ACTOR
Ian Somerhalder
- Known for
- The Tournament (2009), Pulse (2006), V-Wars (2019), Tell Me You Love Me (2007)
24 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
Ian Somerhalder is an actor best known for The Tournament, Pulse and V-Wars.
24 Interesting Facts About Ian Somerhalder
Interesting Facts (11)
- #001
Ian Somerhalder and his brothers own a pizza parlor in Idaho.
- #002
Ian Somerhalder began modeling at age 10; he modeled for Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabanna, Gucci, Versace and Guess.
- #003
Ian Somerhalder does not like to talk about his modeling career because of the impressions people might form about him.
- #004
If he had not become an actor, Ian Somerhalder would have chosen a career in marine biology, writing or advertising.
- #005
Ian Somerhalder has his own foundation called the "Ian Sommerhalder Foundation."
- #006
Ironically, Ian Somerhalder was the first actor cast as one of the survivors on Lost (2004).
- #007
Ian Somerhalder supports a charity called Love Letters to the South, which pays tribute to everyone affected by Hurricane Katrina.
- #008
Ian Somerhalder founded the Ian Somerhalder Foundation on December 8, 2010, which aims to empower, educate and collaborate with people and projects that positively impact the planet and its creatures.
- #009
In an interview, Ian Somerhalder said he planned to buy a house in Hawaii while shooting the hit series "Lost," but he did not get it after his character was killed off on the show.
- #010
Ian Somerhalder was the face of Guess for two consecutive Fall seasons.
- #011
Ian Somerhalder became a father for the first time at 38 when his wife, Nikki Reed, gave birth to their daughter, Bodhi Soleil Reed Somerholder, on July 25, 2017.
Characters & Cast (3)
- #012
In 2005, Ian Somerhalder bulked up his slim frame by adding roughly 20 to 30 pounds of muscle so that he would be considered for more leading-man type roles.
- #013
Ian Somerhalder was heavily considered for the role of Christian Gray in 'Fifty Shades of Grey' (2015) but withdrew from the running because filming would conflict with 'The Vampire Diaries'.
- #014
Ian Somerhalder took on the role of "Damon Salvatore" in the CW show The Vampire Diaries (2009).
Career & Awards (1)
- #015
Ian Somerhalder did not graduate from high school because he went to Europe to continue his modeling career.
Life & Family (9)
- #016
The surname "Somerhalder" comes from the great-grandfather who adopted him. His biological great-grandfather, a wealthy English landowner, impregnated one of his mistresses and paid an immigrant worker to marry the woman and give the baby the name Somerhalder. The biological great-grandfather's name was Hull.
- #017
Ian Somerhalder was raised by his mother, whom he describes as "very spiritual."
- #018
Ian Somerhalder has a brother, Robert (Bob), and a sister, Robyn. His parents divorced when he was thirteen.
- #019
Ian Somerhalder played football and baseball in college.
- #020
Ian Somerhalder's favorite film is The Graduate (1967).
- #021
Ian Somerhalder attended a Catholic school.
- #022
Ian Somerhalder's favorite sport is soccer. He also played college football and baseball.
- #023
Ian Somerhalder has a brother named Robert, who is a carpenter, and a sister named Robyn, who is a broadcast journalist. While growing up, he spent most of his free time boating, swimming, fishing and training horses, and performing with his school's theater club and a local theater group.
- #024
On April 26, 2015, Ian Somerhalder married his girlfriend of one year, Nikki Reed, in Topanga Canyon in Malibu, California, after a two-month engagement.
Related pages
- Wimbledon — Ian Somerhalder comes up in the facts on that page
- Life as a House — Ian Somerhalder comes up in the facts on that page
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- IMDb
Information from external sources is independently selected, consolidated and edited by Arka Evren. Sources are listed for verification and further reading. Encyclopedia text is used under its licence (CC BY-SA). How we work