Shocking Secrets Revealed: The Real Reasons These 7 Vampire Diaries Characters Left Early!

Summary

Nina Dobrev, who played Elena Gilbert, left The Vampire Diaries in season 6 but made a comeback in the series finale for her character's happy ending with Damon.

Steven R. McQueen departed from the series as his character, Jeremy Gilbert, had reached the end of his story arc and had no further opportunities for development.

In season 6, Michael Trevino opted to leave The Vampire Diaries due to his belief that his character, Tyler Lockwood, was becoming monotonous. Yet, Tyler made a comeback in season 8, only to meet an untimely demise.

Centuries-old vampires, formidable witches, fearsome werewolves, and powerful hybrids were all featured in The Vampire Diaries. It was expected that characters would meet their demise or leave the show, with the minor characters being the usual casualties in Mystic Falls. However, on occasion, a central figure in the CW supernatural teen drama series would depart, leaving fans puzzled about the actor's departure.

Running for eight seasons on the CW, The Vampire Diaries had a constantly changing cast. Throughout the years, the main cast included Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert, Paul Wesley as Stefan Salvatore, Ian Somerhalder as Damon Salvatore, Candice Accola as Caroline Forbes, Kat Graham as Bonnie Bennett, Steven R. McQueen as Jeremy Gilbert, Sara Canning as Jenna Sommers, Zach Roerig as Matt Donovan, Kayla Ewell as Vicki Donovan, Michael Trevino as Tyler Lockwood, Matt Davis as Alaric Saltzman, Joseph Morgan as Klaus Mikaelson, and Michael Malarkey as Enzo St. John. Disappointingly, a few of these stars departed from the show prematurely.

7 Elena Gilbert

The leading lady of The Vampire Diaries, Elena Gilbert, sadly departed the fantasy drama series during the season 6 finale. Elena initially started the show as a human who fell in love with two vampires and eventually became a vampire herself after a car accident where she had Damon's blood in her system. Throughout the series, she faced the loss of many loved ones and endured heartbreak and trauma, making her tragic exit fitting. Although Elena didn't die, Kai placed her under a sleeping spell, connecting her life to Bonnie's. Thus, as long as Bonnie was alive, Elena remained in a comatose state.

Elena eventually made her return in the series finale of The Vampire Diaries when Bonnie broke the spell. She reunited with her friends and family, excluding Stefan, who sacrificed himself to save everyone. She and Damon received their happy ending. However, fans had to endure nearly two entire seasons without the presence of Nina Dobrev's character. This was due to the actress's decision to depart the series once her six-season contract with the CW concluded. Nonetheless, The Vampire Diaries held a special place in Dobrev's heart, leading her to return for the final episode.

6 Jeremy Gilbert

In The Vampire Diaries, Elena always had her little brother/cousin, Jeremy Gilbert, by her side, providing her with some form of companionship. Jeremy, troubled by the loss of his parents, had initially turned to drugs but managed to overcome his struggles. Throughout the series, he experienced various romantic relationships and eventually discovered his true passion as a vampire hunter. This led him to leave Mystic Falls and pursue his newfound calling elsewhere. Mirroring Elena, Jeremy made a brief appearance in the final season of the show, informing viewers that he had taken up a teaching position at the Salvatore Boarding School for the Young & Gifted.

Similar to Nina Dobrev's departure, Steven R. McQueen, the actor who portrayed Jeremy, also felt it was time for him to part ways with The Vampire Diaries. The character's story had reached its conclusion, leaving no room for further growth within the show's storyline. Consequently, Jeremy bid farewell to the audience during the middle of season 6.

5 Tyler Lockwood

Tyler Lockwood, the infamous bad boy of Mystic Falls in The Vampire Diaries, held numerous roles in the town. Notably, he served as the high school football team's quarterback, found companionship in his best friend Matt Donovan, and formed a romantic relationship with Vicki Donovan. However, Tyler's short fuse often led him to bully others, a character trait that began to make sense when he discovered his werewolf identity in season 2. Throughout the series, Tyler's character underwent substantial growth as he fell in love with Caroline Forbes, underwent a transformation into a hybrid by Klaus Mikaelson, and later returned to being human. Ultimately, he departed Mystic Falls for a period after triggering his werewolf gene, yet reappeared in season 8, only to meet his demise at the hands of Damon Salvatore.

