After working on the glitz and glamour of Hollywood in his popular show The Vampire Diaries, Ian Somerhalder said goodbye to acting to spend more quiet time on a farm just outside of Los Angeles. With his wife, actress Nikki Reed, Ian Somerhalder embraced full-time farm life to focus on raising two kids and running multiple businesses.
Somerhalder just spoke about his exit from Hollywood, telling People Magazine at the Environmental Media Association (EMA) Awards Gala that his acting career is "in the rearview mirror." This lifestyle shift isn't new; he bailed on Hollywood five years ago to focus on family and environmental activism-farming.
Trending
Since then, Somerhalder has founded many environmentally conscious projects with Reed while managing his challenging life on the farm as a parent. In his long career, he made a tremendous impact; yet, at least for now, to stay out of public light, he is particular.
Why did Ian Somerhalder leave acting and Hollywood?
Ian Somerhalder did not decide to leave Hollywood lightly. In September, he told The Hollywood Reporter that leaving acting was a deliberate choice to concentrate on his family and sustainable farming businesses.
Reflecting on the moment he and Reed moved their family out of the bustling city, he said:
“August 19 makes five years since I was professionally on camera as an actor/producer.”
Besides being a father to Somerhalder and Reed's two little ones, the couple runs three companies. One of the companies is an eco-friendly film production company. They also launched Brother's Bond Bourbon, a quickly expanding bourbon brand he started with his The Vampire Diaries co-star Paul Wesley.
Somerhalder describes this new chapter as "our 2.0 version." The couple centers the story around farm life, where they produce most of their food. Their approach to living sustainably comes from Somerhalder's longstanding environmental interests.
In previous interviews, he said Lost, which he shot largely outdoors, had sparked his conservationist instincts. "I was already doing reef and soil conservation back in 2004," he said, describing his life now as "most authentic" because of his role in caring for animals and cultivating the land with his family.
Will ex-actor Ian Somerhalder ever return to Hollywood?
For fans eagerly waiting to see Ian Somerhalder back on TV screens, the actor announced that his Hollywood career is in the past, as discussed above. In October 2024, speaking during the EMA Awards Gala, he expressed doubts about going back to his former roles on screen.
Although he and Reed now regain the rights to this short-lived Netflix series with him, Somerhalder is still doubtful about the revival of his role. He said:
“I just don’t know how the hell we would ever make a TV show.”
The couple, however, doesn't have time to act because they are kept busy with the environment and business. According to Page Six, Somerhalder's daily life is characterized by farm work, parenting, and co-running Brother's Bond Bourbon, one of the fastest-growing whiskey brands in the U.S., Whisky Advocate recently revealed.
Environmental activist Reed also mentioned that life on the farm has proven positive for her family. "When you see the way that nature operates, you find compassion," she said in an interview last week, discussing how her children participate in cultivating food and learning about sustainable agriculture.
Ian Somerhalder thanks The Vampire Diaries and Lost for the opportunities these shows have brought him into his life. He stated that such roles are of super importance to him for his career and passion. He feels the incredible reach of The Vampire Diaries has given him an unusual platform.
“Roughly one-eighth of the people on the planet have somehow interfaced with this IP,” he said.
Ian Somerhalder focuses now firmly on farming, family, and making the world a better, more sustainable place.
Stream The Vampire Diaries on Netflix and HBO Max to take a trip down memory lane and remember Ian Somerhalder's memorable performances.
Reply
