Ian Somerhalder biography

Date of birth : 1978-12-08
Date of death : -
Birthplace : Covington, Louisiana, U.S.
Nationality : American
Category : Arts and Entertainment
Last modified : 2011-08-18 13:13:15
Credited as : Actor, Vampire Diaries, fashion model

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Ian Joseph Somerhalder is an American actor, male fashion model, and producer. His father was of French and English descent, while his mother is of Irish and Choctaw descent. They divorced when he was 13, and Ian grew up with his mother, who raised him on Eastern medicine and organic foods. He has kept to this strict, healthy diet, which was a likely reason for his foray into the world of modeling. He began his career at the age of 10, getting a contract with the Ford agency in New York. Some of the companies he has worked for include Calvin Klein, American Eagle Outfitters, Guess? and more.

As for acting, Ian Somerhalder has appeared on several television shows and films. Though he was seen on series like The Big Easy and Young Americans, one of his most notable earlier roles was that of Paul Denton in the movie The Rules of Attraction in 2002. Other appearances of his include those in Anatomy of a Hate Crime, Life as a House, Changing Heartsand an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. In 2003, he got a part in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and was next seen on CSI: Miami.

The next year, Somerhalder played U.S.S. Swordfish: Danny Miller in the movie In Enemy Hands, and later starred as Adam Knight in six episodes of Smallville. At that time, he joined the first season of the hit ABC series Lost as the character Boone Carlyle. He then got roles in Pulse, a remake of the Japanese horror movie Kairo. Somerhalder's next project was the HBO series Tell Me You Love Me, where he played Nick. He later appeared in 2008's The Lost Samaritan and Lost City Raiders, as well as obtaining roles in Wake, How to Make Love to a Woman, Fireball and The Tournament.

In 2009, he was cast in the 2009 CW teen drama fantasy Vampire Diaries as Damon Salvatore, the vampire brother of Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) who serves as the show's anti-hero.

Somerhalder was the first actor/celebrity to become actively involved in the cleanup after the Deepwater Horizon oil drilling disaster on April 22, 2010