Claim: Paul Wesley has an acting career.

Pawel Tomasz Wasilewski -LRB- born July 23 , 1982 -RRB- , known professionally as Paul Wesley , is an American actor , director , and producer . He is known for playing Stefan Salvatore in The CW 's supernatural drama The Vampire Diaries -LRB- 2009 -- 2017 -RRB- and as Aaron Corbett in the ABC Family miniseries Fallen . He appeared on several TV shows such as Guiding Light , Wolf Lake , Smallville , and Everwood .