# Paul Wesley filmography
The filmography of **Paul Wesley** (born 1982) covers the screen work of the American actor, director, and producer known for playing [Stefan Salvatore](https://www.edgepedia.org/stefan-salvatore) on *The Vampire Diaries* ([The CW](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-cw), 2009-17) and [James T. Kirk](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-t-kirk) on *Star Trek: Strange New Worlds* (Paramount+, 2022-).[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_wesley) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0913587/) Born Paul Thomas Wasilewski in New Brunswick, New Jersey, he began crediting himself as Paul Wesley in 2005 because he considered his birth name too hard to pronounce.[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/paul-wesley/credits/3030332757/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0913587/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1982, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_wesley) |
| Screen name | Credited as Paul Wasilewski until 2005, then as Paul Wesley[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0913587/) |
| Television debut | *Another World* (NBC), as Sean McKinnon; six-episode role as Max Nickerson on *Guiding Light* while still in high school[4](https://paramount.originals.watch/person/70733/paul-wesley) • [5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/8416/paul-wesley) |
| Signature role | Stefan Salvatore on *The Vampire Diaries* (The CW, 2009-17), 171 episodes[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0913587/) |
| Current series role | James T. Kirk on *Star Trek: Strange New Worlds* (2022-)[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0913587/) |
| Directing credits | Episodes of *The Vampire Diaries* (2013-2016), *Shadowhunters* (2017), *Legacies* (2018), *Roswell, New Mexico* (2019), and *Batwoman* (2019)[6](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-151374/filmographie/) |
| Rotten Tomatoes range | Highest rated 83% *Shot in the Heart* (2001); lowest rated 19% *Mothers and Daughters* (2016)[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_wesley) |
## Early television work (1999-2008)
Wesley's first television appearances came on daytime soap operas while he was still in high school: a debut on NBC's *[Another World](https://www.edgepedia.org/another-world-tv-series)* as Sean McKinnon, followed by a multi-episode arc on *Guiding Light* as Max Nickerson, a troubled teen who escapes juvenile hall.[4](https://paramount.originals.watch/person/70733/paul-wesley) • [7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/paul-wesley/) He then moved to primetime with the short-lived werewolf drama *Wolf Lake* (CBS, 2001-02), playing Luke Cates, the son of the town's most successful businessman.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_wesley) • [7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/paul-wesley/)
Through the early 2000s he accumulated guest roles on series including *24*, *Smallville* (as Lucas Luthor), *The O.C.*, *8 Simple Rules*, *American Dreams*, *CSI: Miami*, *CSI: NY*, *Cold Case*, *Law & Order: Criminal Intent*, and *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit*.[4](https://paramount.originals.watch/person/70733/paul-wesley) • [6](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-151374/filmographie/) A recurring role followed as Tommy Callahan, a teenage drug dealer, on *Everwood* (The WB, 2002-06), and another as PFC Logan Atwater on *Army Wives* (2007-08).[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_wesley) • [6](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-151374/filmographie/) In 2006 he took the lead as Aaron Corbett, a human-angel hybrid, in the ABC Family miniseries *Fallen* and its sequels *Fallen II: The Journey* and *Fallen III: The Destiny* (2006-07).[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_wesley) • [4](https://paramount.originals.watch/person/70733/paul-wesley)
## Feature films
Wesley's film credits span independent dramas and studio comedies. Early roles include Gary (age 15-22) in the television film *Shot in the Heart* (2001), Troy in *[Roll Bounce](https://www.edgepedia.org/roll-bounce)* (2005), and Trevor in *Peaceful Warrior* (2006).[8](https://www.movie-list.com/actors/paul-wesley) In 2008 he played Jake Tanner, the lead in the low-budget horror-comedy *Killer Movie*, a production on whose set he met his future wife, actress [Torrey DeVitto](https://www.edgepedia.org/torrey-devitto).[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_wesley)
Later film work includes Reese in the action film *The Baytown Outlaws* (2012), Charlie in *Amira & Sam* (2014), and Gideon in *Before I Disappear* (2014), on which he also served as producer.[8](https://www.movie-list.com/actors/paul-wesley) • [1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_wesley) He played Charlie opposite J.K. Simmons in *[The Late Bloomer](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-late-bloomer)* (2016) and Kevin in *[Mothers and Daughters](https://www.edgepedia.org/mothers-and-daughters-2016-film)* (2016).[8](https://www.movie-list.com/actors/paul-wesley) More recently he played Ron Dyer in *History of Evil* (2024), also serving as executive producer, and appears in *[He Bled Neon](https://www.edgepedia.org/he-bled-neon)* (2026).[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_wesley) • [9](https://www.movieinsider.com/p3382/paul-wesley)
## The Vampire Diaries and directing
In 2009 Wesley was cast as Stefan Salvatore, the good-hearted vampire, on *The Vampire Diaries* (The CW, 2009-17), a supernatural drama created by Kevin Williamson and based on the book series by L.J. Smith; the role ran 171 episodes and also included the characters Silas, Tom Avery, and Ambrose.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0913587/) • [7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/paul-wesley/) He reprised Stefan in a 2015 episode of the spin-off *The Originals*.[6](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-151374/filmographie/)
During the series he moved behind the camera, directing one episode in season 5 (2013), one in season 6 (2014), two in season 7 (2015), and one in season 8 (2016).[6](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-151374/filmographie/) He continued directing one episode each of *Shadowhunters* (2017), *Legacies* (2018), *Roswell, New Mexico* (2019), and *Batwoman* (2019).[6](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-151374/filmographie/) His producing credits include *Before I Disappear* (2014), the short films *Ashmina* (2018) and *Anna* (2019) as executive producer, and executive producer on *History of Evil* (2024).[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0913587/) He is co-founder of Citizen Media, a production company based at Kapital Entertainment.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0913587/)
## Later series work and Star Trek
Between *The Vampire Diaries* and *Star Trek*, Wesley starred as Eddie Longo in season 1 and Tucker Reed in season 2 of the anthology drama *Tell Me a Story* (2018-2020), and played [John Amos](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-amos) in the Lifetime miniseries *Flowers in the Attic: The Origin* (2022).[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0913587/) • [6](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-151374/filmographie/)
Since 2022 he has played James T. Kirk on *Star Trek: Strange New Worlds*, joining in season 2 and continuing through season 4 (2026), with a fifth season listed for 2027.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0913587/) • [6](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-151374/filmographie/) He is also credited with a 2026 guest appearance as Frank in season 3 of *The Buccaneers*.[6](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-151374/filmographie/)
## References
1. [Paul Wesley Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_wesley)
2. [Paul Wesley, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0913587/)
3. [Paul Wesley List of Movies and TV Shows, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/paul-wesley/credits/3030332757/)
4. [Paul Wesley, Paramount+ Originals](https://paramount.originals.watch/person/70733/paul-wesley)
5. [Paul Wesley, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/8416/paul-wesley)
6. [Paul Wesley : Filmographie, AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-151374/filmographie/)
7. [Paul Wesley, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/paul-wesley/)
8. [Paul Wesley Movies: Full List, Movie-List](https://www.movie-list.com/actors/paul-wesley)
9. [Paul Wesley Film Credits, Movie Insider](https://www.movieinsider.com/p3382/paul-wesley)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Actor filmographies and performer list articles › Surnames A to F*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license