Klaus Mikaelson

Klaus Mikaelson
Klaus Mikaelson
The Vampire Diaries Universe character
	Joseph Morgan as Klaus Mikaelson
First appearance	The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle; March 1, 1991;
Last appearance	"Just Don't Be a Stranger, Okay?"; Legacies; August 16, 2022;
Created by	L. J. Smith
Based on	Klaus Mikaelson; by L. J. Smith
Adapted by	Julie Plec; Kevin Williamson;
Portrayed by	Joseph Morgan
In-universe information
Full name	Niklaus Mikaelson
Alias	Klaus; The Hybrid;
Nickname	Nik
Species	Hybrid (vampire–werewolf)
Gender	Male
Occupation	Artist; King of New Orleans (formerly);
Affiliation	Mikaelson family
Family	Ansel (biological father); Esther (mother); Mikael (adoptive father/stepfather); Freya Mikaelson (half-sister); Finn Mikaelson (half-brother); Elijah Mikaelson (half-brother); Kol Mikaelson (half-brother); Rebekah Mikaelson (half-sister); Henrik Mikaelson (half- brother);
Children	Hope Mikaelson (daughter); Marcel Gerard (adoptive son);

Niklaus "Klaus" Mikaelson is a fictional character from the novel The Vampire Diaries and the American television show by the same name, first appearing in The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle (1991) as a big bad, the primary antagonist, and the first known hybrid of an Original vampire and a werewolf. Created by L. J. Smith and adapted by Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson, the character was partly based on Klaus Mikaelson, portrayed by the British actor Joseph Morgan across The Vampire Diaries Universe.

In The Vampire Diaries novel, Klaus initially arrived in Mystic Falls as a powerful villain with the intention of lifting a curse that restricts his hybrid abilities. His arrival sparks conflicts with the Salvatore brothers, Elena Gilbert, and the supernatural community. Despite his violent dispositions, he forms relationships with key characters, including Caroline Forbes, whose bond suggests a softer side beneath his brutality. He later admits to growing quite fond of Caroline, whom he tried to marry. In the television series, Klaus is portrayed as a fearsome and ruthless vampire who is emotionally damaged due to physical abuse by his stepfather, Mikael. Klaus is the father of Hope Mikaelson and adoptive father of Marcel Gerard and, later in the television series, had a brief relationship with Hayley Marshall.

Morgan received positive reviews for his portrayal of Klaus, winning a TV Guide Award, and People's Choice Award, and receiving a Teen Choice Awards, MTV Millennial Awards nomination. His character development continued in The Originals, where Klaus moved to New Orleans and becomes involved in conflicts over family loyalty, political power, and personal redemption. The series follows his relationships with siblings, Elijah and Rebekah, redefining him as a complex antihero.