Ian Somerhalder Biography

Date of Birth: December 08, 1978 Covington, Louisiana, U.S.

Birth Name: Ian Joseph Somerhalder

Height: 5'9

Nationality: English, Irish, French and Choctaw

Personal Life

Ian Joseph Somerhalder was born in Covington, Louisiana on December 08, 1978. His mother was a massage therapist and his father a building contractor. Ian has two siblings, a brother named Joshua and a sister named Robin. Joshua is a former professional cyclist and Robin is a broadcast journalist. At the age of thirteen his parents divorced and Ian stayed with his mother. He describes her as "spiritual" and was raised on Eastern medicine and organic foods. "I can't eat fast food," he says. "I haven't eaten McDonald's in 10 years. I eat fish every day."

Training

Ian began his career as a fashion model. His mother had connections in the business and at the age of 10 he nailed a three year contract with Ford in New York. He has modeled for Calvin Klein, American Eagle Outfitters, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Versace, and Guess? and continues to do work for DNA Model Management in New York City, and Priscilla's Model Management in Sydney, Australia.

His first major acting gig was for the film The Rules of Attraction, but it was his role as Boone Carlyle on the television series Lost that got him noticed. Ian also plays Damon Salvatore on the CW's new breakout hit The Vampire Diaries. Damon is the vengeful, vampire brother of Stefan Salvatore and comes back to wreak havoc on the small town of Mystic Falls.

Ian has also made appearances on Smallville, CSI: Miami, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Now and Again, and The Big Easy.

Movies/Television

1. Cradlewood (2011) Josh
2. How to Make Love to a Woman (2009) Daniel
3. "Lost" (29 episodes, 2004-2010) Boone Carlyle
4. "The Vampire Diaries" (2009-) Damon Salvatore
5. The Tournament (2009) Miles Slade
6. Fireball (2009) (TV)
7. Wake (2009/I) Tyler
8. Lost City Raiders (2008) (TV) Jack Kubiak
9. The Lost Samaritan (2008) (TV) William Archer
10. "Tell Me You Love Me" (6 episodes, 2007) Nick
11. Marco Polo (2007) (TV) Marco Polo
12. The Sensation of Sight (2006) Aaron Corbett
13. Peaceful Warrior (2006) Drifter
14. Pulse (2006/I) Dexter
15. TV: The Movie (2006)
16. Recess (2004) Cooley
17. The Old Man and the Studio (2004) Matt
18. "Smallville" (6 episodes, 2004) Adam Knight
19. In Enemy Hands (2004) U.S.S. Swordfish: Danny Miller
20. Fearless (2004) (TV) Jordan Gracie
21. "CSI: Miami" (1 episode, 2003) Ricky Murdoch
22. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1 episode, 2003) Charlie Baker
23. The Rules of Attraction (2002) Paul Denton
24. "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (1 episode, 2002) Tony Del Nagro
25. Changing Hearts (2002) Jason Kelly
26. Life as a House (2001) Josh
27. Anatomy of a Hate Crime (2001) (TV) Russell Henderson
28. "Young Americans" (8 episodes, 2000) Hamilton Fleming
29. "Now and Again" (1 episode, 1999) Brian
30. "The Big Easy" (1 episode, 1997) I.Q.