Ian Somerhalder, known for his roles in shows such asLostandThe Vampire Diaries, has officially retired from acting. Somerhalder played Boone Carlyle inLost, who was a main character in season 1 of the groundbreaking series, then had a recurring role in seasons 2, 3, and 6. However,Somerholder was primarily known for playing Damon Salvatore, a main character inThe Vampire Diariescast. Airing on The CW from 2009-2017,The Vampire Diarieshad many devoted fans who were invested in thelove triangle relationship between Damon, Stefan, and Elena.
After the success and loyal following he garnered fromThe Vampire Diaries, Somerhalder continued starring in projects. In 2019, he starred in the Netflix seriesV Warsalongside his wife, Nikki Reed.V Warsis a vampire show based on an anthology series and comic book series of the same name. However, the show was canceled by Netflix after just one season, and remainsSomerhalder’s last credited role as an actor. In an interview in 2024, Somerhalder revealed that he has officially retired from acting.
Ian Somerhalder Quit Acting To Pursue Farming, Business & Environmentalism
Somerhalder’s Acting Career Spanned Over Two Decades
Somerhalder married his wife, Nikki Reed, who starred in theTwilightfranchise as Rosalie Hale, in 2015. According toE! News, afterV Wars,the couple had moved to a farm outside of Los Angeles and have been focused on raising their family, which consists of their two children. While both Somerhalder and Reed look back on their careers as actors fondly, they are very happy with their lives now. In addition to raising a family, the couple also focused on farming, environmentalism, and business.
Ian Somerhalder appeared in 32 episodes ofLostand 171 episodes ofThe Vampire Diaries.
In 2023, Somerhalder and Reed co-founded The Absorption Company, a technology-powered supplement brand that is dedicated to transparency and making people aware of what is going into their bodies. Additionally, the couple also worked as executive producers on the 2023 documentaryCommon Ground, which explores how many of the problems humans face connected to the state of the world’s soil.Common Groundexplains how the regenerative agricultural movement could improve the world’s food system and help fight climate change.
The One Thing That Would Tempt Ian Somerhalder Back Into Acting
V Wars Was Canceled After Just One Season
While Somerhalder has moved away from acting and is now focused on new pursuits, he has admitted thathe would potentiallyconsider returning to Hollywood for aV Warsrevival series. SinceV Warswas the first major show Somerhalder starred in after The Vampire Diaries, and served as a collaboration between him and his wife, it makes sense that the retired actor is interested in a potentialseason 2 ofV Wars. In an interview withPEOPLEat the Environmental Media Association (EMA) Awards Gala in October 2024, Somerhalder said:
“I think it’s in the rearview mirror. I do. Well, I dunno, we got the rights back forV Wars, but I just don’t know how the hell we would ever make a TV show. We’re building three companies at the same time, raising kids.”
While it’s doubtful that aV Warsseason 2 would ever happen, especially since theLostactor isn’t even entirely sure he would be interested in it, there is some hope. Without a doubt,longtime fans of Somerhalder would be thrilled to see him on their screens againif he did decide to return to acting.
Lost
Cast
Lost is a mystery drama series created for TV that follows a group of survivors of a plane crash and tells its story between the past, present, and future via flashbacks. When Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 crashes and lands on a mysterious island in the pacific ocean, the castaways discover their new temporary home may have a mind of its own, as strange supernatural events keep them locked to the island. From an unknown black smoke creature to dangerous islanders, the passengers must work together to survive the island’s seemingly deadly intentions.
