The Vampire Diaries Cast (2009–2017)
The CW | Supernatural Drama | 8 Seasons | Developed by Kevin Williamson & Julie Plec
The Vampire Diaries is a supernatural drama series developed by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec, based on L.J. Smith's book series of the same name. Set in the fictional Virginia town of Mystic Falls, the show centers on Elena Gilbert, a teenage girl who falls in love with Stefan Salvatore — a 162-year-old vampire — while also becoming entangled with his older, more dangerous brother Damon. The series ran for eight seasons on The CW from September 2009 to March 2017, generating a devoted global fanbase and spawning two spin-off series: The Originals and Legacies. It became a defining show of the CW's identity as a destination for supernatural teen drama.
The Vampire Diaries cast is led by a trio of actors — Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, and Ian Somerhalder — whose triangular romantic dynamic anchored the first six seasons of the series. Dobrev's dual role as the kind-hearted Elena Gilbert and the scheming, centuries-old doppelganger Katherine Pierce demonstrated remarkable range and became one of the show's defining elements. The ensemble is rounded out by Candice King as the driven, vampire-turned Caroline Forbes, Kat Graham as the powerful witch Bonnie Bennett, and a roster of guest and recurring players that includes the entire Mikaelson family — the Original vampires whose mythology gave the series its most expansive narrative arcs. Joseph Morgan's portrayal of Klaus became so popular that the character received his own spin-off, The Originals, in 2013.
Main Cast
Nina Dobrev
Elena Gilbert / Katherine Pierce
The show's central character — a compassionate high school student who is also the living doppelganger of the ruthless 500-year-old vampire Katherine Pierce; Dobrev played both roles throughout her seasons 1–6 tenure.
Paul Wesley
Stefan Salvatore
The moral, self-controlled younger Salvatore brother whose love for Elena drives the series' central conflict; a series regular for all 8 seasons, Stefan's arc explores centuries of guilt, redemption, and the cost of controlling his vampiric impulses.
Ian Somerhalder
Damon Salvatore
The charismatic, ruthless older Salvatore brother who begins the series as an antagonist but gradually reveals a complex emotional core; his evolving relationship with Elena and unlikely friendships define much of the series.
Candice King
Caroline Forbes
Elena's best friend, an overachieving high school student who is turned into a vampire and becomes one of the series' most compelling characters — driven, compassionate, and ultimately a pivotal figure in the Salvatore School mythology.
Kat Graham
Bonnie Bennett
Elena's best friend and a powerful witch descended from a long line of Bennett witches; Bonnie's magical abilities and repeated acts of self-sacrifice make her one of the show's most heroic figures.
Steven R. McQueen
Jeremy Gilbert
Elena's younger brother, who develops the supernatural ability to see ghosts of deceased people with whom he had emotional connections; his arc includes becoming a vampire hunter.
Michael Trevino
Tyler Lockwood
A popular but volatile member of Mystic Falls' founding family who discovers he is a werewolf, and later becomes a hybrid under Klaus's control before eventually breaking free.
Zach Roerig
Matt Donovan
Elena's ex-boyfriend and Mystic Falls' sole major human character across all eight seasons; Matt serves as a moral compass and anchor to ordinary life amid the supernatural chaos.
Joseph Morgan
Niklaus "Klaus" Mikaelson
The Original Hybrid — half vampire, half werewolf — and one of the most powerful beings in the show's universe; his threat to break the hybrid curse drives much of season 2, and he anchored the spin-off The Originals.
