Vampire Diaries Curse: Which Actor's Career Suffered the Most?

Soon after its premiere in 2009, The Vampire Diaries became a hugely popular show with millions of loyal fans. Viewers were captivated by its mysterious supernatural vibe, compelling storylines, and the chemistry between the three main characters, Elena Gilbert and the Salvatore brothers.

However, as the show progressed, complaints began to surface in various fan discussions. The storylines seemed to lose quality, the characters stopped developing, and the acting left much to be desired.

Some fans even believe that despite the show's huge popularity, which propelled its stars to wealth and fame, it ruined their careers. Here's who suffered the most, according to fans.

Ian Somerhalder

Fans believe Somerhalder's career suffered the most from the supernatural series. The reason is that the actor, who portrayed the older Salvatore brother, Damon, was the most famous of all the cast members when The Vampire Diaries premiered.

He had starred in successful projects like The Rules of Attraction and Lost, as well as in other films and series. But during the show's run, his filmography began to dry up, and since The Vampire Diaries ended in 2017, Somerhalder has only starred in one project, the TV series V-Wars.

Redditor thinks that if Somerhalder hadn't joined The Vampire Diaries or had left after Season 3 when the show started to lose its appeal, his previous success could have translated into a bigger career. However, the actor stayed for all eight seasons, and viewers eventually hated his character.

And to add insult to injury, with every passing season, there was more and more speculation in social media about Somerhalder's limited acting range.

Paul Wesley

Wesley comes in a close second to Somerhalder.

Although his post-Vampire Diaries filmography is much larger and more admirable than Somerhalder's, it seems like Wesley is typecast because the supernatural series remains (probably forever) the main thing he is known for.

The fan feels that Wesley, like Somerhalder, should have left the show early before the writers changed his character, Stefan Salvatore, from protagonist to sidekick.

With Stefan as the undeniable lead, the show could have introduced him to new love interests throughout the seasons, and Wesley's acting could have carried the show. However, the actor was demoted and robbed of the opportunity to showcase the full range of his talent.