Alaric J. "Ric" Saltzman was a vampire hunter, Enhanced Original Vampire and a history teacher at Mystic Falls High School. His vampire-hating personality serves as a major antagonist in Season 3, having been manipulated by Esther Mikaelson. He originally came to Mystic Falls to find that Damon Salvatore killed his wife Isobel Flemming, but learned that she voluntarily became a vampire and left him. He also learned that Isobel had a child when she was in her teens, a daughter named Elena Gilbert, his student. Alaric began a relationship with her adoptive aunt Jenna Sommers. Ironically, he was technically Elena's step-father due to his marriage to Isobel. Following Jenna's tragic death, he seemed to step into his step-father role to Elena and a father figure to her brother Jeremy. He was also Damon's best friend. He was played by Matthew Davis.
He becomes an Enhanced Original Vampire. at the End of the Season 3 Finale, he dies by Elena Gilbert and he appears as a ghost. He later appears as a supporting protagonist in subsequent seasons, eventually returning to life in Season 5.