Shocking Age Reveals: The Real-Life Ages of The Vampire Diaries Cast Vs Their Characters

Summary

The Vampire Diaries featured an ensemble cast with a variety of supernatural characters, but these 10 cast members were the most important.

The show initially cast actors who were similar in age to their respective characters, Elena and Stefan. However, there were instances where characters such as Bonnie and Caroline were portrayed by younger actors, while Damon and Alaric were played by older actors.

The CW's The Vampire Diaries aired from September 10, 2009, to March 10, 2017, spanning eight seasons. Throughout its run, the cast matured alongside their respective characters, each with their own unique ages and backgrounds. Adapted from L.J. Smith's book series, the show revolved around Elena Gilbert, a teenage girl, and her complicated relationships with two centuries-old vampire brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore. While the love triangle remained a central focus, the ensemble cast offered a multitude of diverse dynamics and connections between all the characters.

As the series progressed, the Vampire Diaries cast experienced frequent changes. However, a select group of pivotal individuals left a lasting impression on the show. Featuring vampires, werewolves, hybrids, witches, humans, and more, this supernatural teen drama showcased a captivating array of characters. Among the extensive cast, the ten individuals listed below unquestionably proved to be the most significant throughout The Vampire Diaries.

10 Nina Dobrev (20 Years Old) As Elena Gilbert (17 Years Old)

Aside from the Salvatore brothers, Elena Gilbert, portrayed by Nina Dobrev, takes on the role of the central character in The Vampire Diaries. As the CW series commenced, Elena was a 17-year-old starting her junior year of high school following the devastating loss of her parents. It was during this time that she crossed paths with Stefan, and the rest, as they say, is history. When Elena turned 18, she ceased to age as she met her demise and transformed into a vampire. However, her aging process resumed once she decided to take the cure. Nevertheless, in reality, Dobrev was merely 20 years old while filming the pilot episode for this teenage drama, making her not significantly older than her counterpart in The Vampire Diaries.

9 Paul Wesley (27 Years Old) As Stefan Salvatore (163 Years Old)

Despite appearing to be 17 years old, Stefan Salvatore's true age was much older. Born in 1846, he was actually 163 years old at the beginning of The Vampire Diaries series. Although he was turned into a vampire at the age of 17, his age remained unchanged until he received the cure in the final season. In contrast, Paul Wesley, the actor who portrayed Stefan throughout all eight seasons of the supernatural CW television show, was 27 years old when season 1 premiered, making him ten years older than his character in The Vampire Diaries.

8 Ian Somerhalder (30 Years Old) As Damon Salvatore (170 Years Old)

Like his brother, Damon was a vampire during the premiere of The Vampire Diaries season 1 in 2009. His true age differed greatly from what one would assume based solely on his appearance. Damon was actually born in 1839 and, like Stefan, was transformed into a vampire in 1864. Thus, despite his youthful appearance of 25 years, Damon was actually a complex character who had lived for 170 years by the beginning of the series. Ian Somerhalder, the actor who portrayed Damon in The Vampire Diaries, was only 30 years old while filming the pilot, making him not much older than his character at the start of the show.

7 Kat Graham (20 Years Old) As Bonnie Bennett (16 Years Old)

Being one of the youngest characters in Vampire Diaries, Bonnie Bennett's late birthday meant she was 16 years old when the teens' junior year of high school began. Unlike the other characters, Bonnie possessed immense magical abilities and never transformed into a vampire, which meant she continued to age without ceasing throughout all eight seasons of the supernatural drama television series. Interestingly, Kat Graham, the actress who portrayed Bonnie, was also 20 years old during the filming of the show's first season, making her the same age as Nina Dobrev.

6 Candice Accola (22 Years Old) As Caroline Forbes (17 Years Old)

Caroline Forbes, widely regarded and surprisingly talented in her portrayal of a vampire in The Vampire Diaries, embarked on her journey as a 17-year-old when the first season commenced. Sharing a deep bond of friendship with Elena and Bonnie, they all belonged to the same age group and grade level. Initially depicted as selfish and plagued with insecurities, Caroline's character underwent a remarkable transformation after she was transformed into a vampire during the season 1 finale. Opting not to take the cure, Caroline's eternal youth became her defining physical attribute, despite the fact that Candice Accola, the actress who portrayed her, was 22 years old when The Vampire Diaries premiered.

5 Steven R. McQueen (21 Years Old) As Jeremy Gilbert (15 Years Old)

Jeremy Gilbert was the youngest of the main characters in The Vampire Diaries. He was two years younger than his sister/cousin, Elena. Unlike Bonnie, Jeremy never became a vampire, so he continued to age throughout the series, eventually leaving the show in season 6. Steven R. McQueen portrayed Jeremy in The Vampire Diaries and was 21 years old during the filming of the pilot. Interestingly, McQueen was older than Nina Dobrev, who played his character's older sister on the show.

4 Zach Roerig (24 Years Old) As Matt Donovan (16 Years Old)

3 Michael Trevino (24 Years Old) As Tyler Lockwood (16 Years Old)

Matt Donovan, portrayed by Zach Roerig, is undeniably one of the most despised characters in the Vampire Diaries series. However, fans must acknowledge his resilience as he managed to remain human throughout all eight seasons without meeting a permanent demise. Like the other teenage humans introduced at the beginning of the show, Matt was only 16 when he embarked on his junior year at Mystic Falls High School. Interestingly, Roerig himself was already 24 years old when he joined the cast of The Vampire Diaries in 2009.

Tyler Lockwood, the notorious troublemaker of Mystic Falls and eventual werewolf, was one of the younger characters in The Vampire Diaries. Although he was in his junior year of high school, he was a mere 16 years old when the supernatural television series began. Interestingly, in real life, Michael Trevino, the actor who portrayed Tyler, was already 24 years old when the show started airing in 2009.

2 Matt Davis (31 Years Old) As Alaric Saltzman (33 Years Old)

1 Joseph Morgan (29 Years Old) As Klaus Mikaelson (1,000+ Years Old)

: Alaric Saltzman, a character in the Vampire Diaries, made his first appearance in season 1 with a physical appearance that made him seem older than any other character. At that time, Alaric was a 33-year-old history teacher at Mystic Falls High School and also kept his secret identity as a vampire hunter. It is worth noting that the actor, Matt Davis, who portrayed Alaric, was 31 years old at the beginning of the teen drama show. Due to Alaric's ability to transition between being a human and a vampire, his aging process occasionally halted in The Vampire Diaries.

Klaus Mikaelson made his debut in The Vampire Diaries season 2, yet he left an indelible mark on the CW television show. As one of the original vampires, Klaus was already over 1,000 years old when the series commenced. Regrettably, the show never explicitly disclosed his actual age, leaving it a mystery. However, in reality, Joseph Morgan, the actor who portrayed Klaus in The Vampire Diaries, was 29 years old when he first appeared in the teenage drama.