Ian Somerhalder life and biography

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. His efforts included cleaning of oiled wildlife and taping public service announcements to let the public know how they could help. Numerous Youtube videos are of him speaking of the horrific environmental impacts the oil has done and how others can help. Somerhalder also supports the St. Tammany Humane Society, an organization for animal shelter and welfare. On November 13, 2010, he hosted a Bash on the Bayou charity fundraiser for the St. Tammany Humane Society. During the event, Somerhalder was presented with a donation of $11,100 by The Vampire Diaries fandom for his birthday project.

Together with his The Vampire Diaries co-star Candice Accola, Somerhalder is also one of many supporters of the It Gets Better Project, a project that has made it a goal to prevent suicide among LGBT youth, associated with The Trevor Project.
Somerhalder announced, via Twitter, and in various interviews that he is in the process of setting up The Ian Somerhalder Foundation, which he hopes will educate people on the importance of protecting the environment and animals. He hopes that donations will be used to provide proper medical services to stray animals and he established the foundation on December 8, 2010, his 32nd birthday.
Ian loves yoga, spending Christmas relaxing with family, baseball, western horseback riding, archery, riflery, football and cycling. If he hadn't become an actor, Ian would have chosen a career in marine biology, writing, or advertising. He has a Shiba Inu dog, occasionally smokes cigarettes, and he recalls that his first kiss was in a skating ring when he was in 5th grade.

Films:

1998 - Celebrity
2001 - Life as a House as Josh
2002 - Changing Hearts as Jason Kelly
2002 - The Rules of Attraction as Paul Denton
2004 - In Enemy Hands as U.S.S. Swordfish: Danny Miller
2004 - The Old Man and the Studio as Matt Recess
2006 - National Lampoon's TV: The Movie
2006 - Pulse as Dexter
2006 - The Sensation of Sight as Drifter
2008 - The Lost Samaritan as William Archer
2008 - Lost City Raiders as Jack Kubiak
2009 - Wake as Tyler
2009 - The Tournament as Miles Slade
2010 - How to Make Love to a Woman as Daniel
2011 - Cradlewood as Josh

Television:

1997 - The Big Easy as I.Q.
1999 - Now and Again as Brian
2000 - Young Americans as Hamilton Fleming
2001 - Anatomy of a Hate Crime as Russell Henderson
2002 - CSI: Las Vegas as Tony Del Nagro
2003 - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Charlie Baker
2003 - CSI: Miami as Ricky Murdoch
2004 - Fearless as Jordan Gracie
2004 - Smallville as Adam Knight
2007 - Marco Polo as Marco Polo
2007 - Tell Me You Love Me as Nick
2008 - Lost City Raiders as Jack Kubiak
2009 - Fireball as Lee Cooper
2004-2010 - Lost as Boone Carlyle
2009-present - The Vampire Diaries as Damon Salvatore

Awards:

2002 : Young Hollywood Award for Exciting New Face-Male
2006 : Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

Read more