Ian Somerhalder Reveals Why He Walked Away from Hollywood: “I Pulled the Plug Myself,” Says Netflix’s Decision Led Him to Quit Acting

After spending years largely absent from the screen, Ian Somerhalder has finally opened up about the reasons behind his decision to leave Hollywood and step away from acting. Speaking on the Haley on the Go podcast, the 47-year-old actor revealed that the turning point came during the production of V Wars, the final project he completed before leaving the entertainment industry.

Ian Somerhalder is best known to audiences worldwide for his roles in hit television series such as Lost and especially The Vampire Diaries, where he gained international recognition for portraying the vampire Damon Salvatore. Following the long-running success of the series, he hoped V Wars would allow audiences to see him in a completely different light.

“I wanted to do V Wars because it was me—not as a vampire, but as a scientist. We shot the show, moved my whole family to Northern Ontario, and worked incredibly hard on it for almost a year. But the version that was ultimately delivered wasn’t even watchable,” Ian recalled.

The actor admitted he was so disappointed with the final product that he did not want it to be released.

“I told the studio, ‘I don’t want to put my name on this. I’ll give you the money back. I’ll give you millions of dollars.’ But they just looked at me and said, ‘What are you talking about?’”

According to Ian, he and his producing partner then requested creative control over the series. Netflix agreed—but with one condition.

“They said, ‘Sure. But we’re not giving you another dollar.’”

Determined to salvage the project, Ian said he personally raised more than $6 million to finance additional filming. The production team spent six days shooting new material, generating roughly 10 to 12 hours of footage in an effort to improve the series. The workload became so overwhelming that he was eventually hospitalized for exhaustion.

Despite those efforts, Ian said nothing could change the fate of V Wars. After its first season premiered in 2019, Netflix canceled the series after just one season.

“The executives were fighting among themselves, and someone quietly canceled the show. The people in power at Netflix told me, ‘It’s unfortunate. Yes, this shouldn’t have happened. But we can’t reverse the decision because it would set a terrible precedent, so the show is over.’”

That moment, he said, forced him to reevaluate his career.

“I looked at myself in the mirror and said to my wife, ‘I’m 40 years old. I don’t want to spend two years of my life working this hard—with one full year completely unpaid—only to have my career and livelihood determined by an executive who had issues in high school and now wants to exert power. I’m not willing to let my career be dictated by people carrying around their own personal baggage.’”

The actor said that was the moment he decided to close the chapter on his acting career.

“So I pulled the plug. That was it. These executives kept arguing with each other, and I just thought, ‘Are you kidding me? I’m done. I’m out.’”

Since leaving Hollywood, Ian Somerhalder has largely disappeared from film and television. Rather than pursuing new acting opportunities, he shifted his focus toward family life and business ventures. Together with his wife, actress Nikki Reed, he relocated to a farm, embracing a lifestyle centered on nature while dedicating himself to regenerative agriculture, environmental conservation, and the development of sustainable products.

Ian and Nikki Reed married in 2015 after dating for about a year. The couple now shares two children and has often spoken about their desire to prioritize family over Hollywood’s demanding schedule. In recent years, they have been seen more frequently at environmental and sustainability events and charitable initiatives than at movie premieres.

Before building a family with Nikki Reed, Ian was in a high-profile relationship with his The Vampire Diaries co-star Nina Dobrev. Their romance attracted significant attention from fans around the world. Although they ended their relationship in 2013, the two continued working together professionally throughout the remaining seasons of the series and have repeatedly emphasized their mutual respect. Nina later stated that she enjoys a positive relationship with both Ian and Nikki, putting long-standing rumors of tension to rest.

Beyond his acting career, Ian Somerhalder has also earned recognition as a dedicated environmental advocate. In 2010, he founded the Ian Somerhalder Foundation, an organization supporting wildlife conservation, environmental education, and sustainable development initiatives. In recent years, he has continued promoting regenerative agriculture and projects aimed at reducing the impact of climate change.

In several recent interviews, Ian has maintained that he has no regrets about leaving Hollywood. Rather than chasing new acting roles, he believes his current life is far more meaningful, allowing him to spend time with his family, pursue projects he genuinely believes in, and live without having his career dictated by decisions beyond his control.