Alaric Saltzman (Matt Davis) is the history teacher at Mystic Falls High School when Mr. Tanner is killed by Damon, although nobody knows that he was the one who did it. Alaric comes to Mystic Falls in search of information that could perhaps lead him to the facts about his wife's death. He witnessed Damon feeding on her, but he doesn't know who Damon is until he sees him sit down next to him at the bar. When Damon shows up to a school dance that Alaric is chaparoning, he finally learns who Damon is. Alaric goes to Damon and tries to kill him, but instead Damon "kills" Alaric. When Stefan comes in, he is angry with Damon for killing Alaric since he knows that he is a good guy. Stefan then witnesses Alaric come back to life. Alaric says that the ring he wears that his wife gave him must have protected him. Alaric eventually learns that Damon turned Isabelle (his wife) into a vampire because she begged him to do so. Alaric feels betrayed. When he sees Jenna, Elena's aunt whom he has a romantic interest in, he learns that his wife Isabelle is actually Elena's biological mother. He finds it difficult to speak to Elena about it, but when Stefan is kidnapped by the vampires from the tomb under the church, Alaric comes to their aid. He partners with Damon to help release Stefan since Alaric has a special ring that keeps him from dying. Alaric continues to see Jenna every now and then, but nothing too serious seems to come of it because of all the distractions he is surrounded with. He seems to always be okay with helping Elena, Stefan, and Damon when they need help because he knows a lot about vampires and has these vervain shots that can tranquilize and vampire. |  "Stefan is a good guy. But at the end of the day, he's still a vampire." |
For an interview with Matt Davis, click here.
