Even several years after the series wrapped up, The Vampire Diaries seems to remain just as popular as ever. Spin-offs like The Originals and Legacies have helped keep fans engaged, as has rewatching the series on Netflix or other streaming services. It also is a plus that the talented cast is beloved.
Many of the actors from the show have gone on to have notable successful careers away from it. Even if they haven't landed a ton of roles, the cast members are still active on social media and have amassed some strong followings, especially when it comes to Instagram accounts.
Michael Malarkey (2.5M Followers)
Considering how many actors spent so long on The Vampire Diaries, it might be a bit surprising that Michael Malarkey is among the most popular performers. He was only on the show for a few seasons as Enzo St. John, an old vampire friend of Damon's who ended up as Bonnie's romantic interest.
Malarkey's performance made the character a fan favorite and the actor is also a talented musician. He showcases this in various images and videos on his account but he also is known to post inspirational quotes.
Daniel Gillies (4.1M Followers)
Daniel Gillies joined The Vampire Diaries in season 2 as Elijah. It was a monumental debut as he marked the first Original vampire seen on the series before revealing that he was part of an entire family. Elijah would stick around for several seasons and help lead The Originals spin-off.
It's clear by his Instagram that Gillies has been keeping busy. He shares his admiration for movies and TV shows, while also posting about his work, including narrating an audiobook on Thor. Gillies has also posted pictures with old cast members as well.
Kat Graham (6.8M Followers)
One of the most beloved cast members on the series was certainly Kat Graham, as she was one of the only actors to appear in all eight seasons. She shined as Bonnie Bennett, the powerful witch who saved everyone on countless occasions in the series.
Graham is as multi-talented as it gets, with her career branching out to include singing, dancing, and even producing. Her stunning fashion posts, along with music video clips and dance videos have helped make her a great follow. After the show, Bennett continued with her music career and has done a lot of voice acting.
Claire Holt (7M Followers)
Similar to Daniel Gilles, Claire Holt joined the show as a member of the Original family. She first appeared in early season 3 and became one of the show's most sympathetic and intriguing characters from that point forward. Of course, she helped lead The Originals despite missing a handful of episodes.
Fans who follow Holt on Instagram are sure to get plenty of shots of her loving family, including her two children. She is also a close friend of fellow franchise alum Phoebe Tonkin, so they have a lot of posts together. Holt recently even helped design a swimwear line that she shares photos of.
Joseph Morgan (7.5M Followers)
There wasn't a more important member of the Originals than Klaus. He was the most powerful vampire in the series and the show's first look at a hybrid since he was part werewolf as well. Joseph Morgan brought the character to life so well that he was at the forefront of the spin-off.
Although Morgan hasn't worked on many major films or shows since The Originals ended, he remains very active on Instagram. That includes posting about work as a director, some visually interesting images, and bits and pieces of his lifestyle habits.
Phoebe Tonkin (7.6M Followers)
Phoebe Tonkin is another one of the actors who wasn't on The Vampire Diaries a ton but made a huge impact on The Originals. She appeared as Hayley Marshall, a werewolf friend of Tyler Lockwood's who eventually hooked up with Klaus and had a kid with him.
Tonkin's account is popular because she is always posting gorgeous photos of herself, as well as shots of her hanging out with cast members of The Originals and The Secret Circle. She also shares updates about her career, which is active and has seen her nab notable roles.
Candice King (9.4M Followers)
Along with the Salvatore brothers and Bonnie Bennett, Caroline Forbes was also around for every season of The Vampire Diaries. Candice King portrayed her and like other cast members, hasn't had a ton of major parts since the series ended.
Instead, King has focused on her family life, getting married and having two daughters. That family life is seen all over her Instagram account, which her followers adore. She also hosts a podcast with Kayla Ewell and seeing the old cast members together is always a treat.
Paul Wesley (11.6M Followers)
At the heart of the series was Stefan Salvatore, who certainly had his ups and downs but remained a moral compass for many other characters. Paul Wesley tackled the difficult but now iconic role and these days, he is still quite active on social media platforms.
Wesley's Instagram account sees him post pictures of his everyday life but also a lot about his other activities. He recently got into producing and also started a whiskey brand with his television brother Ian Somerhalder, known as Brother's Bond Bourbon.
Ian Somerhalder (21M Followers)
It could be argued that the most popular character from The Vampire Diaries was Damon Salvatore. The bad boy turned good by love was played by Ian Somerhalder and audiences appreciated his good looks as much as his epic character development over the years.
Although he hasn't acted much since the series wrapped, Somerhalder got back into the vampire world with a lead role in Netflix's V Wars. Somerhalder posts about his adventures in life, his wife Nikki Reed, their child, and recently his reunion with Paul Wesley was also documented.
Nina Dobrev (23.9M Followers)
The efforts of Nina Dobrev on The Vampire Diaries were incredible as she played the lead character of Elena Gilbert and her evil doppelgänger Katherine Pierce, both to perfection. When she departed the show in season 6, the void could be felt going forward.
Dobrev racked up a huge following thanks to the series, her gorgeous looks, and fun posts with her best friend Julianne Hough. Together they have a wine brand and she also recently got into the world of producing, remaining active. Her Instagram is constantly updated with posts that everyone loves.