Based on the books by L.J. Smith, The Vampire Diaries was one of the biggest teen shows on The CW and has a huge fanbase for its characters. Aside from the series lead Elena Gilbert, many of the cast features her closest friends, as well as the different members of the supernatural community. A notable character that appears is Matt Donovan, who plays an integral role and has a big impact on the series.
Most of the characters appear in the first episode, with some appearing at later points in the series. While many of the characters have their final appearances in the series finale, some take an earlier exit. With 8 seasons and a total of 171 episodes, which characters appear the most in The Vampire Diaries?
Katherine Pierce: 52 Episodes
Notable for being one of the funnier villains in The Vampire Diaries, Katherine is the ex-girlfriend of Stefan and Damon Salvatore. After causing tension between them, she went on the run from Klaus, before returning to Mystic Falls to wreak havoc. A former vampire, Katherine became mortal again in the fourth season and met her eventual death in season five when Bonnie failed to pass her to the Other Side.
The second-known Petrova doppelganger was one of the main threats of the series, and her actions were responsible for the appearances of other villains. While she was a popular character, she was underutilized, with minimal screen time and other characters working on her behalf.
Enzo St. John: 59 Episodes
Originally an antagonist in the fifth season, Enzo became an anti-hero and love interest for Bonnie. Although many Vampire Diaries fans would've preferred Bonnie to end up with other characters, many consider him a fan favorite due to his positive influence on her. Enzo became Damon's best friend in the 1950s and played a role in trying to free Damon and Bonnie from the 1994 Prison World.
Enzo initially spent his time fighting with Stefan, who he has an immense hatred for, before working for the Armory to learn about his past, which led to him meeting Bonnie. In the eighth season, he and Damon were enslaved by Sybil and forced to kill to satisfy her bloodlust. He was eventually killed by Stefan and remained with Bonnie in a new dimension until he helped her process her grief.
Tyler Lockwood: 92 Episodes
Tyler was initially a hot-headed jock and a jerk to some of the characters, like Jeremy and Stefan. While there are many things about Tyler that haven't aged well, he was considered nicer than his book counterpart, who remained antagonistic towards many of the characters. He became more of a tragic character when fans learned about the abuse he endured from his father.
Although he became less antagonistic after his werewolf gene was activated, he still lacked any free will and was often used as a pawn by Klaus due to their sire bond. Most of Tyler's storylines revolved around his interpersonal relationships and trying to undo the sire bond, which makes him one of the most underdeveloped characters in the series.
Alaric Saltzman: 99 Episodes
Alaric first appeared as the high school history teacher who dated Jenna before her death and became a father figure to Elena and Jeremy. He was also a vampire hunter and one of Damon's best friends. He became an Enhanced Original Vampire, a ghost, resurrected as a vampire, before becoming mortal once more. In the sixth season, Alaric falls in love with Jo, but she is tragically killed by Kai during their wedding.
Alaric spent most of his time helping the group deal with any threats coming to Mystic Falls, and bonding with Damon. After the tragedy that took place on his wedding day, he learned that his unborn twins were somehow transferred to Caroline. They eventually raise the girls together, forming a bond as they learn to co-parent. In the series finale, Alaric opens the Salvatore Boarding School for the Young & Gifted.
Jeremy Gilbert: 100 Episodes
As Elena's younger brother, Jeremy goes through quite the evolution. He struggles with substance abuse after the death of his parents, his relationship with Vicki, and the hostility from Tyler. Eventually, he moves past that and becomes a helpful member of the group, doing what he can to keep his loved ones safe.
Jeremy becomes part of the supernatural world when he becomes a medium, then a member of the Brotherhood of the Five as a vampire hunter. He leaves Mystic Falls for two periods of time, first staying in Denver, before leaving again during the sixth season to live in Santa Fe as a vampire hunter. Jeremy is shown to have returned to Mystic Falls in the series finale flash-forward, where he is a teacher at the Salvatore Boarding School.
Matt Donovan: 127 Episodes
Best friends with Jeremy and Tyler, Matt is the ex-boyfriend of Elena and younger brother of Vicki. Initially rejecting the supernatural, Matt distances himself from his friends as they become more involved. He does eventually do what he can to help, becoming an ally to his friends and starting his journey as protector of Mystic Falls.
Matt was one of the few who never became a supernatural being, making him notable among the rest for retaining his humanity. While much of his screen time revolved around dealing with interpersonal conflicts, he eventually embraced the idea of helping to keep others safe. The series ends with him becoming the sheriff of Mystic Falls and a vampire hunter.
Bonnie Bennett: 136 Episodes
Bonnie is a powerful witch and a fan favorite in the series and is best friends with Elena and Caroline. There are strong differences between Bonnie in The Vampire Diaries books, but she is a selfless and loyal character from beginning to end. She was always there for her friends and never backed down from any threat, even if she needed help to take them on.
Like Tyler and Matt, Bonnie is an underrated character that didn't get much development outside of her relationships with her friends. Still, she never failed to do what she could to save her friends and hometown. She may not have gotten as much screen time or development, but she remains an integral part of the series.
Elena Gilbert: 142 Episodes
Elena is the central character of the series, a former cheerleader and star student, prior to being involved in a car accident that killed her parents. She was saved by Stefan, and the two officially met when he enrolled at Mystic Falls High School. Elena is drawn to him and the two fall in love, causing her to become involved in the world of the supernatural.
Due to her status as a Petrova doppelganger, most of the supernatural drama revolves around her, as she is necessary to the plans of the antagonists. When she's placed in a comatose state at the end of season six, she leaves her central role behind, passing the torch to Caroline and Bonnie.
Caroline Forbes: 150 Episodes
Caroline is introduced as a perfectionist and overachiever with a mean streak, but dating Matt in the first season encourages her to be kinder to others. She becomes a vampire following a car crash in the first season finale, and has one of the stranger storylines in the series, magically becoming the carrier of Alaric and Jo's unborn twins.
Caroline has a great evolution during the series, going from a mean girl to a kind, warm character who is on par with Bonnie as a protector of her loved ones. Behind the Salvatores, she appears the most in the series, eventually going on to marry Stefan in the final season.
Stefan Salvatore: 171 Episodes
Stefan is one of the main protagonists of The Vampire Diaries and the younger brother of Damon. Turned into a vampire by ex-girlfriend Katherine, he became known as the Ripper of Monterrey for a period of time in one of the worst things Stefan did on The Vampire Diaries. He fell in love with Elena shortly after enrolling as a high school student in order to get to know her, and spent most of his time fending off supernatural threats.
He forms close friendships with Caroline, who he eventually marries, and Bonnie, despite her distrust of vampires. Stefan makes the ultimate sacrifice in the series finale, meeting a permanent death to ensure Katherine is killed.
Damon Salvatore: 171 Episodes
Another of the main protagonists, Damon is a vampire and one of the major protagonists of the first season, before becoming more of an anti-hero in the second season with the arrival of Klaus. Finding himself drawn to Elena, he causes trouble with Stefan once more.
Known for his reckless and impulsive problem-solving methods, Damon eventually becomes friends with Alaric and Bonnie, who he frequently teams up with, alongside his brother. He becomes human in the series finale after being cured of vampirism and lives a long, happy life with Elena.