Vampire Diaries’ Michael Trevino Welcomes First Baby

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Michael Trevino has found a love that consumes him.

Paul Wesley, 41, and his wife, Bregje Heinen, welcomed their son on April 6th. They shared the news on Instagram with a sweet black and white photo of them holding their baby’s hand, and revealed his name is Jack Wild Trevino.

Michael received an outpouring of support from his Vampire Diaries colleagues after announcing his happy news. Nina Dobrev, who starred as Elena Gilbert, wrote a congratulatory message saying, “Congratulations!!!! Love all 3 of you!” Kayla Ewell, who played Vicki Donovan, one of Michael’s early romantic interests on the show, added, “Couldn’t be more excited! Welcome Jack!”

Oh my gosh, you guys, I almost died when I saw Michael and Bregje’s Instagram post on New Year’s Eve! They’re having a baby! I’ve been following them forever, and I’m SO excited for them. A little baby! It’s the best news ever!

The Dutch model, who got married to Michael in June, shared the news with a playful caption: ‘Hopefully this isn’t just another wedding video
’ She described the year as ‘really wonderful’.

She absolutely followed through on her word. The wedding video includes a moment where a family member jokingly says, “I’m turning 70 – I want a grandchild!”

The couple happily agreed and edited the video using footage from their doctor’s visits and their first ultrasound scans.

It’s been an exciting year for the cast of The Vampire Diaries, as many of Michael’s former colleagues have started families. Kat Graham, known for her role as Bonnie Bennett in the popular series, welcomed her first child, Prospero ‘Spero’ Nyemah Wood, on March 12th. She and her husband, Bryant Wood, named their son after a character in Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

Michael’s former on-screen love interest, Candice King, announced in December that she’s expecting her third child with her fiancĂ© and The Originals co-star, Steven Kreuger. This will be her first child with Kreuger; she also has two daughters, Florence May, 9, and Josephine June, 5, from a previous marriage to Joe King.

King announced on Instagram on December 8, 2025, that they are expecting a baby, due in May 2026. They named the baby Krueger.

Now that you’ve finished watching The Vampire Diaries, here are some surprising behind-the-scenes secrets about the show.

Okay, so this is insane but I just found out The CW originally wanted Ashlee Simpson – yes, Jessica Simpson’s little sister – to be the star of The Vampire Diaries! Can you even imagine?! Thankfully, they found Nina Dobrev, who was perfect, but instead of giving up on Ashlee, they cast her in the Melrose Place reboot. Seriously, the universe works in mysterious ways, right? I mean, Nina as Elena is everything, but Ashlee as a vampire? Wild!

According to stories, Ashley Tisdale was considered for the part of Elena after her time on High School Musical. However, she chose to star in Hellcats instead, a show that only lasted one season on The CW.

Nina recalled a huge number of actors auditioning for all the parts, telling TopMob News, ‘I must have done something right to get the role!’ She explained that the cast really got to know and develop their characters over time, learning more with each episode until they became truly remarkable.

Although Nina Dobrev became famous for playing multiple characters on the show – including Elena, Katherine Pierce, Amalia Giroux, and Tatia Petrova over six seasons – she didn’t make a great first impression during her initial audition, despite already being known for her work on Degrassi.

Julie Plec shared a funny story about first impressions of Nina: no one remembered meeting her initially. Nina’s team explained she hadn’t been feeling well during the audition, and she really wanted the role. She sent in a self-taped audition that was so impressive, she essentially landed the job right then and there.

When Nina was cast as Elena in the TV show, many fans of the books were upset that she didn’t have the character’s traditional blonde hair and blue eyes.

The adaptation from page to screen also involved several character changes. Elena gained a troubled teenage brother, Jeremy (played by Steven R. McQueen), replacing her younger sister Margaret. Her aunt’s name was changed from Judith to Jenna, and Matt’s last name went from Honeycutt to Donovan – he’s no longer Vicki’s brother in this version. Finally, Caroline was reimagined as Elena’s close friend instead of her rival.

Once they cast their female lead, The Vampire Diaries still needed to find the two actors who would complete the show’s central love triangle – and that wasn’t simple.

Finding the right actors for Stefan and Damon was a long process,” Julie said. “Nina did several screen tests with many different actors to see who had the best connection with her.

