Sink Your Teeth Into This: The Vampire Diaries Cast Before They Were Stars!

A human high school girl in supernatural burb of Mystic Falls, Elena came to live in the town after the death of her parents. She fell in love with vampire Stefan Salvatore, yet she also shares a strong connection to his darker brother, Damon Salvatore. She’s also the doppelganger of Katherine Pierce, a vamp that originally turned the brothers. During the fifth season, Elena's been dealing with becoming a vampire and starting college but looks like Mystic Falls in season 6 will be a very different place for Elena and Co.

A Jersey guy, Paul "Wasilewski" began acting while attending Marlboro High School in Marlboro, NJ. He was a junior in this 2000 picture, and got his big break in the soap Another World. He took small film roles but made his biggest impressions in television, on Wolf Lake, American Dreams, and as Tommy Callahan in the beloved family drama Everwood.

A more-than-century-and-a-half vampire, Stefan Salvatore was turned by vampire Katherine Pierce and murdered many, especially young women, to feed on their blood. He eventually learned how to reconnect to his compassionate side and temper his bloodlust. Stefan is in love with Elena Gilbert but gave her up to keep her safe. Stefan and Elena's relationship became complicated when Elena chooses Damon over Stefan.

Ian Somerhalder started modeling at age 10 and transitioned into acting in his late teens. He was cast in some films, like The Rules of Attraction alongside James Van Der Beek, and he had a recurring arc on TV’s Smallville as Adam Knight, but Somerhalder really broke out playing the doomed Boone Carlyle on Lost.

The ruthless vampire brother of Stefan Salvatore, Damon Salvatore was also turned by Katherine Pierce. Damon loved Katherine and always resented that she turned his brother too. He later freed Katherine and discovered her doppelganger, Elena. After being rejected by Katherine, Damon turned his affections toward Elena, whom he has come to love too. At the end of season 5, it appeared that Damon made the greatest sacrifice in order to save his friends.

Candice started out as a singer in high school and released her first CD, It’s Always the Innocent Ones, before she graduated. She was a featured backup singer in the Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert. While she was cast in guest roles on TV shows, TVD is her biggest acting break.

The former spoiled high school BFF of Elena Gilbert, Caroline Forbes was killed and turned into a vampire by Katherine Pierce. Adjusting to her blood-sucking, undead existence has been a tough adjustment, with her unpredictable episodes of violence. Ironically, however, Caroline appreciates life more now as a vampire and is an integral part of the group.

The grandson of iconic actor Steve McQueen, Steven R. decided to follow in his family’s acting footsteps in his late teens. Before TVD, Steven’s biggest break was playing Kyle Hunter in Everwood.

Jeremy Gilbert is Elena’s adopted younger brother. He had a terrible time getting over the death of their parents and gets into drugs. He is shot dead but is revived by his witch girlfriend, Bonnie Bennett. However, the price for reanimation is his new ability to see ghosts, specifically his two exes, Anna and Vicki. He's again killed in season four but resurrected again by Bonnie.

Kat launched her entertainment career at age 6, starring in national commercials. She continued doing ads into her teens and then became a backup dancer in music videos. Her first film role was as Jackie in the Lindsay Lohan remake of The Parent Trap.

The BFF of Elena Gilbert, Bonnie discovers that she comes from a long line of witches and is formally trained by her grandmother until her death. Bonnie continues to train and become stronger in her powers, peaking when she conjures the ability to reverse death and save her boyfriend, Jeremy. Bonnie, yet again, sacrifices herself for Jeremy in season four after he dies.

Zach started out snagging recurring roles in soap operas such as One Life to Live, Guiding Light, and As the World Turns. His big prime-time TV break was playing a cowboy named Cash who woos Tyra on Friday Night Lights.

Matt Donovan is one of the only “normal” guys left in Mystic Falls. He once dated Elena Gilbert and then dated Caroline Forbes until she was killed and turned into a vampire. He tried to stay true to her, but she eventually dumped him to keep him safe. They reunited once more, but ultimately he couldn’t handle her new supernatural life but they remained friends.