Biography of Ian Somerhalder
Ian Somerhalder made his mark on television history with his breakout role as the privileged Boone in Lost and his smoldering turn as Damon in The Vampire Diaries. The actor is selective with his projects and doesn't flood the market with new releases, but when he does appear on screen, it's always a treat for his devoted fanbase. Net worth: $12 million.
Childhood
Ian Somerhalder was born in Louisiana on December 8, 1978; he is the second of three children of a massage therapist, Edna, and a building contractor, Robert. Ian has Irish and Native American heritage, with his great-great-grandfather being a British aristocrat.
At 13, Edna brought Ian to a summer modeling and acting conference in New York, where the handsome teen caught industry attention and went on to model for major fashion houses and appear in commercials through age 17.

Career. The Beginning
The young actor's screen debut came in Woody Allen's Celebrity, though it went largely unnoticed—Ian appeared in a crowd scene and wasn't even credited. While continuing his studies, he landed guest spots on popular TV shows including Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Now and Again, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and CSI: Miami.

Survive and Become a Star
In 2002, Somerhalder took on one of the lead roles in the satirical comedy The Rules of Attraction. When the film hit theaters, critics absolutely savaged it. They couldn't stomach the portrayal of college life drowning in sex, drugs, and toxic behavior.

Critics argued that the action flick Fireball would've been dead on arrival without Somerhalder's brilliant turn as Lee Cooper, an escaped convict seeking revenge for his shattered life.


The Vampire Diaries
Taking on the role of Damon in The Vampire Diaries catapulted the actor to superstardom. As Damon, he masterfully unveiled the character's darkness while revealing the betrayal and pain that fueled his cruelty.Other Roles
In 2009's thriller The Tournament, the actor portrayed one of the assassins competing in a deadly tournament. The role of an elegant psychopath surprised his fans, but proved that Mr. Perfect could tackle any character. Robert Carlyle and the incredible Kelly Hu played other assassins.

Private Life of Ian Somerhalder
The heartthrob was never short of romantic company. He's been linked to famous designer Sarah Malatesta and socialite Nicky Hilton. Somerhalder also dated producer and blonde beauty Meghan Auld, and after their breakup, began seeing Kate Bosworth. During filming of The Vampire Diaries, the actor began dating Nina Dobrev, though she wouldn't become his life partner.