Several actors auditioned for roles, including Zach Roerig (who later played Matt Donovan), Michael Trevino (eventually Tyler Lockwood), and Nathanial Buzolic (who became Kol). David Gallagher, known from 7th Heaven, also impressed the casting director, Julie, though she worried his previous role might typecast him. She later reconsidered him, casting him as a werewolf after seeing his performance in Super 8.

And then, finally, they found their guys: Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder.

Julie explained that Paul and Ian joined the project relatively late. Paul had to audition many times—about fifteen, actually—and Ian seemed to come out of nowhere. Nina remembered Paul—who originally auditioned for the role of Damon—being noticeably different during chemistry reads. She told EW that Paul was the only actor who didn’t seem to be trying too hard to impress her and only spoke when they were filming. She found it amusing that this reserved approach ultimately proved to be exactly what the role needed.

Before becoming famous for Lost, Ian Somerhalder actually tried out for a part on HBO’s True Blood. He auditioned for the role of Jason Stackhouse but didn’t get the part.

Ian Somerhalder auditioned for the show True Blood, but Alan Ball didn’t think he was the right fit for the part, which eventually went to Ryan Kwanten. He was really disappointed and couldn’t bring himself to watch the show until recently.

Ian shared on Watch What Happens Live that a fellow actor tried to ruin his chances during auditions.

He remembered the final challenge of the show involved a contestant who tried to intimidate him, but he quickly asserted his dominance, telling the guy, ‘This is my moment.’ Then, he went in and successfully completed the task.

When asked if people would recognize his competitor, Ian said, “You might. I actually don’t recall his name.”

On September 10, 2009, the same day the show first aired, news emerged that Nina and her co-stars, Sara Canning, Candice Accola, and Kayla Ewell, along with photographer Tyler Shields, had been arrested in Georgia. They were accused of disrupting traffic while taking pictures on a highway.

Once everyone complied and paid the required fines, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department let them go.

Much like onscreen, love was blossoming on the set throughout its eight-season run.

Paul had a relationship with Phoebe Tonkin, who appeared as a guest star on The Vampire Diaries and later starred in The Originals, after his divorce from Torrey DeVitto, who played Meredith Fell in season three. Candice and Zach dated for two years following Candice’s brief relationship with Steven.

Joseph Morgan and Persia White met and began a relationship while working on the show, both starting in season three. They later married in July 2014.

And then, of course, there’s the biggest IRL TVD relationship…

Fans who loved the on-screen couple Delena were excited to learn that the actors playing them were also dating. However, their real-life romance ended in 2013 after three years – around the same time their characters, Damon and Elena, finally became a couple on the show.

The ex-couple quickly dismissed any talk of a feud by playfully joking about their split when they jointly accepted the 2014 People’s Choice Award for Best Chemistry.

During their announcement about ending their relationship, Ian jokingly pointed out that their characters were still a couple on TV. Nina quickly responded, laughing, “Luckily, we still have good chemistry!”

And after Ian’s April 2015 wedding to Nikki Reed, Nina had nothing but kind words to say. 

Nina responded to a viewer on Watch What Happens Live who pointed out it was unusual that she was friends with both her ex and his current wife. She said she thought it was wonderful and questioned why people couldn’t all just get along.

Nina shared that despite playing a popular couple on TV during the first season, she and her co-star Paul actually didn’t get along for the first five months of filming.

In a 2019 podcast interview, the actress admitted she had a complicated relationship with her former co-star, Paul Wesley. Despite appearing to have great chemistry on screen, she confessed she didn’t actually like him. She explained that people often asked if they were dating because of their on-screen connection, and she now understands that strong dislike can sometimes be mistaken for love. They ‘despised each other,’ but that intensity came across as romantic to viewers.

Nina and Paul eventually resolved their issues, and now they’re close friends – Nina considers him one of her best.

Things have really improved, and we’re in a good spot now. Actually, I think I spend more time with him than anyone else these days. We’ve become really close – we hang out all the time and I genuinely like his wife. It’s amazing to see how much our relationship has evolved.

Okay, so you HAVE to know, I’m completely obsessed with Taylor Swift, like seriously. And remember that interview with Kevin from season one of TopMob News? He basically confessed he was begging Taylor to guest star as a vampire on the show! It was the most amazing thing ever, just imagining her as a vampire… I’m still hoping it happens!