Michael Trevino, the actor who portrayed Tyler Lockwood, disclosed that he exited The Vampire Diaries during season 6 due to his perception that Tyler's storyline had become repetitious. Consequently, upon the conclusion of his contractual obligation of six seasons, Trevino bid farewell to the CW's supernatural teen drama series. Unfortunately, Tyler's narrative did not end there, as he reemerged on the show briefly, only to meet his demise.

4 Vicki Donovan

In The Vampire Diaries season 1, Vicki Donovan and Jeremy were both lost souls, which is why they were drawn to each other. However, their budding relationship and attempts to improve their lives were cut short when Damon turned Vicki into a vampire. Unable to control her bloodlust and unfit for the vampire life, Vicki posed a threat to Jeremy, leading Stefan to ultimately kill her. Despite her death, Vicki made occasional appearances as a ghost throughout the series and found peace in the afterlife in the series finale.

Kayla Ewell did not choose to leave The Vampire Diaries; her departure was a creative decision made by the writers. They wanted to kill off her character to progress the story and increase the stakes. Vicki's death had a profound impact on the fantasy drama series, marking the first significant loss in the show.

3 Jenna Sommers

Elena and Jeremy's parents died in a car crash before the pilot of The Vampire Diaries. As orphans, they went to live with their aunt, Jenna Sommers, who became a significant parental figure in their lives. Tragically, Klaus turned Jenna into a vampire and ultimately killed her, devastating Elena, Jeremy, and viewers. In the series finale, Jenna, portrayed by Sara Canning, made a return alongside other actors, reuniting with Elena in the afterlife after living a fulfilling life.

Similar to Vicki's departure, Jenna's exit from The Vampire Diaries was a deliberate decision made by the show's producers and writers. They believed that Elena had not endured enough hardships, so they chose to kill off her beloved aunt. This decision was in line with the show's nature, where characters were often sacrificed to progress the storyline and intensify the stakes.

2 Klaus Mikaelson

Klaus Mikaelson, the well-known villain in The Vampire Diaries, was both loved and hated by fans. In season 2, he was introduced as the primary antagonist, determined to awaken his werewolf gene and become the first vampire-werewolf hybrid. Seeking power at any cost, Klaus's character evolved over time, revealing a complexity that surprised viewers. Despite this growth, Klaus's journey as a main character concluded in season 4.

Joseph Morgan's departure from The Vampire Diaries was due to his new role in the spinoff series, The Originals. Centered around Klaus and his siblings Elijah and Rebekah, the show followed the Mikaelson family as they returned to New Orleans. Running for five seasons, Klaus remained a central character in all 92 episodes of The Originals.

1 Alaric Saltzman

In The Vampire Diaries season 1, fans were introduced to Alaric Saltzman, portrayed by Matt Davis, who played the role of a history teacher at Mystic Falls High School. However, Alaric's true identity was that of a vampire hunter, albeit a secretive one. Initially driven by the belief that Damon had murdered his wife, Alaric sought revenge. However, as the complexities of the truth unfolded, Alaric and Damon eventually formed a strong friendship.

Alaric's role extended beyond that of a vampire hunter; he also became a father figure to Elena and Jeremy after he began dating Jenna. Sadly, their parental figures seemed to be subject to a curse, as Alaric met his demise in the season 3 finale. Fortunately, he miraculously returned in the season 5 finale, and Matt Davis resumed his status as a series regular in season 6.

Creative differences with the writers led to Davis initially leaving the CW series. Their contrasting visions for Alaric's journey prompted the character's untimely demise and the actor's departure from the show. However, Davis couldn't resist the allure of The Vampire Diaries for too long and ultimately made a comeback to the series.

Source: Looper