Ian Somerhalder Biography

Fast Facts

• Established The Ian Somerhalder Foundation to educate others on the importance of environment and animal protection
• Started modeling at the age of 10, working with companies like Calvin Klein and Gucci before becoming an actor
• Landed a role as a series regular on the "Dawson's Creek" spinoff "Young Americans․"
• Quote: "(On his reasons for becoming an actor) "To explore different parts of yourself and different emotional lives․․․․not to hide from who you are but to actually explore who you are"․"
• Quote: "[On feminism] "When we men learn to celebrate the true and irrefutable power of women, we can then truly celebrate the progress of men․""
• Well known for playing the role of Damon Salvatore in "The Vampire Diaries․"
• Filmed public service announcements in 2010 to recruit volunteers for clean up after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
• Supports the It Gets Better Project, aiming to prevent suicide in the LGBT community
• Supports the St․ Tammary Humane Society, an organization providing animal shelter and welfare