Paul Wesley admits he did not like his Vampire Diaries co-star when they first met
Paul Wesley admits he did not like his Vampire Diaries co-star when they first met
Niti MajethiaWed, July 22, 2026 at 6:25 PM UTC
0
Paul Wesley initially found his co-star "cocky" -Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited
The Vampire Diaries cast might seem like they all get along—but it wasn't always that way. Paul Wesley recently revealed that his first impression of his co-star and now best friend, Ian Somerhalder, was less flattering.
He told Alex Cooper on her podcast that he initially found Ian "cocky" before they got along. “I was like… Vampire Diaries… I don’t think it’s gonna be a thing. He goes, ‘Oh contraire, mon frère… it’s gonna be a big deal, mark my words.’ I was like, ‘Who speaks like that?’” Paul shared.
It's no secret that the two are close friends now, with the duo even launching their own craft whiskey brand, Brother's Bond Bourbon. Meanwhile, Paul, 43, also revealed on the podcast that he is close friends with Jalen Brunson from the New York Knicks.
• Where are they now? Vampire Diaries cast 14 years on - Masked Singer to dog Instagrams
• Nina Dobrev almost struck by falling stage backdrop as Vampire Diaries co-stars save the day
“I’ve been going to Knicks games for years, and I’m friends with Jalen Brunson. He’s a good buddy of mine,” the actor told host Alex Cooper. “He and his wife are huge Vampire Diaries fans.”
Paul Wesley got candid in an episode of the podcast Call Her Daddy
Paul thus brought his The Vampire Diaries co-star, Nina Dobrev, to a Knicks game with him earlier this year. “I texted him right before the game,” Paul shared. “I was like, ‘Hey, just so you know, I’m bringing Elena to the game. And he’s like, ‘No way.’”
Advertisement
“They won by, like, 50 points, which is unheard of,” Paul recalled. “I was like, ‘Jalen’s doing this for Elena, isn’t he? I know he is.’ It’s so funny.”
Earlier this month, Paul married model Natalie Kuckenburg in a small, intimate civil ceremony. Natalie, 26, donned an ivory Lilou dress from the Galia Lahav ready-to-wear collection, while Paul rocked a navy blue suit and tie.
The happy couple announced the news on Instagram, revealing that their dog Greg served as their "best boy." Paul and Natalie met at a bar in New York City and have been dating since 2022.
Natalie Kuckenburg and Paul Wesley tied the knot recently -Credit:XNY/Star Max/GC Images
“That’s rare these days, I guess, because everyone’s, you know, meeting online and all these dating apps,” Paul said, reflecting on their meet-cute in an interview with Live with Kelly & Mark. “It was just like the classic, pretty girl at a bar. There was a little look, and I was like, ‘Okay, I’m gonna go for it.’ ”
“It was nice because we had a mutual friend,” he said. “Because otherwise it’s very awkward … it was kind of more of an introduction.”
The couple got engaged in Italy last summer, before tying the knot this year.
“There are two people that are the funniest people in my life — Number one, my dog, and number two, frankly, my girlfriend,” Paul told PEOPLE in 2024. “I think the reason we get along so well is that all we do is laugh, and I think it’s probably one of the most important things in a relationship.”
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
