List of The Vampire Diaries characters
Wikimedia list article

The Vampire Diaries is an American fantasy-drama television series which was first broadcast on The CW from 2009 to 2017, airing 171 episodes over 8 seasons. Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec adapted the television series from L.J. Smith's novel series of the same name. Some of the characters appeared in the spin-off series, The Originals and Legacies.
Main cast
The following is a list of series regulars who have appeared in one or more of the series' eight seasons. The characters are listed in the order they were first credited in the series.
Key
Main cast
Recurring cast
Guest cast
Elena Gilbert
Played by Nina Dobrev
Starring seasons: 1–6
Voice only role season: 7
Guest starring season: 8
Katherine Pierce
Played by Nina Dobrev
Starring seasons: 2-5
Recurring seasons: 1
Guest starring season: 8
Katherine Pierce (based on Katherine von Swartzschild from the novels) is the main antagonist of the series, being a major antagonist in the first, second, fourth, fifth and eighth seasons of the show and a minor antagonist/anti-hero in the third season. She is the ancestor and doppelgänger of Elena Gilbert and the doppelgänger of Tatia and Amara. Katherine Pierce, born as Katerina Petrova on June 5, 1473, to a Bulgarian family but was disowned after having a child out of wedlock. She fled Bulgaria and reached England, where she met Klaus Mikaelson and his brother Elijah, members of the Original Vampire Family. She was attracted to Elijah but was horrified when she found out that Klaus planned to sacrifice her for a ritual.
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