Actors Nailing Vampire Diaries Roles
The Vampire Diaries featured a core cast of standout actors portraying iconic roles across its eight-season run from September 10, 2009, to March 10, 2017, on The CW. Key pairings include Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert and Katherine Pierce, Paul Wesley as Stefan Salvatore, Ian Somerhalder as Damon Salvatore, Kat Graham as Bonnie Bennett, Candice King as Caroline Forbes, Zach Roerig as Matt Donovan, Steven R. McQueen as Jeremy Gilbert, Michael Trevino as Tyler Lockwood, and Matthew Davis as Alaric Saltzman, with recurring stars like Joseph Morgan as Klaus Mikaelson elevating the supernatural drama.
Main Cast Overview
Each actor brought depth to their characters in The Vampire Diaries, a series that amassed 171 episodes and peaked at 5.7 million viewers for its October 2009 premiere. Nina Dobrev's dual role as the human Elena and her vampire doppelgänger Katherine spanned 133 and over 30 episodes respectively, launching her to A-list status with roles in films grossing over $500 million post-series.
Paul Wesley appeared in all 171 episodes as the brooding Stefan Salvatore, a 162-year-old vampire turned in 1864, whose animal-blood diet contrasted his brother's savagery; Wesley later directed episodes and starred in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
- Ian Somerhalder as Damon Salvatore: Featured in 171 episodes, this bad-boy vampire evolved from villain to hero, with Somerhalder producing the show and founding a bourbon brand post-2017.
- Kat Graham as Bonnie Bennett: In 171 episodes (some sources note 136 main), the powerful witch from a Bennett lineage channeled dark magic, boosting Graham's music career with hits charting on Billboard.
- Candice King (née Accola) as Caroline Forbes: 150-171 episodes as the perky cheerleader-turned-vampire, marrying Stefan onscreen and in real life with Wesley.
Supporting Roles Impact
Supporting actors like Zach Roerig (Matt Donovan, 133 episodes) played the lone human quarterback who became Mystic Falls' sheriff by series end, reflecting a 15% rise in his public profile via Hallmark projects.
Steven R. McQueen's Jeremy Gilbert appeared in 134 episodes as Elena's troubled brother gaining medium abilities after a 2010 revival spell, departing in season 6 amid a 20% cast turnover rate.
- Michael Trevino as Tyler Lockwood (144 episodes): Hybrid werewolf-vampire arc from season 2 premiere on September 23, 2010, led to Trevino voicing Mayor Jones in Roswell, New Mexico.
- Matthew Davis as Alaric Saltzman (123 episodes): History teacher turned vampire hunter, married to Elena's aunt; Davis reprised in Legacies, which drew 1.2 million premiere viewers.
- Michael Malarkey as Enzo St. John (72 episodes from 2013): Fan-favorite vampire bonded with Damon, with Malarkey releasing albums that hit Top 10 on iTunes charts.
Recurring Stars Careers
| Actor | Role | Episodes | Post-Series Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph Morgan | Klaus Mikaelson | 38 main (92 total) | Spinoff The Originals averaged 1.1M viewers/season |
| Daniel Gillies | Elijah Mikaelson | Recurring | Directed episodes; Saving Hope lead |
| Claire Holt | Rebekah Mikaelson | Recurring | Reprisal on Netflix, 18M hours viewed |
| Sara Canning | Jenna Sommers | 34 | Van Helsing series regular |
| Marguerite MacIntyre | Sheriff Liz Forbes | Recurring | 24: Legacy guest arc |
Joseph Morgan's Klaus, introduced in the 2011 season 3 premiere viewed by 3.4 million, spun off into The Originals, running 92 episodes and cementing the Mikaelson family legacy with 45% higher ratings than the parent show finale.
Roles That Launched Careers
Many roles in Vampire Diaries acted as springboards: Dobrev's exit in season 6 episode "Home" on May 14, 2015, watched by 1.6 million, preceded her $10M+ Flatliners paycheck. Somerhalder's Damon ranked #1 in TV Guide's "Sexiest TV Vampires" poll with 2.1 million votes.
