Biography
Date of Birth
8 December 1978, Covington, Louisiana, USA
Birth Name
Ian Joseph Somerhalder
Nickname
Smolderholder
Height
5' 9½" (1.77 m)
Mini Biography
Ian Somerhalder was born and raised in the small southern town of Covington, Louisiana. His mother, Edna (née Israel), is a massage therapist, and his father, Robert Somerhalder, is a building contractor. He has Cajun (French), English, and Scots-Irish ancestry. Boating, swimming, fishing and training horses filled much of his recreational time growing up, as did the school drama club and performing with the local theater group. With his mother's encouragement, at age 10, he began a modeling career that took him to New York each summer. By junior high, he opted to put modeling on the back burner and focus more on sports and school. A few years later, when the opportunity to model in Europe arose, Somerhalder grabbed it, embarking on an enriching path of work, travel and study that took him to cities, including Paris, Milan and London. At 17, he began studying acting in New York and, by 19, had committed himself to the craft, working with preeminent acting coach William Esper. His fate was sealed while working as an extra in a club scene in the feature film, Black & White (1999). A talent manager visiting a client on the set spotted Somerhalder in a crowd scene of 400 and immediately signed him for representation. He was cast later for the drama Changing Hearts (2002) directed by Martin Guigui. Happy to be anchored in New York, Somerhalder spends much of his time studying acting, writing and practicing yoga. His recreational interests include water and snow skiing and horseback riding.
Trivia
Began modeling at age 10, modeled for Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabanna, Gucci, Versace and Guess.
Was the face of Guess? for two consecutive Fall seasons.
He doesn't like to talk about his modeling career because of the impressions people might get of him as being just another pretty face.
Played varsity soccer and baseball.
Ironically, the first actor to be cast as one of the survivors in Lost (2004).
In 2005, he bulked up, adding about 20 to 30 pounds of muscle to his slim frame, so he would be considered for more leading-man-type roles.
Has said in an interview he was planning to buy a home in Hawaii when filming the hit show "Lost" but couldn't after his character was killed off in the show.
He has a brother, Robert (Bob), and a sister, Robyn. Their parents divorced when he was thirteen.
Ian's mother, Edna (née Israel), worked as a massage therapist, and Ian's father, Robert Somerhalder, is a building contractor. Ian's ancestry includes Cajun (French) (from his paternal grandmother), English, as well as Northern Irish (Scots-Irish), Scottish, and Welsh. Ian's mother grew up on a pig farm in Mississippi. Ian has been said to have Choctaw Native American roots, but it is not clear if this ancestry has ever been verified/documented.
Grew up with his mother, whom he has described as being "very spiritual".
Attended Catholic school.
The surname "Somerhalder" originates from his adoptive great-grandfather. His biological great-grandfather, a wealthy English landowner, got one of his mistresses pregnant and paid an immigrant worker of his to marry this woman and give the baby a name, which was Somerhalder. The biological great-grandfather's name was Hull.
Was compared to looking like "a young Rob Lowe" by Rosie O'Donnell on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (2009) (November 6, 2009).
Ian and his siblings own a pizza parlor in Idaho.
He didn't graduate high school because he traveled to Europe to pursue his modeling career.
Has his own foundation called "Ian Sommerhalder Foundation".
If he hadn't become an actor, he would have chosen a career in marine biology, writing, or advertising.
His favorite film is The Graduate (1967).
He lent a helping hand to the disaster-stricken areas of the BP oil spill. He devoted his time off for summer to work in the Gulf region, particularly his home state. Ian also participated in Larry King's special two-hour telethon "Disaster in the Gulf: How You Can Help" on CNN, along with other celebrities.
Ian supports the charity Love Letters to the South, which pays tribute to all those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
His favorite actor is Sean Penn.
In April 2012, Ian and big brother Bob Somerhalder opened a reclaimed furniture shop named "Built of Barnwood" where they build and sell pieces themselves.
His favorite sport is Football. He also played varsity soccer and baseball.
Was in a relationship with The Vampire Diaries (2009) co-star, Nina Dobrev (2010 - May 2013).
Created the Ian Somerhalder Foundation on December 8, 2010 aiming to empower, educate and collaborate with people and projects to positively impact the planet and its creatures.
Named one of the 'sexiest men' in Glamour's "50 Sexiest Men of 2010" list.
Starring as "Damon Salvatore" in the CW show, The Vampire Diaries (2009). [September 2009]
Playing "Matt" in the Off-Broadway play, "Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead", at the Century Center for the Performing Arts. [December 2005]
He enjoys reading, music, yoga and traveling.
Together with his The Vampire Diaries (2009) co-stars Candice King and Michael Trevino, Somerhalder supports the It Gets Better Project, which makes it a goal to prevent suicide among LGBT youth associated with The Trevor Project.
He has a brother, Robert, a wood worker, and a sister, Robyn, a broadcast journalist. Boating, swimming, fishing and training horses filled much of his recreational time growing up, as did the school drama club and performing with the local theater group.
He attended St. Paul's, a private Catholic school in Covington.
(April 26, 2015) Married his girlfriend of a year Nikki Reed at Topanga Canyon in Malibu, California following a 2-month-long engagement.
