Every generation has its stars, and the 2000s were no different. Whether in music or Hollywood, that era had its own standouts, and one of the big names was Ian Somerhalder. He first popped up in the iconic Lost back in 2004, but it was The Vampire Diaries that really put him on the map, turning him into one of the most beloved stars by fans.
With the vampire craze going strong at the time, it was no surprise that the actor rode that wave to boost his career. But even though he jumped into another project soon after, acting wasn’t really bringing him happiness. Somehow, Lost played a part in that, especially in how he joined and left the show. But how did that happen, exactly?
Ian Somerhalder Had A Tough Professional Experience Since Lost
The Vampire Diaries seemed like the launchpad for Ian Somerhalder‘s solid career, especially since he gained a massive fan base as Damon Salvatore in the series. But even with all that success, it looks like everything was more of a test for him to figure out the direction he wanted his life to take.
Lost was one of the highest-rated shows of the 2000s and it’s what introduced Somerhalder to the world. However, he didn’t really enjoy the experience because he felt disrespected. He was the first one cast, but ended up being the first to leave the show when his character Boone was killed off in the first season.
In a recent interview with People, he opened up about his experience and how it impacted him:
Losing that, I was the first one cast and the first one killed, that was a sort of tough pill to swallow. I got to work on a lot of reef conservation. I got to work on a lot of soil and water conservation even there. This is 2004, I was already doing this, my voice just wasn’t as big. Cut to 2005, [I] left Lost, which was humbling.
The former actor had a tough time coping, but he acknowledges that The Vampire Diaries was a completely different experience. Still, he’s especially grateful for the rise of streaming, as it played a huge role in boosting his career, even among a very young audience.
However, the transformation in his life was so significant that he realized his true passion wasn’t really in the audiovisual world. Somerhalder starred in V Wars in 2019, but eventually, he felt the need to be closer to his family.
Ian Somerhalder Is Now Focused On Environmental Projects
Now five years away from the screen, Somerhalder lives on a farm with his two kids and his wife, Nikki Reed. Interestingly, she also followed in his footsteps, stepping back from her career after her success as the vampire Rosalie in the Twilight saga.
In his conversation with People, he expressed gratitude for his past work and recognized that his career was at its peak when he made the decision to step back. However, he felt that companies and partnerships focused on activism and agriculture meant more to him. Plus, diving into these kinds of projects also helped him get closer to his family:
That path has gotten me to where I feel most authentic anyway, which is in a pair of cowboy boots, feeding the cows and running horses.
Once you reach a certain level, you’re like, ‘Okay, I want to focus on family and the future of farming and food and energy and the big things.’ I don’t need to chase awards and anything that would make me feel better about myself.
Always grateful, the former actor still enjoys some love from his fans by attending conventions and other events. He’s also involved in marketing Brother’s Bond Bourbon, a project he launched with his former castmate and good friend Paul Wesley.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
