Ian Somerhalder's roots couldn't have been farther from the glam of Hollywood. The son of a massage therapist and an independent building contractor, the actor grew up in Covington, a town in southeastern Louisiana, according to IMDb. Even after all these years of fame, Somerhalder carries his attachment to his native town and state, as he told Atlanta Magazine in 2020. "There's something magical about going back. There's nothing like it ... The bayous and rivers that snake through those places — they are all part of my being," he said.
Somerhalder is a middle child, sandwiched between an older brother and a young sister, according to Digital Spy. He grew up catching crabs with his brother, Robert, and fishing for sac-a-lait, trout, and other local specialties, per the outlet. "We had an abundance of life, energy, family, and culture. Most people don't get to grow up with that," Somerhalder added to Atlanta Magazine.
Somerhalder still likes to go back often. When he does, he can't skip stopping for a cup of strong coffee and beignet with his father, who generally picks him up from the airport in New Orleans, per Atlanta Mag. While home, he tours his favorite places around the area, including a host of eateries to make sure to fill up with local flavors to last him the long months he's away.
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