You remember the peak CW era. It was 2013, The Vampire Diaries was basically the center of the pop culture universe, and suddenly, the off-screen chemistry between Paul Wesley and Phoebe Tonkin was all anyone could talk about. For fans, it was the ultimate crossover: Stefan Salvatore and Hayley Marshall, together in real life. It felt like one of those rare Hollywood pairings that actually made sense.
But then, it just... ended.
Honestly, the Paul Wesley Phoebe Tonkin saga is a masterclass in how two people can be deeply in love for years and still realize they aren't meant for the long haul. They didn't have a messy, tabloid-fuelled blowout. There were no cheating scandals or public feuds. Instead, they navigated a four-year, on-again-off-again relationship that kept fans guessing until the very last "unfollow" on Instagram.
How It All Started: The Vampire Diaries Connection
They met on set in 2012. At the time, Paul was actually still married to his Pretty Little Liars star wife, Torrey DeVitto. By the summer of 2013, Paul and Torrey had filed for divorce, and it wasn't long before rumors started swirling about him and Phoebe.
They were spotted on double dates with Ben McKenzie and Shelley Hennig. They were seen holding hands in New York. It was a "soft launch" before that term even existed. By the time Phoebe moved over to the spin-off The Originals, they were a full-blown power couple.
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What’s wild is that despite being on the same network and in the same universe, their characters almost never interacted. Paul once told Entertainment Tonight that filming their first real scene together—a crossover episode—was actually "cool" and not awkward at all because they just decided to skip rehearsals and wing it. That kind of comfort level is hard to fake.
The Breakup(s) and the "Run Its Course" Reality
Fast forward to March 2017. The news broke that they had split after four years. A source told E! News the most relatable, boring, and yet devastating thing ever: "The relationship just ran its course."
It’s a phrase we hear a lot, but for Paul Wesley Phoebe Tonkin, it seemed to be the literal truth. They had spent nearly half a decade growing up together in the spotlight. But then, a month later, they were spotted holding hands again. They were "hooking up" and being friendly.
The "on-again" phase didn't last. By October 2017, the unfollowing happened. In the world of modern celebrity, an Instagram unfollow is basically a legal decree of separation. They stopped posting the cute travel photos. The birthday tributes vanished. It was over for good.
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Where Are They Now? (The 2026 Update)
If you’re still holding out hope for a reunion, I’ve got some news that might hurt a bit. Both have officially moved into entirely new chapters of their lives.
Phoebe Tonkin is now a married woman. In May 2025, she tied the knot with art dealer Bernard Lagrange in a stunning ceremony in New York City. It was a star-studded affair with Nina Dobrev and Claire Holt in attendance, proving that the TVD family ties are still iron-clad, even if the romances aren't. She’s also been killing it professionally, starring in Boy Swallows Universe and launching her own sustainable loungewear brand, Lesjour!.
Paul Wesley has stayed just as busy. After his marriage to Ines de Ramon ended in 2022 (she’s now famously with Brad Pitt), Paul found love again with model Natalie Kuckenburg. In July 2025, Paul and Natalie announced their engagement after about three years of dating. Paul’s been vocal about how much they laugh together, which seems to be his big priority these days.
Why We Still Care About Paul Wesley and Phoebe Tonkin
So, why are we still Googling them in 2026?
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Maybe it’s nostalgia for the 2010s. Or maybe it’s because they represented a version of celebrity dating that felt grounded. They weren't trying to sell us a lifestyle; they were just two actors who fell in love while working long hours in Atlanta.
The reality is that Paul Wesley Phoebe Tonkin was a chapter, not the whole book. They’ve both reached that age where the "vampire" years are a fond memory, but their current lives—filled with new marriages, directing gigs, and business ventures—are clearly where they want to be.
If you want to keep up with their current projects, you should definitely check out:
- Phoebe’s 2026 series: Keep an eye out for Two Years Later on Paramount Plus.
- Paul’s directing work: He’s been behind the camera more than in front of it lately, frequently directing episodes of major network dramas.
- The Brother’s Bond Bourbon: Paul’s business with Ian Somerhalder is still thriving if you want to support his post-acting ventures.
It’s okay to miss the Stefan and Hayley era, but seeing them both happy and settled with other people is probably the best finale fans could have asked for.