Nearly 10 years to the day of her first appearance as Rebekah Mikaelson on The Vampire Diaries, Claire Holt returned to Mystic Falls via an episode of Legacies — but she’s hardly the only actor to appear on multiple shows within this shared universe.
By our count, Holt is one of 28 performers to appear in major roles on at least two shows within the TVD-verse, including The Originals. She’s also part of a very exclusive group of actors to show up on all three shows, which is basically the equivalent of EGOTing as far as we’re concerned.
Let’s take a look at the other 27 actors who similarly crossed between shows. Once you’ve soaked up all that sweet synergy, drop a comment with an actor from either The Vampire Diaries or The Originals you’d like to see pop up on Legacies. (For the record, their character can be dead. Let’s not forget what universe we’re operating in.)
The Vampire Diaries and The Originals
After meeting (and fearing) Mama Mikaelson in Season 3 of The Vampire Diaries, we were briefly reunited with her during her children’s battle against their equally fearsome Aunt Dahlia in The Originals‘ sophomore season.
Before becoming the TVD universe’s first phoenix (for as long as that lasted) on Legacies, Landon was introduced as a waiter at the Mystic Falls Grill on the penultimate episode of The Originals.
The Vampire Diaries, The Originals and Legacies
One of the busiest bees in the TVD universe, Caroline finally made her way to New Orleans for a memorable arc in the final season of The Originals. And although it wasn’t an in-person appearance, King did record voiceover for Legacies‘ musical episode. It counts!
The Vampire Diaries and The Originals
Once a mama’s boy, always a mama’s boy. Finn was introduced on The Vampire Diaries as Esther’s yes man, only to be resurrected alongside her for more wicked deeds on The Originals.
The Vampire Diaries, The Originals and Legacies
Despite the horrors he experienced during The Originals‘ five-season run, we’ll always choose to remember Marcel as we first met him on The Vampire Diaries — crushing karaoke.
Marcel is slated to make his Legacies debut in Season 4, alongside Nathaniel Buzolic (Kol). They’ll be joined by Claire Holt (Rebekah) and Riley Voelkel (Freya).
The Vampire Diaries and Legacies
Serial killer antics aside, there was something instantly lovable about Kai when we met him in The Vampire Diaries‘ sixth season. And he was just as maniacal (if not more so!) when he popped up in Legacies‘ second season for an arc that finally reunited him with the twin nieces he thought he killed years ago.
The Vampire Diaries, The Originals and Legacies
“Barbie Klaus” spent several seasons raising hell on The Vampire Diaries before moseying down to New Orleans with the rest of The Originals. And now that Hope has gone full tribrid in Legacies‘ fourth season, Rebekah is finally returning to Mystic Falls to check on her unhinged niece.
The Vampire Diaries and The Originals
A style icon from the jump, Elijah was introduced in The Vampire Diaries‘ second season as a way to kill time until Klaus arrived. Thanks in part to Gillies’ compelling performance, however, Elijah became a fixture in the TVD-verse… until the final moments of The Originals.
The Vampire Diaries and The Originals
Like most people who cross the Mikaelsons’ path, poor Sophie Deveraux wasn’t long for this world, surviving less than a full season of The Originals after being introduced via its backdoor pilot on The Vampire Diaries.
We’re pretty sure that Hope Mikaelson is the first TV character to be conceived on one show (The Vampire Diaries), born on another (The Originals), then die on a third (Legacies). She’s kind of a crossover machine, even if Russell only actually appeared on two out of three shows.
The Vampire Diaries, The Originals and Legacies
Alaric’s protege, who spent nine episodes on The Vampire Diaries and more than twice as many on Legacies, also popped up in one episode of The Originals, earning him a rare spot in the three-for-three club.
The Vampire Diaries and Legacies
We were thrilled to see Lizzie and Josie’s “mombie” show up in Legacies‘ first season, even if she was still wearing the bloody wedding dress she died in on The Vampire Diaries. It was definitely a look.
The Vampire Diaries and The Originals
Easily the most complex character in the TVD-verse, Klaus’ arrival in The Vampire Diaries‘ second season changed everything. And while we appreciate hearing about his after-afterlife on Legacies, we wouldn’t mind catching a glimpse of Morgan reprising his iconic character. Somehow.
The Vampire Diaries and The Originals
One of the more tragic figures of the TVD-verse (#JusticeForCami!), this bartender/therapist was introduced via The Originals‘ backdoor pilot on The Vampire Diaries.
The Vampire Diaries, The Originals and Legacies
One thing’s for sure: Despite being one of the few non-supernatural characters in this universe, Alaric appears to age like a vampire.
The Vampire Diaries and The Originals
Remember when this angry young man from Mystic Falls went to fight Klaus in New Orleans and actually thought he might stand a chance? That was adorable.
The Vampire Diaries, The Originals and Legacies
The cheekiest member of the Mikaelson crew, Kol spent several seasons on The Vampire Diaries before graduating to The Originals. Ironically, though, Kol is one of the few siblings who didn’t appear in the spinoff’s backdoor pilot.
Kol is slated to make his Legacies debut in Season 4, alongside Charles Michael Davis (Marcel). They’ll be joined by Claire Holt (Rebekah) and Riley Voelkel (Freya).
The Vampire Diaries and The Originals
In addition to pulling triple duty on The Vampire Diaries as Elena, Katherine and Amara, Dobrev also popped up on an episode of The Originals as Klaus and Elijah’s ancient crush Tatia.
The Vampire Diaries and The Originals
It was no “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” but true historians remember what a big deal it was for The Vampire Diaries‘ resident hero to guest-star on an episode of The Originals back in 2016.