Was heavily considered for the role of Christian Grey in 'Fifty Shades of Grey' (2015), but dropped out of the running since filming would have conflicted with that of 'The Vampire Diaries'.
Became a first time father aged 38 when his wife Nikki Reed gave birth to their daughter Bodhi Soleil Reed Somerholder on July 25th 2017.
Has a daughter, Bodhi Soleil Reed Somerhalder, born July 25th 2017.
Trademarks:
Icy blue eyes
Sharp jaw line
Thick eyebrows
Quotes
[on his reasons for becoming an actor] "To explore different parts of yourself and different emotional lives....not to hide from who you are but to actually explore who you are".
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. [on his biggest weakness]
This program teaches people that it only takes a single unlucky moment to lead to tragedy, if you come into contact with one really f***ed-up person, they can truly take your life away. [In regards to the Matthew Shepard killing and MTV's Fight for Your Rights: Take a Stand Against Discrimination campaign]
You can't get anywhere without the people who have come into your life.
[About his co-star, Maggie Grace] "She's hateable in Lost (2004), but really she's the sweetest, most adorable thing on the planet".
I have a million acquaintances but just two or three true friends. I can't hide anything from them.
There are always decades that interest people. For me, that's the Roaring Twenties.
Love is tested in so many ways. How do I articulate this? Two people are together. There are stakes, strife, struggles, all these things that make us fall for someone, love someone even more, leave someone.
I can write with absolutely perfect penmanship with my feet. If I broke both my arms, I could still write a girl a love letter using just my toes.
I can't let time move on without fighting tooth and nail and hopefully being a part of a revolution that is positive.
I have the attention span of a mosquito from multitasking and all the things that have affected my poor little brain.
Kids are meeting in coffee shops and basements figuring out what's unsustainable in their communities. That's the future.
Before vampires were aesthetically appealing, they were physical anomalies and ostracized outsiders whom we banished to the dark, and they didn't have the appeal that they do now.
When you're really close to someone, they can make fun of you a lot and get away with it. But they sort of poke you in all of the right places.
Every love story needs a catalyst of some sort.
Oceans are one of the most important things in the world now and that is a national security threat of the United States of America, to be honest with you. That is why seeing the habitat destroyed is so short-sighted by us.
We're made up of energy, so who's to say you can't transmit through electrical means? If you could transmit yourself wirelessly, then it's Armageddon pretty much.
I don't care how hot a girl is - if she doesn't like animals, it would be a major, major problem.
They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. It's the same way with women... or at least the ones I want to be with.
Acting is such a huge part of my life. It really allows me to have a creative outlet and to actually be able to have an outlet to discuss openly the things that truly I think are relevant in the world, that make a difference.
I kind of think too much, I try to do many things at once.
A lot of things that happen in the world make me a bit crazy.
I work with the Humane Society a lot and have three rescue cats.
It's so great to show up at work and truly enjoy every word you say.
I'm not a negative person.
The coming together of like-minded individuals through action is what's needed to see wide spread change for us, our planet and its creatures.
I mean, there are some amazing storytelling being done on the small screen right now. That's what so cool about being in television right now. Studios, networks are starting to throw more resources, better writers, more production values... and to be part of that is awesome.
What we're doing to the planet is inexcusable.
I don't want to see blood spewing out but I don't mind it in controlled environment. Does it make me squeamish? No.
My great-grandchildren will not be able to enjoy the Gulf Coast of Louisiana the way I have.
I appreciate the response and the support of fans, of people who actually don't mind watching me on screen... I just don't ever want to jeopardize that.
I've sorta learned that I'm so tired of taking myself so seriously. It's so great to show up at work and truly enjoy every word you say.
The most underused, under-appreciated group of people in the world is our youth.
I don't know how to do anything else other than be an actor. If I wasn't in this, I would be in alternative energy and conservation.
I don't ever want anything to come in the way of me truthfully telling a story.
Species conservation is beyond a doubt an issue that truly matters to the American public.
The quality of life is so much higher anyplace you can ski in the morning and surf in the evening - there's something to be said for that.
Maybe one of the only things I do well: I cook like a maniac! I would be a chef if I weren't an actor.
I just want to make it clear that I have been working since I was ten years old.
I'm never running for office. I love being able to speak to members of Congress or members of the Senate and floating on either side, because it takes all of us. It's going to take both of them.
No one knows what women want!
There are certain places in the world that are kind of energy vortexes, which are phenomenal.
I'm from New Orleans. There's a lot of vampire mystique and mythology that resonates there, and I was fascinated by it. I always wanted to play one.
I've never been on a TV show for more than a season and you have to continually keep it interesting and you have to keep it connected, even as you change.
I never wanted to be one of those actors with a political agenda.
I aim to direct as much as I act at some point in time.
I want to bulk up. I'm a skinny guy.
You spend enough time on set as an actor and it's great when a director was at some point an actor or understands acting. They're able to finesse performances out of you that a lot directors can't get.
I never had any backlash from the model-turned-actor thing.
The film business creates a large amount of waste, and I'm not immune to waste in the business.
Lack of time and money create really bad green practices.
I'm a good driver.
As an actor, you always think that whatever job you have is going to be your last. In some way, shape or form, you think you're going to screw it up and you're never going to work again.
I grew up as a country boy.
I'm from the gulf coast of Louisiana.