He raved about how perfect she’d be as a Kirsten Dunst-like character, similar to her role in Interview with the Vampire. He was incredibly enthusiastic about casting her, saying he’d do anything to get her on the show.

He actually created the character of Lexi, Stefan’s best friend, with her in mind, and ultimately cast Arielle Kebbel, who quickly became a fan favorite, in the role.

But alas, Kevin admitted she was “too big” for the show. 

The producers generally avoided casting actors just for their fame, but Julie really wanted Joshua Jackson – best known as Pacey Witter – to be on the show.

The show’s success, she believes, comes from focusing on the right fit for the roles rather than just casting famous faces. However, she admits they’d definitely consider a well-known actor if they were a good match. She jokingly added that she’s always hoped to work with Joshua Jackson, imagining his ‘Dawson’s Creek’ character, Pacey, in the ‘Vampire Diaries’ setting of Mystic Falls.

He was originally considered for the part of Klaus, the iconic vampire, a role that drew over 200 applicants before Joseph Morgan landed it and ultimately led to the hit show The Originals. Had Joshua gotten the part, it likely would have been a short-lived one, as planned before Joseph’s performance convinced producers to keep his character around longer.

In a rare instance of casting a well-known actor for a specific appeal, the producers of The Vampire Diaries approached Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Sarah Michelle Gellar. She played Rose, a vampire who formed a bond with Damon.

Kevin shared with The New York Post that they initially hoped to cast Sarah Michelle Gellar as Rose. While she was flattered by the offer, she ultimately declined. He added that she was the only celebrity they would have considered for a special casting choice.

The Walking Dead star Lauren Cohan nabbed the vampire part instead. 

Fans of The Vampire Diaries were accustomed to cast changes – characters often died and came back to life. However, Nina Dobrev’s announcement that she was leaving after season six was a real surprise to many viewers.

In an Instagram post, the actor shared that they always envisioned Elena’s storyline lasting six seasons, and creating it was an incredible experience.

Julie shared that saying farewell to Nina is a mix of sadness and joy. While they’ll miss her and the many roles she brought to life, they’re excited to keep telling stories about the Salvatore brothers and the rest of the talented cast.

The series went on for two more seasons without Nina, who returned for the series finale. 

Back in season two, Kevin and Julie decided how their story would end while having lunch at a mall food court. Their ending likely would have upset fans who supported either Damon and Elena, or Stefan and Elena as a couple.

Julie told EW that her original plan was for both brothers to sacrifice themselves to save the female lead, and then appear as ghosts to watch her live her life. She envisioned the character moving on, perhaps marrying Matt Donovan or pursuing a career as a doctor, with the brothers remaining together as ghostly observers of her happiness.

As the show went on and the central romantic relationship evolved, who everyone thought would end up together completely changed. (Poor Matt!)

Following Nina’s departure and Stefan’s relationship with Caroline, Julie and Kevin—the writers who came back to finish the series after leaving earlier in season two—considered two possible endings.

Oh my gosh, Julie told Entertainment Weekly that they actually had two endings planned! One would’ve wrapped up just the season, but the other… the other would’ve finished the entire series. Can you believe it?! She said they debated killing Damon just as much as they debated killing Stefan, and honestly, for a really long time, they were leaning towards killing Damon instead! I’m still reeling from that thought – it could have been so different!

In the end, Stefan gave his life so Damon could spend his remaining years with Elena. Later, reflecting on another famous TV love triangle from Dawson’s Creek, Kevin confessed he was conflicted about who Elena ultimately chose.

I always rooted for Stefan and Elena to be together,” confessed Kevin, who remembered being invested in the love triangle between Dawson, Joey, and Pacey. “If things had been different, that’s how the show would have ended. But with Elena unavailable, we just didn’t have the opportunity to make it happen in the final season.”

“Hello, brother.” 

The very first thing Damon said in the show’s pilot episode ended up being the last line of the entire series. This created a touching, complete-circle moment as the Salvatore brothers were together again after Damon died as a human. Interestingly, the writers originally planned for him to say something else entirely.

Kevin told Entertainment Weekly that the initial line was, ‘Oh, I see they have hero hair in heaven,’ and that the characters then shared a hug.

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2026-04-07 17:19