The Vampire Diaries and The Originals
Given everything Hayley went through on The Originals — from her pregnancy to her marriage to her (gulp!) untimely demise — it’s hard to believe she was originally introduced as a potential love interest for Tyler on The Vampire Diaries.
We thought we’d seen the last of Originals troublemaker Aurora de Martel when Klaus rolled her body up in a carpet and… just kind of forgot about her. But this tenacious baddie proved us wrong by resurfacing on Legacies as a key member of the Triad.
This all-powerful witch went from being the sister that the Mikaelsons didn’t know they had… to the aunt that Hope couldn’t live without. Freya was also the first Mikaelson sibling to appear on Legacies — not that there are many of them left to do so.
The Vampire Diaries and The Originals
Some daddy issues run so deep, they can’t possibly be resolved in one series — hence Mikael popping up in both The Vampire Diaries and The Originals.
The Vampire Diaries and Legacies
It was teased in The Vampire Diaries‘ series finale that Jeremy would have a future with the Salvatore School, a promise that paid off in Legacies‘ first season when he saved Rafael and Landon from a vicious forest beast.
After playing Hope for all of The Originals‘ fourth season (plus a quick cameo in Season 5), Fontana made a most unexpected appearance in the third season of Legacies as part of a Star Wars-inspired drug trip. It’s a long story.
The Vampire Diaries, The Originals and Legacies
It’s an unwritten rule in the TVD-verse that token human Matt Donovan must be protected at all costs, which probably explains how he managed to survive for eight seasons on The Vampire Diaries — not to mention those visits to The Originals and Legacies.
I’d love to see more of Matt and Jeremy on Legacies.
So would I.
Yes they need to re appear
I loved rebekah, elijah, klaus, camille, kol, davina, elena, stefan, damon, haley, freya, jeremy, marcel. I loved all these characters and thought they could have helped hope more in her life. I also thought that some of the characters story lines could have gone in all kinds of different directions and that some could have gotten a happier ending.
the one crossover ill always be upset not getting cause it would have been epic is klaus meeting kai, can you imagine that scene
It would have been catastrophic!
How bout Klaus & Enzi
I love them all, though i enjoyed Klaus most! Please bring Vampire Diaries BACK!!!
So Zack, Matt, Demetrius and now Claire… only 4 true actors who have appeared in all 3 shows, Claire’s upcoming episode making her the first female to do so. Sorry Andy, that V/O for Candice does not count…we all want a real appearance. Or if they/Candice are not going to make that happen after 4 seasons – the show should just kill her off. I mean, she’s their mother and is (supposed to be anyway) considered a good mother in the show and she’s just absent from her daughter’s lives.
Also, interesting with Demetrius – one of only 4 actors to appear on all 3 shows yet was not a series regular on any of them.
I love all the characters in the franchise. Looking forward to tonight’s episode of “Legacies.” I hope all of you are too.
I loved the originals, vampire diaries and legacy. I would like to see the Klaus in Legacy. To help Hope with the dark side.
How about Davina or Marcel
Marcel is on the list. And Davina didn’t actually appear on the televised backdoor pilot (TVD 4×20 “The Originals”).
She only had a scene in the unaired extended episode that was shown on Comic Con.
Omg The Originals was my all time favorite of course I loved vampire diaries….klaus is my heart♥️🖤♥️🖤♥️🖤
Klaus of course
I would love to see Hailey(Phoebe Tonkin) on Legacies. Hope needs her mother. Hope maybe Klaus’s daughter but she needs to hear from her mother to remember who and what she is…HOPE!! That’s why Klaus named her that.
It is always good to see Freya(Riley Voelkel) and it was GREAT to see Rebekah(Claire Holt)!!
Klaus and Elijah, hands down.
Yes indeed!
Bring Niklause and Elijah back on Legacies. Reunite Hope with her parents. Better yet strike up another season of The Originals! The t.v. series had a great run and will have an even better run if they start it back up. New fans have been added to the million of fans that the show already have!
Joseph Morgan would be a great choice.
I would love to see a final episode in Legacies of her dad finding peace maybe by trapping her in the therapy box juiced by Lizzy the new Heratic and that’s how her humanity returns maybe! If Joeseph Morgan could starbin one episode
If characters in backdoor pilots count, then Rayna should eb here too after appearing in the same number of episodes of The Originals as Stefan did and being used t deal with a long term threat in The Strix.
I’d just like to know if there will ever be a series of the life of Damon and Elaine…I think it would be awesome and as you can see on vampire diaries they fit together just perfect … I’d like to see how their life was as humans with children and friends …with vampires and witches still raoming around
When I first saw the original vampires I thought it would be great for them to have the originals show of there on, and it happened 🤗 was a loyal fan I ALWAYS WANTED TO SEE MORE OF KOL.
Klaus and Elijah pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee!!
Ich finde sie alle mörderisch😊die drei serien (vampire dairies,the Originals ,legacies)sind einfach die besten !
Anybody else want Freya to go full time on Legacies working at the Salvatore school? Freya is one of my most favorite TO characters.
I’d love to see Caroline Forbes on the legacies finale episode since she hasn’t showed up yet. I would also love hayley bc she’s hopes mother and I think all the mikaelson reunion would be a good entertainment for us the fans.
Haley,Klaus,Elajah
Where’s damen?
I was really saddened by the loss of all of those elegant trees at the “Salvatores Boarding House” in Legacies.
And the back of the mansion all of the trees gone and the houses behind it.
SAD❗❗😖😱😢❗❗