Paul Wesley

About

Paweł Tomasz Wasilewski (Polish: [‘pavɛw vaɕi’lɛfskʲi]; July 23, 1982), better known by his stage name Paul Wesley, is an American actor and film director. He is known for starring as Stefan Salvatore in The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017) and James T. Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022–present).
In 2003, Wesley also starred as Lucas Luthor, Lex Luthor’s younger brother, in the superhero series Smallville.

Wesley was born Paweł Tomasz Wasilewski on July 23, 1982, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, to Polish parents Agnieszka and Tomasz Wasilewski. He grew up in Marlboro Township, New Jersey. He has one older sister, Monika Emara, and two younger sisters, Leah and Julia. In addition to English, he speaks Polish, having spent four months of every year in Poland until the age of 16. He has said he has “40% Jewish” heritage.
Wesley attended Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, New Jersey, and Marlboro High School for a period during his high school years. He started his theater studies in New York City and transferred from Marlboro High School to Lakewood Prep School in Howell, New Jersey, because the school was able to better accommodate his acting schedule. During…