While he is now a well-known name in television, his life changed completely in 2009 when he landed the lead role of Stefan Salvatore on The Vampire Diaries. Here is a look at how that one audition turned a working actor into an international TV star.<\/p>\n
Before Mystic Falls: A Decade of Hard Work<\/strong><\/h3>\nBorn Pawe\u0142 Tomasz Wasilewski in New Jersey, Wesley began acting while still in high school. He got his start on the soap opera Guiding Light and later dropped out of college after one semester to focus on acting full-time.<\/p>\n
Throughout the 2000s, Wesley worked steadily on television. He appeared in shows like Wolf Lake, Everwood, Smallville, and 24. While he had steady employment, he spent nearly ten years looking for a role that would make him a household name.<\/p>\n
The Audition That Almost Didn\u2019t Happen<\/strong><\/h2>\nIn 2009, The CW network started casting for a new drama based on The Vampire Diaries book series. Wesley went in to audition for the show, but getting the part was not easy.<\/p>\n
Show creators Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec initially turned him down because they thought he looked too old to play a high school student. At one point, executives suggested casting him as the older brother, Damon Salvatore, instead.<\/p>\n
However, when Wesley did a scene test alongside lead actress Nina Dobrev, the creators immediately changed their minds.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t really until his first day shooting\u2026 where we were like, \u2018Oh my God, we were so wrong. How embarrassing, because he\u2019s perfect,’\u201d co-creator Julie Plec later admitted.<\/p>\n
The Impact of \u2018The Vampire Diaries\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\nWhen The Vampire Diaries premiered in September 2009, it brought in 4.9 million viewers, making it the biggest series premiere in the history of The CW at the time.<\/p>\n
Wesley played Stefan Salvatore for eight seasons and 171 episodes. The role gave him a chance to display his range as an actor:<\/p>\n
\n- The Hero:<\/strong> He played the moral, protective brother trying to live a normal human life.<\/li>\n
- The Villain:<\/strong> He played \u201cRipper\u201d Stefan, a dangerous version of his character who turned off his humanity.<\/li>\n
- The Doppelg\u00e4nger:<\/strong> He played Silas, an ancient villain who shared his exact appearance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Beyond acting, the show opened new doors for his career behind the camera. Wesley directed his first episode of The Vampire Diaries in season five and went on to direct several more episodes before the series ended in 2017.<\/p>\n
Life After Stefan Salvatore<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe success of The Vampire Diaries changed Wesley\u2019s career path for good. After the show ended, he continued to land major television roles, including playing Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. He also launched a successful liquor company, Brother\u2019s Bond Bourbon, with his former co-star Ian Somerhalder.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
In 2009, The CW network started casting for a new drama based on The Vampire Diaries book series. Wesley went in to audition for the show, but getting the part was not easy.<\/p>\n
Show creators Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec initially turned him down because they thought he looked too old to play a high school student. At one point, executives suggested casting him as the older brother, Damon Salvatore, instead.<\/p>\n
However, when Wesley did a scene test alongside lead actress Nina Dobrev, the creators immediately changed their minds.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t really until his first day shooting\u2026 where we were like, \u2018Oh my God, we were so wrong. How embarrassing, because he\u2019s perfect,’\u201d co-creator Julie Plec later admitted.<\/p>\n
The Impact of \u2018The Vampire Diaries\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\nWhen The Vampire Diaries premiered in September 2009, it brought in 4.9 million viewers, making it the biggest series premiere in the history of The CW at the time.<\/p>\n
Wesley played Stefan Salvatore for eight seasons and 171 episodes. The role gave him a chance to display his range as an actor:<\/p>\n
\n- The Hero:<\/strong> He played the moral, protective brother trying to live a normal human life.<\/li>\n
- The Villain:<\/strong> He played \u201cRipper\u201d Stefan, a dangerous version of his character who turned off his humanity.<\/li>\n
- The Doppelg\u00e4nger:<\/strong> He played Silas, an ancient villain who shared his exact appearance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Beyond acting, the show opened new doors for his career behind the camera. Wesley directed his first episode of The Vampire Diaries in season five and went on to direct several more episodes before the series ended in 2017.<\/p>\n
Life After Stefan Salvatore<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe success of The Vampire Diaries changed Wesley\u2019s career path for good. After the show ended, he continued to land major television roles, including playing Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. He also launched a successful liquor company, Brother\u2019s Bond Bourbon, with his former co-star Ian Somerhalder.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Beyond acting, the show opened new doors for his career behind the camera. Wesley directed his first episode of The Vampire Diaries in season five and went on to direct several more episodes before the series ended in 2017.<\/p>\n