Michael Trevino Bio
Michael Trevino (born January 25, 1985) is an American actor known for his work in television. He first gained wide recognition for playing Tyler Lockwood on The CW’s The Vampire Diaries, a role he held across multiple seasons of the supernatural drama. He later became a series regular on Roswell, New Mexico, portraying the recurring legacy character Kyle Valenti. Beyond acting, Trevino has begun stepping behind the camera, directing an episode of the series that introduced him to a new generation of viewers.
Born and raised in Southern California, Trevino began his screen career as a teenager with the Disney Channel Original Movie Cow Belles. Over the following years, he built a résumé of guest spots and recurring arcs on network television before landing the role that defined his career. He is of Mexican heritage, with family roots in both California and Mexico, a background that has shaped much of his personal identity.
Early Life and Background
Michael Trevino was born on January 25, 1985, in Los Angeles, California. He was raised in Montebello, California, a working-class community east of downtown Los Angeles, before later relocating with his family to Valencia in the Santa Clarita Valley. The move brought him closer to many of the region’s production hubs where he would later audition for television roles.
Trevino’s mother was originally from Zacatecas, Mexico, and his father was born in Fresno, California, to Mexican immigrants. Growing up in a bicultural household gave Trevino a deep appreciation for both Mexican and American traditions, and he has spoken about how that heritage influenced his sense of identity. As a young person, he gravitated toward performing, taking part in school productions and community activities that fed his interest in storytelling.
While still a teenager, Trevino began pursuing acting opportunities in the Los Angeles area. His early training and exposure to the entertainment industry came through local casting calls rather than a formal conservatory program, and he balanced school with on-set work as his career started to take shape.
Path to Acting
Trevino made his screen debut in the 2006 Disney Channel Original Movie Cow Belles, playing Jackson Meade, a character inspired by real-life entrepreneur Meade Milk. The family-friendly film offered him an early opportunity to appear in a major studio production and introduced him to the discipline of television filming. Although small in scope, the role placed him in front of a sizable young audience and opened the door to further auditions.
Following his Disney debut, Trevino built a foundation through guest appearances on established network dramas, including Cold Case, Without a Trace, Bones, The Mentalist, and Commander in Chief. He also had a recurring role on the FX series The Riches, playing high school student Brent across a four-episode story arc, and a guest spot on Charmed in the eighth-season episode titled Malice in Wonderland. These parts gave him experience working with different casts, directors, and production styles across broadcast and cable television.
In 2007, Trevino was cast as Jaime Vega on the short-lived CBS drama Cane, a short run that nevertheless broadened his résumé. The following year, he landed a three-episode arc on The CW’s 90210, playing Ozzie, a student at West Beverly Hills High School. It was during this period that The CW began casting for a new supernatural series, setting the stage for the role that would change his career.
Michael Trevino Career
Early Career (2005–2008)
Trevino began his professional screen career in the mid-2000s with television guest spots and small film roles. His first notable credit came with Cow Belles in 2006, the Disney Channel Original Movie that introduced him to a wider young audience. The performance led to a string of guest roles on prime-time series and a recurring part on The Riches, where he played the high school student Brent.
He continued to expand his presence on network television, taking a recurring role on Cane and later appearing on 90210. These early projects allowed him to develop his craft across genres ranging from family drama to teen soap, helping him transition into longer-running serialized work.
Breakthrough (2009–2015)
In 2009, Trevino was cast as Tyler Lockwood on The CW’s The Vampire Diaries, a supernatural drama based on the book series by L. J. Smith. Lockwood, a high school athlete whose family carried a werewolf curse, became one of the central figures of the show and a character Trevino portrayed for multiple seasons. The series quickly became a global hit, and Trevino’s performance earned him two Teen Choice Awards along with nominations for ALMA Awards that recognized his contributions as a Latino performer.
Trevino’s role expanded beyond The Vampire Diaries in 2013 when he appeared as Tyler Lockwood in a recurring capacity on the spin-off series The Originals. He became the first major character to transition between the two CW shows, deepening the shared mythology of the franchise. His work on both series cemented his standing as a recognizable television actor during the early 2010s.
In April 2015, it was announced that Trevino would leave The Vampire Diaries at the conclusion of its sixth season, alongside co-star Nina Dobrev. He later returned to the show in its eighth and final season for the series finale, providing closure for fans who had followed his character’s arc over nearly a decade.
Notable Works and Milestones
Trevino’s signature work remains his portrayal of Tyler Lockwood on The Vampire Diaries, a role that earned him industry recognition and a loyal fan base. His crossover to The Originals marked a notable milestone for the franchise and for his own career trajectory. His work on the show was honored with Teen Choice Awards and ALMA Award nominations, reflecting both his on-screen presence and his cultural significance.
Continued Work (2019–Present)
From 2019, Trevino starred as Kyle Valenti in The CW’s Roswell, New Mexico, a reimagining of the 1999 series Roswell. He played Valenti, a doctor and the son of the town sheriff, across four seasons until the series concluded in 2022. The role allowed him to take on a more mature character and to remain a series regular on a major network show.
During his time on Roswell, New Mexico, Trevino also made his directorial debut, directing episode 9 of the show’s fourth season. The move into directing reflected his growing interest in storytelling behind the camera and marked a new chapter in his career beyond acting.
Michael Trevino Award Nominations
Michael Trevino has received multiple nominations throughout his career, particularly during his years on The Vampire Diaries. His work on the series earned him nominations for the ALMA Awards, an annual event that honors Latino contributions in entertainment. He has also been nominated for Teen Choice Awards, reflecting the strong fan following he built through his portrayal of Tyler Lockwood. These nominations underscore both his popularity with audiences and the cultural impact of his roles on television.
Michael Trevino Awards Won
Trevino’s performances have earned him two Teen Choice Awards during his run on The Vampire Diaries. The wins highlighted his connection with viewers and affirmed his place among the breakout stars of the series. While his trophy shelf is modest, the awards reflect sustained recognition from fans over multiple seasons of the show.
Michael Trevino Family
Trevino was raised in a close-knit family with deep roots in both California and Mexico. His mother was originally from Zacatecas, Mexico, and his father was born in Fresno, California, to Mexican immigrants. The family eventually settled in Southern California, where Trevino grew up in Montebello before moving to Valencia. He and his wife welcomed a son in 2026, expanding his family into a new generation.
Personal Life
Trevino announced his engagement to Dutch model Bregje Heinen on December 24, 2023. The couple married on June 20, 2025, in Barcelona, Spain, in a celebration that reflected their shared international background. In 2026, the couple welcomed a son, marking a new chapter in their family life. Beyond his career, Trevino has supported charitable causes alongside his The Vampire Diaries co-stars Candice Accola and Ian Somerhalder, advocating for the It Gets Better Project, an initiative focused on preventing suicide among LGBT youth.