Supporting & Recurring Cast
| Actor | Character | Role | Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sara Canning | Jenna Sommers | Elena and Jeremy's aunt and legal guardian | 1–2 |
| David Anders | John Gilbert | Elena's biological father and vampire-hunting council member | 1–2, recurring |
| Kayla Ewell | Vicki Donovan | Matt's troubled older sister, one of the first recurring characters to die | 1, recurring |
| Matt Davis | Alaric Saltzman | History teacher, vampire hunter, and surrogate father figure to Elena and Jeremy; became a series regular | 1–8 |
| Malese Jow | Anna | A young vampire who befriends Jeremy while pursuing her own agenda | 1, recurring |
| Daniel Gillies | Elijah Mikaelson | The noble, honorable Original vampire and Klaus's elder brother | 2–4, recurring |
| Claire Holt | Rebekah Mikaelson | Klaus's fierce, emotional younger sister and the last remaining Original sister | 3–4, recurring |
| Torrey DeVitto | Dr. Meredith Fell | A physician who uses vampire blood to heal patients, despite being on the Founder's Council | 3 |
| Phoebe Tonkin | Hayley Marshall | A werewolf with ties to Tyler and a mysterious past; later central in The Originals | 4, recurring |
| Nathaniel Buzolic | Kol Mikaelson | The impulsive, dangerous youngest Mikaelson brother | 4, recurring |
| Michael Malarkey | Enzo St. John | A vampire with a complicated history with Damon who becomes a central figure in later seasons | 5–8 |
| Penelope Mitchell | Lexi Branson | Stefan's oldest friend and a moral guide for him across centuries | 1, recurring |
| Rick Cosnett | Deputy Wes Maxfield | A Whitmore College professor with connections to sinister vampire experimentation | 5 |
Creators & Production
Kevin Williamson
Co-developer of the television series alongside Julie Plec; served as showrunner for season 1 and part of season 2 before departing. Best known for creating Dawson's Creek and writing the Scream films.
Julie Plec
Co-developer who became the primary showrunner from season 2 onward and shepherded the series through all 8 seasons; also created and ran The Originals and Legacies spin-offs.
L.J. Smith
Author of the original Vampire Diaries book series on which the television show is based; the books began publication in 1991.
Bob Levy
Executive producer who worked with Plec and Williamson on bringing the series to The CW throughout its run.
Leslie Morgenstein
Producer at Alloy Entertainment, the production company that owned the book rights and developed the series for television.
About The Vampire Diaries Cast
The core casting of The Vampire Diaries succeeded in finding actors who could carry both the show's soap-operatic emotional intensity and its supernatural genre elements. Nina Dobrev's ability to play Elena and Katherine as distinct, fully realized people was a constant creative asset; the Katherine scenes in particular allowed the writers to place Dobrev in scenarios that would have been impossible with a single character. Ian Somerhalder's Damon became the breakout star of the series — initially cast as the villain, he proved so compelling that the writers restructured the show's mythology to give him a redemption arc that spanned the full eight seasons. Candice King and Kat Graham consistently delivered strong performances in roles that could easily have been reduced to supporting-character clichés, making Caroline and Bonnie two of the most richly drawn characters in the series.
The show's recurring cast expanded dramatically beginning in season 2 with the introduction of the Original vampires — the Mikaelson family — whose backstory gave the show a historical scope stretching back over a thousand years. Joseph Morgan's magnetic performance as Klaus generated enough audience interest to sustain three additional seasons of The Originals, while Daniel Gillies's Elijah provided a compelling moral counterweight. Matt Davis's Alaric Saltzman evolved from guest character to series regular over the course of eight seasons, ultimately becoming one of the most consistent through-lines of the show. The Vampire Diaries also notably launched the careers of several cast members who went on to prominent film and television projects after the series concluded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who stars in The Vampire Diaries?
The Vampire Diaries stars Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert, Paul Wesley as Stefan Salvatore, and Ian Somerhalder as Damon Salvatore. The series also features Candice King, Kat Graham, and Joseph Morgan in prominent roles.
Who plays Elena Gilbert in The Vampire Diaries?
Elena Gilbert is played by Nina Dobrev, who also portrays Elena's doppelganger Katherine Pierce throughout the series. Dobrev appeared as a series regular in seasons 1 through 6, then returned for the series finale in season 8.
How many seasons does The Vampire Diaries have?
The Vampire Diaries ran for 8 seasons from September 2009 to March 2017 on The CW. The series spawned two spin-offs: The Originals (2013–2018) and Legacies (2018–2022).
Who developed The Vampire Diaries?
The Vampire Diaries was developed for television by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec, based on the book series of the same name by L.J. Smith. Plec served as showrunner for much of the series, particularly after Williamson's departure following season 2.
Who plays Klaus in The Vampire Diaries?
Klaus Mikaelson, the Original Hybrid, is played by Joseph Morgan. He was introduced in season 2 as a major villain and became so popular that the character anchored the spin-off series The Originals on The CW.
How we build these cast lists
For background on how Cast.biz compiles and orders cast credits, see understanding billing order, how TV show casts are built, and our glossary of cast credits.