# Matthew Davis
**Matthew Davis** (full name Matthew Wadsworth Davis, also credited as Matt Davis) is an American actor born in 1978 in [Salt Lake City](https://www.edgepedia.org/salt-lake-city), Utah, best known for playing Alaric Saltzman on [The CW](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-cw)'s *The Vampire Diaries* and its spin-off *Legacies*, and for co-starring as Warner Huntington III in the 2001 comedy *Legally Blonde*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0205127/) • [2](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/shows/legacies/talent/?view=matthew-davis)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name / birth | Matthew Wadsworth Davis, born 1978 in Salt Lake City, Utah[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0205127/) |
| Signature film role | Warner Huntington III, Elle Woods's boyfriend, in *Legally Blonde* (2001)[2](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/shows/legacies/talent/?view=matthew-davis) |
| Signature TV role | Alaric Saltzman on *The Vampire Diaries* (2009–2017), *The Originals*, and *Legacies* (2018–2022)[3](https://vampirediaries.fandom.com/wiki/Matthew_Davis) |
| Early roles | Pvt. Jim Paxton in *Tigerland* (2000) and twins Travis/Trevor in *Urban Legends: Final Cut* (2000)[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/davis-matthew-1978) |
| Other series work | Adam Hillman on ABC's *What About Brian* (2006–2007); Jeff Sefton on The CW's *Cult* (2013)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0205127/) |
| Recent work | Joel in *Grosse Pointe Garden Society* (2025, 13 episodes); Matt Reynolds in *Held Hostage in My House* (2024)[5](https://www.filmweb.pl/person/Matthew%2BDavis-45832/filmography) |
| Education | Woods Cross High School and the University of Utah; studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0205127/) • [4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/davis-matthew-1978) |
## Early life and training
Davis grew up in Utah and attended Woods Cross High School before enrolling at the [University of Utah](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-utah), where he first became interested in acting.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0205127/) • [3](https://vampirediaries.fandom.com/wiki/Matthew_Davis) After finishing school he moved to New York, studied at the [American Academy of Dramatic Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-academy-of-dramatic-arts), and performed in small stage productions, including plays such as *You Can't Take It With You*, *Antigone*, and *Romeo and Juliet*.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/davis-matthew-1978) • [6](https://www.filmweb.pl/person/Matthew%2BDavis-45832) Before his acting career took hold he worked as a pizza delivery person.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/davis-matthew-1978)
## Film career, 2000–2005
His first screen roles came in 2000, when he played the twins Travis and Trevor in the horror sequel *[Urban Legends: Final Cut](https://www.edgepedia.org/urban-legends-final-cut)* and Private Jim Paxton, a soldier with writing aspirations, opposite [Colin Farrell](https://www.edgepedia.org/colin-farrell) in [Joel Schumacher](https://www.edgepedia.org/joel-schumacher)'s Vietnam-era drama *Tigerland*.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/davis-matthew-1978) • [7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/matthew_davis) On Rotten Tomatoes, *Tigerland* remains his highest-rated film at 78 percent from critics.[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/matthew_davis)
The following year he appeared in [Michael Bay](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-bay)'s *Pearl Harbor* as Joe and played Warner Huntington III, the boyfriend who breaks up with [Elle Woods](https://www.edgepedia.org/elle-woods) ([Reese Witherspoon](https://www.edgepedia.org/reese-witherspoon)), in the hit comedy *Legally Blonde*.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/davis-matthew-1978) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0205127/) In 2002 he played Matt Tollman in the surf film *Blue Crush* and Ensign Douglas Odell in the World War II submarine thriller *Below*.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/davis-matthew-1978) Later film credits from this period include *Seeing Other People* (2004), *Shadow of Fear* (2004), *Heights* (2005), *Into the Sun* (2005), and *BloodRayne* (2005), the last of which is his lowest-rated film on Rotten Tomatoes at 4 percent.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/davis-matthew-1978) • [7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/matthew_davis)
## Television and The Vampire Diaries
Davis moved into series television with a regular role as Adam Hillman on the ABC comedy-drama *What About Brian* from 2006 to 2007.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0205127/) In 2009 he was cast as Alaric Saltzman, a history teacher and vampire hunter, on The CW's *The Vampire Diaries*, appearing from 2009 to 2017; he first auditioned for the role of Logan but was cast as Alaric instead.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0205127/) • [3](https://vampirediaries.fandom.com/wiki/Matthew_Davis) According to co-creator [Julie Plec](https://www.edgepedia.org/julie-plec), Jason Momoa and [Joe Manganiello](https://www.edgepedia.org/joe-manganiello) also read for the role of Alaric before Davis was cast.[8](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/jason-momoa-joe-manganiello-read-for-same-vampire-diaries-character)
**Spin-offs and other series.** Davis carried the Alaric role into *The Originals* as a guest star and then into *Legacies* (2018–2022), where he played the character as Headmaster of the Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted.[2](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/shows/legacies/talent/?view=matthew-davis) • [9](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/matthew-davis/) In 2013 he starred as Jeff Sefton on the short-lived CW mystery-horror drama *Cult* and had a recurring role in the 14th season of CBS's *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation* as swing-shift CSI Sean Yeager, appearing in the episodes "Passed Pawns", "Helpless", and "Boston Brakes".[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0205127/)
## Recent work
In April 2024 Davis was cast as Joel in the NBC drama pilot that became *Grosse Pointe Garden Society*, and he appeared in 13 episodes of the series in 2025.[10](https://gp-garden-society.fandom.com/wiki/Matthew_Davis) • [5](https://www.filmweb.pl/person/Matthew%2BDavis-45832/filmography) His 2024 film *Held Hostage in My House* cast him as Matt Reynolds, and he appeared in one episode of the Netflix series *[The Waterfront](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-waterfront-tv-series)* in 2025 as Curtis.[5](https://www.filmweb.pl/person/Matthew%2BDavis-45832/filmography) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0205127)
## Personal life
Davis was briefly married to actress [Leelee Sobieski](https://www.edgepedia.org/leelee-sobieski) in 2008.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0205127/) He married Kiley Casciano on December 23, 2018; the marriage ended in divorce, and the couple had two children, Ripley Nightingale Davis and Dorothy Lavender Davis.[11](https://www.imdb.com/pt/name/nm0205127/bio/)
## References
1. [Matthew Davis (I), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0205127/)
2. [Matthew Davis talent bio, The CW Press (Legacies)](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/shows/legacies/talent/?view=matthew-davis)
3. [Matthew Davis, The Vampire Diaries Wiki (Fandom)](https://vampirediaries.fandom.com/wiki/Matthew_Davis)
4. [Davis, Matthew 1978–, Encyclopedia.com (Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television)](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/davis-matthew-1978)
5. [Matthew Davis filmografia, Filmweb](https://www.filmweb.pl/person/Matthew%2BDavis-45832/filmography)
6. [Matthew Davis (I) biography, Filmweb](https://www.filmweb.pl/person/Matthew%2BDavis-45832)
7. [Matthew Davis, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/matthew_davis)
8. [Jason Momoa and Joe Manganiello read for Alaric Saltzman, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/jason-momoa-joe-manganiello-read-for-same-vampire-diaries-character)
9. [Matthew Davis credits, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/matthew-davis/)
10. [Matthew Davis, Grosse Pointe Garden Society Wiki (Fandom)](https://gp-garden-society.fandom.com/wiki/Matthew_Davis)
11. [Matthew Davis biografia, IMDb (Portuguese)](https://www.imdb.com/pt/name/nm0205127/bio/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames D to Di*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license