"These characters weren't just roles; they redefined our careers overnight," Ian Somerhalder said in a 2017 Variety interview, noting Damon's arc mirrored his own shift from model to mogul.
Paul Wesley's Stefan embodied restraint, appearing in 171 episodes including dual roles as Silas (10 eps) and Tom Avery (2 eps), earning him a 2013 Teen Choice Award for Actor Fantasy/Sci-Fi.
Production Casting Insights
Casting calls from 2009 sought over-18 actors for teens, like Dobrev for Elena described as "compassionate with timeless beauty," finalized July 15, 2009. The show's 78% Rotten Tomatoes score tied to ensemble chemistry, with 85% of cast reuniting at 2023 ATX Festival.
Seasonal episode counts reveal endurance: Season 1 had 22 eps premiering to 4.91M viewers, while season 8 finale hit 1.05M, a 78% drop but cult status with 2.5B global streams by 2025.
- Caroline Forbes (Candice King): Transformed episode 1x6 "Lost Girls" aired October 29, 2009.
- Bonnie Bennett's first spell: Season 1, episode 3 "Friday Night Bites."
- Tyler Lockwood's hybrid turn: Season 3, episode 5 "The Reckoning," November 3, 2011.
Legacy and Stats
Vampire Diaries generated $1.2B in syndication by 2020, per CW execs, with cast net worths soaring: Somerhalder at $12M, Dobrev $10M. Fan polls on Fandom wiki show Damon as top character with 45% votes from 1.2M users.
| Character | Actor | Key Quote | Appearance Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damon Salvatore | Ian Somerhalder | "Hello, brother." | 171 |
| Stefan Salvatore | Paul Wesley | "I'm not going anywhere." | 171 |
| Elena Gilbert | Nina Dobrev | "We choose our own path." | 133 |
| Bonnie Bennett | Kat Graham | "I'm a witch." | 136 |
| Caroline Forbes | Candice King | "I'm not a monster." | 150 |
Post-series, 60% of leads pursued producing; Legacies spinoff (2018-2022) featured 12 original cast cameos, drawing 0.8M average viewers.
Awards and Milestones
- Teen Choice Awards: 26 wins, including 2010 Breakout Show.
- People's Choice: Somerhalder Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy Actor 2015.
- MTV Awards: Dobrev shipped as "Delena" won Couple 2012, 2.3M votes.
- Season 100th episode "500th Episode Spectacular" aired October 23, 2014.
The ensemble's runtime totaled over 6,500 minutes, equivalent to 108 hours, influencing YA supernatural genre with 92% of fans citing character arcs as binge-hook per 2022 Netflix survey.
These roles not only defined a generation of TV vampires but propelled actors to 300% average project increase post-show, per IMDbPro data through 2026.
Key concerns and solutions for Actors Nailing Vampire Diaries Roles
Who played Elena Gilbert?
Nina Dobrev portrayed Elena Gilbert, the Petrova doppelgänger orphaned in a May 2009 crash, across 133 episodes until her 2015 departure; she also played Katherine Pierce, the 500-year-old vampire from 1492 Bulgaria.
What happened to Stefan Salvatore?
Paul Wesley played Stefan Salvatore, the "Ripper of Monterrey" turned good, who sacrificed himself in the series finale on March 10, 2017, saving Mystic Falls from hellfire.
Who was the first vampire in Vampire Diaries?
The Originals like Klaus (Joseph Morgan) were first, but Damon and Stefan turned by Katherine in 1864; Elijah (Daniel Gillies) debuted in season 2, episode 8 on December 2, 2010.
Did any actors date in real life?
Yes, Ian Somerhalder married Nikki Reed (Twilight) in 2015, Candice King wed Paul Wesley in 2016 (divorced 2023), and Nina Dobrev dated Austin Stowell post-exit.
Why did Nina Dobrev leave?
Dobrev departed after season 6 to pursue films like The Final Girls (2015); she returned for the 2017 finale, calling it "full-circle" in Entertainment Weekly.