Damon Salvatore is a central character in The Vampire Diaries, played by Ian Somerhalder in the television series that premiered in 2009 and based on the books by L. J. Smith. The older Salvatore brother became known for sarcastic one-liners, shifting loyalties and a volatile charm that made his short lines highly quotable. Clips of his voice circulate in fancams, edits and reaction posts among fans who still revisit the series, keeping the character present in meme culture long after the show ended in 2017.