notable earlier roles was that of Paul Denton in the movie The Rules of Attraction in 2002. Other appearances of his include those in Anatomy of a Hate Crime, Life as a House, Changing Hearts, and an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. In 2003, he got a part in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and was next seen on CSI: Miami. 

The next year, Somerhalder played U.S.S. Swordfish: Danny Miller in the movie In Enemy Hands, and later starred as Adam Knight in six episodes of Smallville. At that time, he joined the first season of the hit ABC series Lost as the character Boone Carlyle. He then got roles in Pulse, a remake of the Japanese horror movie Kairo. Somerhalder’s next project was the HBO series Tell Me You Love Me, where he played Nick. He later appeared in 2008’s The Lost Samaritan and Lost City Raiders, as well as obtaining roles in Wake, How to Make Love to a Woman, Fireball and The Tournament. 

In 2009, he was cast in the 2009 CW teen drama fantasy Vampire Diaries as Damon Salvatore, the vampire brother of Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) who serves as the show's anti-hero.

Place of Birth

Covington, Louisiana

Birth Name

Ian Joseph Somerhalder

Gender

Male

Fun Facts

-Ian has played varsity soccer and baseball.

-Ian's first kiss was in a skating ring when he was in 5th grade. 

-If he hadn't become an actor, Ian would have chosen a career in marine biology, writing, or advertising. 

-Ian occasionally smokes cigarettes. 

-Ian has a Shiba Inu dog. 

-Ian loves yoga, spending Christmas relaxing with family, baseball, western horseback riding, archery, riflery, football and cycling

Awards

2002 Young Hollywood Award for Exciting New Face-Male
2006 Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

Filmography

Film:
1998 - Celebrity 
2001 - Life as a House as Josh 
2002 - Changing Hearts as Jason Kelly 
2002 - The Rules of Attraction as Paul Denton 
2004 - In Enemy Hands as U.S.S. Swordfish: Danny Miller 
2004 - The Old Man and the Studio as Matt Recess 
2006 - National Lampoon's TV: The Movie 
2006 - Pulse as Dexter 
2006 - The Sensation of Sight as Drifter 
2008 - The Lost Samaritan as William Archer 
2008 - Lost City Raiders as Jack Kubiak 
2009 - Wake as Tyler 
2009 - The Tournament as Miles Slade 
2010 - How to Make Love to a Woman as Daniel 
2011 - Cradlewood as Josh

Television:
1997 - The Big Easy as I.Q. 
1999 - Now and Again as Brian 
2000 - Young Americans as Hamilton Fleming 
2001 - Anatomy of a Hate Crime as Russell Henderson 
2002 - CSI: Las Vegas as Tony Del Nagro 
2003 - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Charlie Baker 
2003 - CSI: Miami as Ricky Murdoch 
2004 - Fearless as Jordan Gracie 
2004 - Smallville as Adam Knight 
2007 - Marco Polo as Marco Polo 
2007 - Tell Me You Love Me as Nick 
2008 - Lost City Raiders as Jack Kubiak 
2009 - Fireball as Lee Cooper 
2004–2010 - Lost as Boone Carlyle 
2009–present - The Vampire Diaries as Damon Salvatore

Nickname

Ian

Height

5 ' 9.5 " (1.77)

Quotes

-I have a million acquaintances but just two or three true friends. I can't hide anything from them. 

-I kind of think too much, I try do too many things at once. 

-I realized I had to stop modeling and start studying to be an actor, which I'd wanted to be since I was about six. 

-My mom made my baby food and had me on blue-green alga probably since I was in third grade. I never had sugar. I never got to have white bread or any white-flour products.