Trivia
- Ian supports the charity Love Letters to the South, which pays tribute to all those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
- If he hadn't become an actor, Ian would have chosen a career in marine biology, writing, or advertising.
- Ian's very first modelling job was with Ralph Lauren.
- Ian is a self-proclaimed "clean freak" and sometimes takes as many as three showers a day.
- In 2003, Ian was a regular cast member of Fearless as Jordan Gracie; the show was picked up by the WB but canceled before it ever got to air.
- Ian has studied acting with William Esper, Davenia McFadden, and Anthony Abeson.
- Now one of his most popular trademarks, Ian has always had rosy cheeks. He is often recognized by his stunning blue-green eyes.
- Ian likes floaty, dreamy, well-orchestrated rock music--a lot of indie bands that no one really knows.
- Ian loves to drink red wine.
- Ian occasionally smokes cigarettes.
- Ian is writing a screenplay about the world of modelling entitled The Jack of Dimes.
- Ian won the 2000 Young Hollywood Award for "Exciting New Face-Male." In November 2000, he was the very first male celebrity to be named "Most Beautiful Man" of the month on the website mostbeautifulman.com.
- On the Season One DVD of Lost, Ian's name is misspelled "Sommerhalder" on the title screen for a commentary he recorded with the show's creators.
- Ian grew up with his mother, whom he has described as being "very spiritual" and attended Catholic schools.
- Ian's parents divorced when he was thirteen years old.
- Ian's father, Robert Somerhalder, was a building contractor of French and English descent, and his mother, Edna, who is of Irish and Choctaw descent, who grew up on a pig farm in Mississippi, was a massage therapist.
- Ian attended Mandeville High School in the state of Louisiana.
- Ian wears Dolce & Gabbana cologne.
- Ian's favorite movie is The Graduate.
- Ian's favorite philosopher is Friedrich Nietzsche.
- Ian has a Shiba Inu dog.
- Ian has a scar on his chin.
- Ian has a sister named Robyn and a brother named Bob.
- Ian is skilled in baseball, western horseback riding, archery, riflery, football and cycling.
- Ian starred in Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead Off-Broadway Stage Play, Century Center for the Performing Arts, New York City, New York.
- Ian was the face of Guess? for two consecutive Fall seasons.
- In 2005, Ian bulked up, adding about 20 to 30 pounds of muscle to his slim frame, so he would be considered for more leading-man-type roles.
- Ian's height is 5'9" tall. His measurements are: suit 38R, shirt 15, waist 30, inseam 31, shoes 9.
- Ian used to drive a Land Rover, but got rid of it due to it's gas consumption. He currently drives an Audi (November 2007).
- Ian enjoys spending Christmas relaxing with family in Louisiana.
- Ian enjoys reading The New Yorker and Reader’s Digest.
- Ian has a self-admitted affinity with turquoise. He likes turquoise jewelry and sports it when he's not filming.
- Sean Penn is one of Ian's favorite actors.
- Ian is of Irish, French, English, and Native American descent.
- Some of Ian's ex-girlfriends include Nicky Hilton and Maggie Grace. Though he was rumored by the press to have dated Rose McGowan, this was not the case.
- Ian enjoys yoga, and has been spotted in Beverly Hills toting his mat along with him to lunch.
- The scene where Ian dances on the bed with Russell Sams in The Rules of Attraction was not scripted. Originally Russell Sams was suppose to dance by himself as a "pledge" for being new to movies and Ian was about to leave the set when the Roger Avary told him to "stick around."
Quotes
- Ian: I have a million acquaintances but just two or three true friends. I can't hide anything from them.
- Ian: It's great to play the charming guy we all want to be associated with. But a character with a bizarre mind and given to committing horribly illegal actions can be fascinating. Sometimes it's more interesting to portray someone who battles his thirst for wrong and tries to understand it.
- Ian: Two guys kissing is not as sexy as two girls kissing. When Selma Blair made out with Sarah-what’s-her-name, that was hot. Me and James Van Der Beek making out is not hot, it’s rather disgusting. We both looked at each other and said, 'Dude, don’t stick your tongue in my mouth.'
- Ian: You can't get anywhere without the people who have come into your life.
- Ian: I kind of think too much, I try do too many things at once.
- Ian: I realized I had to stop modeling and start studying to be an actor, which I'd wanted to be since I was about six.
- Ian: My mom made my baby food and had me on blue-green alga probably since I was in third grade. I never had sugar. I never got to have white bread or any white-flour products.
- Ian: I have a beach house in Malibu, so I'll go there, grab a surfboard or a sea kayak or whatever, and get outta here. The quality of life is so much higher anyplace you can ski in the morning and surf in the evening--there's something to be said for that.
- Ian: It was really intense. You're covered in bug spray and dirt and makeup, and it's 95 degrees with no wind, and you're on a beach surrounded by fire. By the end of the episode, you would have to go home and get scrubbed. But I love Hawaii. I will absolutely live there some day. In fact, I almost bought a house there--but, two days before I was going to fly back to look at one, I found out that my character was being killed off.
