Ian Somerhalder reflects on stepping away from acting after Lost and The Vampire Diaries success

Ian Somerhalder discusses his decision to step away from acting to focus on family, farming, and different projects.

Ian Somerhalder has reflected on his decision to step away from acting, marking five years since his last professional on-screen role. Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE while promoting his partnership with Nutro’s farmers market for dogs, Somerhalder discussed the milestone anniversaries of his roles in Lost and The Vampire Diaries. The actor, 45, said Lost was a "humbling experience," as his character, Boone, was the first major death in the series. He shared that his time on the show sparked his passion for environmental conservation, including soil and reef preservation efforts.

After Lost, Somerhalder found greater fame with The Vampire Diaries, which he describes as a “rocket ship,” and notes that the show has now reached over 1.2 billion people worldwide. Despite the success, he revealed that his main focus today is on family and sustainable farming projects. "I would much rather do this than go spend two months in some city, shooting a TV show away from my family," he explained.

Somerhalder, who has shifted his priorities to projects like the Greater Ground initiative, said he feels "enormous gratitude" for his acting career, but now prefers to focus on “family, farming, food, and energy.”