Zach Roerig stars as Matt Donovan, the quintessential all-American athlete and big man on campus, in The Vampire Diaries.

Many viewers will remember Roerig from his recent high-profile appearance on Friday Night Lights. In his recurring guest-star role, Roerig starred as rodeo star Cash, Tyra's (Adrianne Palicki) bad-boy beau.

He landed the role of Casey Hughes on the daytime serial As the World Turns, where he made such an impression on the producers and fans that he was soon offered a long-term contract. His two-year stint on the daytime drama allowed him to continue to hone his craft while enjoying steady work as an actor. During this time he also shot two pilots, The Prince and Split Decision, and made a guest appearance on Law & Order.

Shortly after leaving As the World Turns, Roerig made his feature-film debut in the ensemble comedy The Assassination of a High School President. The film, which stars Bruce Willis, was an official selection at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. This summer, Roerig completed a lead role the independent feature film Strawberry Wine, and he also served as one of the film's executive producers.

Roerig currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia, where The Vampire Diaries is filming.