9 Celebrities You Totally Forgot Guest-Starred on Vampire Diaries

Well, it's The CW, so no wonder some of the other The CW actors kinda ended up with a cameo on TVD. You may remember the main characters, but the series also had its fair share of guest stars that you might've totally forgotten about.

1. David Anders as John Gilbert

Remember Elena's "uncle" John Gilbert? Yep, that's David Anders, who you probably know from Alias or Once Upon a Time. In the show, John comes to Mystic Falls to find a mysterious invention that his brother had been working on. He quickly goes from being suspicious to downright antagonistic. He even tries to kill Stefan and Damon at one point! But wait, there's a twist. It turns out, he's not Elena's uncle but her biological father.

2. Jasmine Guy as Sheila "Grams" Bennett

Ah, Grams. Played by Jasmine Guy, who you might remember from the '80s classic A Different World, Sheila Bennett is Bonnie's grandmother. She's the one who opens Bonnie's eyes to her powers as a witch. Together, they try to seal away a tomb full of vampires. Sadly, the effort drains Sheila's life force and she dies, leaving Bonnie to fend for herself in a world of supernatural dangers.

3. Arielle Kebbel as Lexi Branson

Arielle Kebbel played Lexi, Stefan's longtime vampire friend. She comes to Mystic Falls to celebrate Stefan's birthday but quickly gets on Damon's bad side. Damon kills her to prove a point to Stefan and to throw the town's vampire hunters off his trail. Her death remains a sore point between the brothers for a long time.

4. Daniel Gillies as Elijah Mikaelson

Daniel Gillies, who you might recognize from medical dramas like Saving Hope, brought to life Elijah Mikaelson. He's one of the "Original" vampires and a major player in the events of Mystic Falls. Elijah first shows up as an ally to Elena, promising to help her deal with Klaus, his own half-brother. But alliances are shaky in Mystic Falls, and he soon turns on our heroes, revealing a different agenda related to his family's complex history.

5. Torrey DeVitto as Dr. Meredith Fell

You know her as Spencer's sister in Pretty Little Liars, but did you remember that Torrey DeVitto was also Dr. Meredith Fell in Vampire Diaries? She's a Mystic Falls doctor who gets into a relationship with Alaric. Initially, she seems trustworthy, using vampire blood to heal people. However, when it's revealed that she's behind a string of attacks to obtain the blood, things get dicey for everyone involved.

6. Michaela McManus as Jules

Before she landed a recurring role on Law & Order: SVU, Michaela McManus played Jules, a werewolf who comes to Mystic Falls searching for her missing friend, Mason Lockwood. She quickly figures out that he's dead and turns the town upside down trying to expose the vampires who killed him. Jules even kidnaps Caroline at one point, though she eventually meets her own grisly end.

7. Sean Faris as Ben McKittrick

Sean Faris, who you might recognize from Never Back Down, appears as Ben McKittrick, a former high school football star turned bartender – and vampire. He gets turned by Anna and helps her in her quest to free her mother from the tomb under the church. The dude kidnaps Bonnie and tries to use her to open the tomb, but he gets bested by Stefan and ends up as vampire toast.

8. Stephen Amell as Brady

Before becoming Oliver Queen in Arrow, Stephen Amell took on the role of Brady, a friend of Jules and a fellow werewolf. Brady comes to Mystic Falls to avenge Mason's death and capture Tyler Lockwood. Unfortunately for him, he doesn't last long and eventually dies in a confrontation with Stefan.

9. Taylor Kinney as Mason Lockwood

Before he was putting out fires on Chicago Fire, Taylor Kinney played Mason Lockwood, Tyler's uncle. He returns to Mystic Falls after the death of his brother and quickly falls for Katherine's manipulations. He spends his short stint on the show searching for a moonstone, an artifact that plays a crucial role in breaking the werewolf curse. Unfortunately for Mason, his alliance with Katherine doesn't end well for him.