Paul Wesley

As talented as he was boyishly handsome, actor Paul Wesley showed an early facility for playing misunderstood outcasts who audiences could empathize with. After receiving his start on a daytime soap opera while still in high school, the young actor graduated to primetime efforts like the short-lived lycanthrope drama "Wolf Lake" (CBS, 2001-02). Though not able find that one breakout role, Wesley continued to attract the attention of casting agents with his nuanced work in various roles, including turns as a teenage drug dealer on "Everwood" (The WB, 2002-06) and as a human-angel hybrid on the fantasy miniseries "Fallen" (ABC Family, 2006-07). A lead role in the low-budget horror-comedy "Killer Movie" (2008) proved more memorable, as it was on the set that Wesley met his future wife, actress Torrey DeVitto. After almost a decade of near breakout success, Wesley at last landed the career-defining role of the good hearted vampire Stefan Salvatore on the hit supernatural drama series "The Vampire Diaries" (The CW, 2009-17). Along with impossibly attractive co-stars Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev, Wesley was catapulted to the upper echelon of hot young Hollywood talent virtually overnight. As the sexy and sinister show gained more devoted followers each season, the actor increased his profile with feature efforts like the violent action-comedy "The Baytown Outlaws" (2013). Well regarded for his ability to play characters on either side of the moral spectrum, Wesley was well positioned for a gratifying and robust career.