IAN SOMERHALDER
as DAMON SALVATORE
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Ian Somerhalder stars as Damon Salvatore, the elder and far more dangerous of two vampire brothers who share a long and bitter history, in The CW's hit drama "The Vampire Diaries."

Somerhalder has received multiple Teen Choice Awards for his portrayal of Damon. This year, Somerhalder won the award for “Choice Male Hottie,” and for the second straight year, won for “Choice TV Actor: Fantasy/Sci-Fi.” In 2010, Somerhalder won the Teen Choice Award for “Choice TV Villain.” He was also nominated for a 2012 People’s Choice Award in the “Favorite TV Drama Actor” category.

Somerhalder is well known for his role as Boone on J.J. Abrams' critically acclaimed drama “Lost.” He won the 2005 SAG Award as part of “Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series” and “Lost” won the 2005 Emmy Award for “Best Television Series - Drama.” The show was also nominated for the 2004 Golden Globe Award and the 2004 People’s Choice Award. Somerhalder returned to “Lost” for several episodes during its final season.

His film credits include a starring role in Ellen Kanor’s “The Wake,” opposite Bijou Phillips; Aaron Wiederspahn’s “Sensation of Sight,” opposite David Strathairn and Jane Adams; Jim Sonzero’s “Pulse,” opposite Kristen Bell and Christina Milian; Roger Avary’s “The Rules of Attraction,” opposite James Van Der Beek, Kate Bosworth, Kip Pardue and Jessica Biel; Irwin Winkler’s “Life as a House,” opposite Hayden Christensen, Kevin Kline and Kristen Scott Thomas; Martin Guigui’s “Changing Hearts,” opposite Lauren Holly and Faye Dunaway; and Tony Giglio’s “In Enemy Hands,” opposite William H. Macy, Jeremy Sisto and Scott Caan.

On stage, Somerhalder starred off-Broadway in Trip Cullman's “Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead,” an “unauthorized parody” of Charles Schulz’ comic strip “Peanuts” that follows the travails of a grown up Charlie Brown and the original gang as their beloved beagle dies. Somerhalder co-starred with Eddie Kaye Thomas, Eliza Dushku, America Ferrera, Ari Graynor and Logan Marshall-Green.

Additional television credits include HBO’s “Tell Me You Love Me,” a leading role in The WB series “Young Americans,” and guest starring roles in “CSI,” “CSI: Miami,” “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit” and “Smallville.”

In 2010, Somerhalder launched The Ian Somerhalder Foundation, which aims to educate, empower and collaborate with people and projects that positively impact our planet and its creatures. Through his role as founder and president, Somerhalder strives to create awareness for environmental and animal rights-related issues, focusing specifically on the environment, creatures and clean energy initiatives. In 2011, ISF co-partnered with the Alliance for Global Conservation to create Planet Green’s “Blue August,” a week-long series that explored the wonders of the ocean and aquatic life. Ian served as an online and on-camera guide for the documentary and traveled to Trinidad and Tobago to film the life cycle of sea turtles. Currently, ISF is working on developing its own Animal Sanctuary dedicated to misfit and outcast pets, as well as other animals. Earlier this year, Somerhalder was awarded with the Humane Society of America's prestigious Wyler Award for his work with animals.