Paul Wesley

Paul Wesley, born Paweł Tomasz Wasilewski on July 23, 1982, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, is an American actor and film director. Raised in Marlboro Township alongside his three sisters by Polish parents, he spent significant time in Poland during his youth and speaks fluent Polish in addition to English. After attending several high schools, including Lakewood Prep School to accommodate his acting schedule, he landed a role on the soap opera Guiding Light during his high school years. He later enrolled at Rutgers University before leaving after a single semester to pursue a full-time acting career.

Initially credited under his birth name, Wesley made early television appearances as a main cast member in the 2001 drama series Wolf Lake. Over the following years, he secured guest and recurring roles in numerous television projects, including Smallville, 24, Everwood, The O.C., 8 Simple Rules, American Dreams, Army Wives, and Cane. He also starred in the television miniseries Fallen in 2007 and appeared in the 2008 television film The Russell Girl.

Wesley achieved widespread recognition beginning in 2009 when he was cast as Stefan Salvatore in the supernatural drama series The Vampire Diaries, a lead role he played through 2017. His performance earned him two Teen Choice Awards and two Young Hollywood Awards, as well as nominations for People's Choice Awards. Beyond acting in the series, he expanded into directing during its fifth season and served as a producer during its final season. In feature films, he co-starred in and produced the 2014 title Before I Disappear, which earned an Audience Award at the SXSW Film Festival. His other film credits include Peaceful Warrior, The Baytown Outlaws, Amira and Sam, Mothers and Daughters, and The Late Bloomer.

Following his work on The Vampire Diaries, Wesley established his own production company, Citizen Media, securing production deals with Warner Bros. Television and Kapital Entertainment. He continued directing network television, helming episodes of series such as Shadowhunters and Roswell, New Mexico. In addition to starring in the series Tell Me a Story and appearing in the miniseries Medal of Honor, he performed in off-Broadway theatrical productions such as Cal in Camo, Sensitive Skin, and Zurich. In 2022, he began portraying James T. Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, later winning a Saturn Award for Best Guest Star in a Television Series for the role.

Outside of performing, Wesley is an ethical vegan and animal rights advocate who received the Humane Generation Award from the Humane Society in 2014. He has spearheaded charitable apparel fundraising campaigns for animal welfare and co-founded Brother's Bond Bourbon with his former co-star Ian Somerhalder in 2020. Wesley has been married three times, including past marriages to Torrey DeVitto and Ines de Ramon, and a marriage to Natalie Kuckenburg in July 2026. He was also previously in a four-year relationship with actress Phoebe Tonkin.