Key Highlights:
- The Vampire Diaries actor Steven R. McQueen has ended a nearly five-year hiatus from Instagram, sharing a gym selfie asking for workout music suggestions.
- McQueen’s social media return follows his rare public appearance alongside fans at the Forever Mystic Falls Fan Meet convention in Paris on Saturday (3 October).
- Celebrity peers, including Twilight star Taylor Lautner, Pretty Little Liars actor Keegan Allen, and former co-star Sara Canning, posted public messages of support in his comments.
Steven R. McQueen Ends Multi-Year Social Media Absence
After stepping back from Hollywood projects and remaining silent on Instagram for nearly five years, actor Steven R. McQueen has officially returned to the platform. The 38-year-old actor, widely known for portraying Jeremy Gilbert on the hit CW supernatural series The Vampire Diaries from 2009 to 2015, surprised fans by sharing a new gym selfie that quickly drew a massive wave of encouragement and support.
McQueen accompanied the image with an interactive message to his followers: Back to the gym. Any music suggestions?
Showing a mature look compared to his early days portraying a teenage Gilbert in Mystic Falls, the actor prompted hundreds of responses ranging from music selections—such as Bon Jovi, Eminem, and The Vampire Diaries soundtrack—to expressions of joy regarding his reappearance online.
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The post quickly attracted the attention of fellow industry peers. Twilight actor Taylor Lautner commented directly on the post, writing: My man! Let’s go! [three love-heart emojis].
Meanwhile, Pretty Little Liars actor Keegan Allen chimed in with an offer to team up, saying: Let’s go dude! If you ever need a workout partner, I got you!
Support also came from within his former television family. Sara Canning, who portrayed Jeremy’s aunt and legal guardian Jenna Sommers on The Vampire Diaries, commented: Hi buddy!
Fans additionally flooded the thread with positive messages, writing statements like We’re happy to have you back,
You got this!!
, and The comeback is greater than the setback, you got this.
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Public Reappearance at the Paris Fan Meet
The gym update comes immediately on the heels of McQueen’s first public appearance in years, which took place at the Forever Mystic Falls Fan Meet in Paris on Saturday (3 October). The convention appearance marked a significant moment for the actor, who had not spent much time in the public eye since playing Cal Breaker in an episode of The Warrant in 2020.
While the convention appearance attracted some online trolling regarding his appearance, the overwhelming response among attendees and online followers was celebratory. Fans shared event clips online, reflecting on how seeing McQueen in person brought back nostalgia from his multi-season run on The Vampire Diaries and his final cameo in the 2017 series finale.
Why This Matters
Steven R. McQueen’s emergence follows a prolonged retreat from the entertainment industry and recent personal loss. After wrapping his recurring role as Jimmy Borrelli on NBC’s Chicago Fire in 2018 and concluding his last credited screen role in 2020, McQueen has led a quiet private life. In 2024, his father, actor and racing driver Chad McQueen, passed away at the age of 63.
Reflecting on their family dynamic decades prior, McQueen told the New York Post back in 2005: My stepdad has been more like a biological dad in my life. I’m pretty close with my biological dad, but I think of him more like an uncle. It’s a good relationship.
His dual return to both the convention circuit and personal social media channels indicates a renewed engagement with his global fan base after years outside the Hollywood spotlight.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Steven R. McQueen’s first public appearance following his hiatus?
Steven R. McQueen made his first public appearance in several years when he attended the Forever Mystic Falls Fan Meet convention in Paris on Saturday (3 October).
What did Steven R. McQueen post on Instagram?
McQueen shared a post-workout gym selfie alongside the caption, Back to the gym. Any music suggestions?
It marked his first activity on the platform after roughly five years of silence.
When was Steven R. McQueen’s last acting role?
Prior to his break from Hollywood, McQueen last appeared on screen portraying the character Cal Breaker in a 2020 episode of The Warrant, having previously starred on The Vampire Diaries and Chicago Fire.
