2009 → 2026 · Live now
The Vampire Diaries Cast: Then and Now
The cast then and now — with the original tribute song “Immortal Hearts”.
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About the series
The Vampire Diaries, then & now
The Vampire Diaries premiered in 2009, and ran for 8 seasons on The CW. This page follows Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev), Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder), Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley), Caroline Forbes (Candice King), Bonnie Bennett (Kat Graham) then and now, with real ages, 13 then-vs-now collector’s cards in this tribute and the original tribute song “Immortal Hearts”.
The cast · 13 collector’s cards
Where is the The Vampire Diaries cast now (2026)?
The Vampire Diaries cast then and now: 13 collector’s cards, 2009 vs 2026, with real ages. Tap a card to flip it and watch them walk side by side.
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“Immortal Hearts”
We were young in a quiet town
Read the lyrics
We were young in a quiet town
Shadows falling as the sun went down
Eyes like fire in the midnight air
Love so dangerous, we didn't care
Frozen in time, but the years move on
Hearts still beating after hope was gone
We were immortal in the dark
Burning bright like a fragile spark
Seventeen and forever torn
Love and loss the night we were born
Now the mirror shows who we are
But our shadows still hold the scars
Mystic nights and a broken sky
Promises we let slowly die
Still I feel you in every flame
Whispered softly my hidden name
We were immortal in the dark
But time left its silent mark
Through the fire, through the pain
Some loves never fade away
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The Vampire Diaries in numbers
The cast, then & now
| Character | Actor | Then (2009) | Now (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elena Gilbert | Nina Dobrev | 20 | 37 |
| Damon Salvatore | Ian Somerhalder | 30 | 47 |
| Stefan Salvatore | Paul Wesley | 27 | 44 |
| Caroline Forbes | Candice King | 22 | 39 |
| Bonnie Bennett | Kat Graham | 20 | 37 |
| Klaus Mikaelson | Joseph Morgan | 29 | 45 |
| Elijah Mikaelson | Daniel Gillies | 34 | 50 |
| Rebekah Mikaelson | Claire Holt | 23 | 38 |
| Alaric Saltzman | Matt Davis | 31 | 48 |
| Tyler Lockwood | Michael Trevino | 24 | 41 |
| Matt Donovan | Zach Roerig | 24 | 41 |
| Hayley Marshall | Phoebe Tonkin | 23 | 37 |
| Abby Bennett Wilson | Persia White | 35 | 50 |
Ages from verified birth dates, updated 02 November 2026.
The Vampire Diaries premiered on The CW on September 10, 2009, and ran for eight seasons until March 10, 2017.
It's based on the novel series by L.J. Smith, which began in 1991 — nearly two decades before the show aired.
The show was filmed mainly in and around Covington, Georgia, whose town square doubled as fictional Mystic Falls.
Nina Dobrev played three roles across the show: Elena Gilbert and her doppelgängers Katherine Pierce and Amara.
Paul Wesley originally read for the role of Damon before landing the part of Stefan instead.
The show spawned two spin-offs set in the same universe: The Originals (2013) and Legacies (2018).
Klaus Mikaelson, introduced as a villain in season 2, proved so popular he eventually got his own spin-off, The Originals.
Candice King (Caroline) is also a singer-songwriter; some of her own music was used in the show.
The 100th episode, "500 Years of Solitude," aired in 2014 during season 5.
Paul Wesley (Stefan) went on to direct multiple episodes of the show himself.
Nina Dobrev left the main cast after season 6 in 2015, but returned for guest appearances through the finale.
The Salvatore Boarding House exteriors were filmed at Glenridge Hall, a real 1929 mansion in Georgia — demolished in 2015 and later rebuilt as a set.