In its seventh season, so much has changed for the supernatural beings of Mystic Falls; especially the Salvatore brothers. With Elena in her 60-year sleep, the show has shifted from a love triangle saga to one of restoration and redemption. Still, as we’ve watched the good, bad and the evil over the past several years, there are many things that we never knew about The CW hit show. Here are 16 things you never knew about The Vampire Diaries.
1. Paul Wesley wanted to be Damon.
We love Paul, but sir …just NO.
2. Ashley Tisdale was initially offered the role of Elena Gibert.
The High School Musical star turned down the role to star in the short-lived series, Hellcats instead.
3. Nina Dobrev almost didn’t get the part.
Dobrev was super sick on the day of her audition, so her performance was less than stellar. Luckily, she really wanted the part so she video taped herself auditioning again ,and mailed it into the casting director. Needless to say, they were blown away.
4. The Salvatores were almost the Whitmores.
Word on the street is that The CW thought Salvatore was “too Italian” (whatever that means), for the world of Mystic Falls. Luckily, executive producers Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec decided to stick with the name that’s in L.J. Smith‘s book series.
5. Damon Salvatore is totally inspired by a real life dude name Damian Salvatore!!!
OMG, the blue eyed God is REAL! Apparently, executive producer Les Morgenstein knew a guy named Damian Salvatore when he was growing up. Though the real life Damian isn’t a bloodsucker, he was still a rebel and a badass.
6. Katherine Pierce’s hair is full of secrets.
While playing Elena’s doppelganger Katherine, Nina Dobrev used a curly wig to get the devilish diva’s style.
7. Jeremy should actually be the older sibling.
Elena spent a great deal of time trying to protect her little brother Jeremy from the horrors of Mystic Falls. However in reality, Steven R. McQueen who plays Jeremy, is 6 months older than Nina Dobrev.
8. The Vampire Diaries cast is not only super-talented, but they are also multilingual.
While Nina Dobrev speaks Bulgarian and French and Paul Wesley speaks Polish, it’s Kat Graham who speaks Spanish, French, and Hebrew.
9. Zach Roerig is a super hot single dad.
Roerig has full custody of his 4-year old daughter, whose mother is incarcerated in a federal prison.
10. Daniel Gilles who plays Elijah Mikaelson on TVD and The Originals is married to She’s All That’s Rachael Leigh Cook.
The couple have two children together.
11. Paul Wesley believes in the supernatural.
He once told Girlfriend Magazine, ““When I was a kid my family was staying in a rental in Rhode Island in Cape Cod. I woke up and saw a woman standing with her arms crossed, starring out the window. I realized she wasn’t with our group, so I called out to her and she turned to me and faded. I was confused and I didn’t realize it was a ghost until later, but by that point I was scared.”
12. We were this close to never knowing about Tyler Lockwood.
However, it was the vampire/werewolf hybrid story-line that kept Tyler around. Also Tyle’rs surname was mercifully changed from Smallwood to Lockwood. It’s a good thing the showrunners adored Michael Trevino’s performance.
13. A phone number on the show actually worked.
In season 2, Isobel Flemming’s phone number 919-399-2507 appeared on the screen and when viewers called it, they heard a recording from Elena, Damon, and Stefan. Super cool right?!
14. There were almost NO flashback sequences on TVD!
One of our favorite things about TVD are the epic flashback sequences, but they almost never happened. EP Kevin Williamson was reluctant to feature them at first, but luckily he came around to the idea.
15. Dawson’s Creek’s James Van Der Beek was ALMOST Alaric Saltzman.
Van Der Beek knew Williamson from The Creek, but the part ended up going to Matt Davis.
14. Ian Somerhalder & Nina Dobrev weren’t the only couple from TVD.
Paul Wesley and Torrey DeVitto were married prior to TVD, but they split in 2013. Wesley is currently dating The Orignals star Phoebe Tonkin. Joseph Morgan who plays Klaus on both TVD and The Originals is married to Persia White, who played Bonnie’s mom Abbey. Also, Candice Accola dated both Steven R. McQueen and Zach Roerig before marrying The Fray guitarist Joseph Aaron King.
15. Steven R. McQueen’s granddad is the “King of Cool” legendary actor Steve McQueen.
Do you see the family resemblance?
16. Klaus Mikaelson was supposed to be killed off after one season!
Luckily, Joseph Morgan loved the role so much he asked the producers for another season…that season let to The Originals.
