“The Vampire Diaries” Cast: What Are They Doing Now?
- The Vampire Diaries gained massive popularity due to its great storyline and intrigue.
- The cast of the show received unparalleled fame and quickly became sought after actors.
- The lead actors continue to enjoy widespread popularity even today.
Vampires have always remained one of the biggest mysteries in the fictional world. With their bloodlust and ability to remain immortal, vampires have great stories to tell. Viewers got their dose of such stories via The Vampire Diaries, a popular teen show that took the television space by storm. Garnering a wide fanbase, the show was able to consolidate a fandom so massive that the series spawned reboots and spinoffs as well.
The Vampire Diaries catapulted various actors’ careers as they witnessed unprecedented success after the show premiered. They went on to do movies and more shows but remain most memorable for their roles in The Vampire Diaries. Here’s a look at the show’s central cast and what they’re up to now.
Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert
Portraying the main character in the series, Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert was the central force around which the story revolved. From love triangles to fierce fights, everything was about Elena who even got the two warring Vampire brothers pitted against each other further. Dobrev played the character as a clueless teen girl at first who soon gets roped into the supernatural drama that plagues Mystic Falls as a whole. She also played the character of Katherine Pierce, the vampire who sired Stefan and Damon.
Dobrev remained in the series for six seasons after which she departed to pursue other opportunities in her career. To that effect, Dobrev has seen great success in Hollywood with movies like Flatliners, Then Came You, Love Hard and The Out-Laws. She recently got engaged to her boyfriend Shaun White and continues to do great films in the industry.
Paul Wesley as Stefan Salvatore
The first Vampire brother to whom we’re introduced to on the series The Vampire Diaries is Stefan Salvatore, portrayed by Paul Wesley. He enters the high school under different pretexts and yearns to be with Elena and steal her love. Wesley benefited from The Vampire Diaries as his career achieved newfound heights after the show ended in 2017.
Wesley has been seen in shows like Tell Me a Story and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds among others. Apart from Hollywood, Wesley also ventured into the business world with Brother’s Bond, in May 2021.
Ian Somerhalder as Damon Salvatore
Ian Somerhalder played Stefan’s brother, Damon Salvatore. He fights Stefan for Elena’s affections, thus creating a long lasting love triangle between the central actors. Somerhalder was not seen in many projects since The Vampire Diaries ended as he took a step back from the screen. He joined Wesley in founding the bourbon brand and took to business.
Somerhalder and Dobrev also made headlines for their romantic entanglement, since fans loved their relationship go from reel to reality. Another show he excelled in was Lost, where he returned for later episodes despite his character dying in the previous segment. He is married to actress Nikki Reed.
Kat Graham as Bonnie Bennet
Most recently seen in Love in the Villa, a romantic comedy, Kat Graham played the quintessential best friend in The Vampire Diaries. Her character remained a constant for Elena, guiding her through boy troubles and other travails they faced as teenagers.
Graham has had a successful movie career, appearing in movies like The Holiday Calendar, Collide, Emperor, The Poison Rose, and Operation Christmas Drop. The actress is also a singer as she flexed her vocal chords to release music albums in the likes of Love Music Funk Magic and Long Hot Summer. She is married to Bryant Wood.
Candace Accola as Caroline Forbes
The second best friend of Elena, Caroline Forbes, was portrayed by Candace Accola. She is among the first ones to be turned into a vampire by Damon but it takes some time for her and others to finally realize. Accola shot to fame with The Vampire Diaries and further starred in a recurring role on The Originals and Legacies.
Accola married Joe King in 2016 and welcomed two children. However, after a divorce in 2022, Accola is now with Steven Krueger.
Zach Roerig as Matt Donovan
The high school’s dashing teen, Matt Donovan, played by Zach Roerig, dated many women in Mystic Falls. The show begins with his breakup with Elena as he tries to win her back and suspects Stefan of some mysterious behavior.
Roerig’s role was more in a secondary capacity but he still managed to wow the audiences and especially garner a massive female fanbase. The actor fought a public custody battle for his daughter which he later won and remains the sole parent taking care of her.
The Vampire Diaries is streaming on Netflix.
