Vampire Diaries' Steven R. McQueen praised after first post in five years boasting different look

After retreating from Hollywood and being quiet on Instagram for nearly five years, Steven R. McQueen has posted again.

And fans are absolutely buzzing to see him back. The actor played Jeremy Gilbert in The Vampire Diaries from 2009 to 2015 with a special appearance in the 2017 series finale.

But since his appearance as Cal Breaker in an episode of The Warrant in 2020, he’s not spent much time in the public eye. So, it has been widely celebrated by fans that McQueen made his first public appearance in years at the Forever Mystic Falls Fan Meet in Paris on Saturday (3 October).

And then on Thursday, the 38-year-old made a return to social media with a selfie that’s been flooded with support, including from the likes of Taylor Lautner.

“Back to the gym. Any music suggestions?” McQueen wrote alongside the selfie, looking completely grown up from the young Jeremy of the CW series.

And the Twilight actor commented to say: “My man! Let’s go! [three love-heart emojis].”

While music recommendations flooded the comments (from ‘Wonderwall’ and Bon Jovi to Eminem and the TheVampire Diaries soundtrack), many users were busy celebrating McQueen’s return.

“We’re happy to have you back,” many agreed, as words of encouragement came through: “You got this!!” and: “The comeback is greater than the setback, you got this.”

Pretty Little Liars actor Keegan Allen wrote: “Let’s go dude! If you ever need a workout partner, I got you!”

And his The Vampire Diaries co-star Sara Canning put: “Hi buddy!”

Others told McQueen they’re ‘so proud’ of him and that they’re ‘forever rooting for’ him.

This gym Instagram post comes after some trolling over his appearance when he attended the fan convention last weekend.

But most fans really were excited to see the actor again, with it said he hasn’t made a public appearance like this in years.

In 2024, his dad, actor and race-driver Chad McQueen, died aged 63.

He said of their relationship to 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.”

McQueen had already been stepping back from Hollywood before this, having starred in Chicago Fire until 2018 before his final role came in an episode of The Warrant back in 2020.

Following an Instagram video of him at the Paris fan event, one user said that ‘seeing him again’ brought back those feelings from the The Vampire Diaries days again, as he was a favourite for many.