It took a little help from a friend—Nina Dobrev passed along a phone number, and a decade-long story began. Candice King, best known as Caroline Forbes on The Vampire Diaries, has lived a full life off-screen: marriage, motherhood, divorce, and a career pivot.

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Full name: Candice Rene King (née Accola) ·
Born: May 13, 1987 ·
Known for: Caroline Forbes in The Vampire Diaries ·
Spouse: Joe King (m. 2014, div. 2022) ·
Children: 2 daughters ·
Instagram followers: 12 million

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact reasons for the split beyond “growing apart” (People (divorce report))
  • Whether she is currently dating anyone (People (divorce report))
  • Future acting projects after The Vampire Diaries (People (divorce report))
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Co-parenting two daughters in Nashville (E! News (entertainment outlet))
  • No major acting projects announced (E! News (entertainment outlet))
  • Active on Instagram (12M followers) (E! News (entertainment outlet))

Candice King’s biography reveals a pattern of careful transitions—from actress to wife, then mother, and now single parent navigating life after divorce. The table below collects the key identifiers.

Attribute Detail
Full Name Candice Rene King (née Accola)
Date of Birth May 13, 1987
Place of Birth Houston, Texas, USA
Height 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m)
Spouse Joe King (m. 2014; div. 2022)
Children 2 daughters
Known For Caroline Forbes on The Vampire Diaries

What happened with Candice King and her husband?

Candice King and Joe King marriage timeline

The couple met at the 2012 DirecTV Celebrity Beach Bowl, but it took a mutual friend to get the ball rolling. People (celebrity news outlet) reported that Nina Dobrev gave Joe King Candice’s number because Candice was too shy to do it herself. The pair got engaged in May 2013 and married the following year in New Orleans with a French Quarter theme.

The upshot

One shy moment, one friend’s nudge, and a seven-year marriage was set in motion. The pattern: sometimes the most significant decisions hinge on a small act by someone else.

Divorce announcement and custody

In April 2022, Candice King filed for divorce from Joe King after nearly seven years of marriage. The filing cited irreconcilable differences—a standard legal term, but the couple had already separated in January 2022, with Candice moving to Nashville while Joe stayed in Brentwood, Tennessee, according to E! News (entertainment outlet). They share two daughters, and both parties have remained committed to co-parenting. No formal custody battle was reported in the press.

What to watch

The divorce was settled quietly, with neither side airing grievances publicly. For fans, the lack of drama is the story: two people who reportedly grew apart but prioritized their children through the legal process.

Post-divorce relationship

The ex-spouses have kept a low profile since the split. Candice King continues to use the surname King, and the co-parenting arrangement appears amicable. Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia) notes that she has not reverted to her maiden name. No public statements of conflict have surfaced.

The implication: a divorce processed with minimal public friction suggests both adults made a deliberate choice to protect their daughters from media exposure.

How many kids does Candice King have?

Names and ages of Candice King’s daughters

Candice King has two daughters with Joe King. Their first daughter, Florence, was born in January 2016 (People (parenting coverage)). Their second daughter, Josephine, was born in 2020 (E! News (entertainment outlet)).

Candice King’s motherhood journey

Beyond her biological children, Candice also became stepmother to Joe King’s two older daughters from his previous marriage, Ava and Elise, after their 2014 wedding (Us Weekly (celebrity news)). Her life as a parent has been central to her public identity since leaving The Vampire Diaries.

One pattern across her motherhood narrative: she has largely kept her children out of the spotlight, posting only occasional pool or vacation snaps.

Bottom line: Candice King is a mother of four (two biological, two stepchildren). Her shift from actress to full-time mom has been the most visible professional transition since the show ended.

Why did Candice and Joe split?

Reasons for the divorce

The divorce petition, obtained by People (celebrity news outlet), stated only “irreconcilable differences.” Neither party has given a detailed public explanation. Reports from Us Weekly (celebrity news) suggested the couple had simply grown apart—a common but unsatisfying reason for fans who want more.

Official statements from both parties

No joint statement was released. The only public comments came from Candice’s Instagram activity, where she posted solo photos without Joe as early as early 2022, fueling speculation that the marriage had ended (Yahoo Entertainment (news aggregator)).

The paradox

The absence of a detailed reason leaves room for rumor. Yet the very silence—no cheating allegations, no financial disputes made public—suggests a split driven more by emotional drift than by a singular event.

Is Candice King married to Steven Krueger?

Candice King’s current relationship status

As of early 2025, Candice King is not married to Steven Krueger or anyone else. After her divorce from Joe King was finalized in 2022, she has not announced a new relationship. No engagement or marriage has been reported by any credible outlet.

Steven Krueger and Candice King connection

Steven Krueger is an actor who played Josh Rosza on The Originals, a spin-off of The Vampire Diaries. Candice King also appeared on The Originals as Caroline Forbes. The two are former co-stars, but no romantic relationship has ever been reported. Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia) does not list any partnership beyond Joe King.

The implication: the question likely arises from wishful shipping among fans, not from any real-world development.

Are Candice King and Nina Dobrev still friends?

Candice King and Nina Dobrev friendship history

Candice King and Nina Dobrev met on the set of The Vampire Diaries in 2009, where they played Caroline Forbes and Elena Gilbert, respectively. Their on-screen friendship translated into real life. People (celebrity reunion coverage) reported that the two, along with Kat Graham, reunited for a photo in 2024 with the caption “Still just kids.”

Social media interactions and public appearances

The pair regularly like and comment on each other’s Instagram posts. In 2022, when rumors swirled about Candice’s divorce, Nina posted a supportive message. They have been photographed together at industry events and casual outings, maintaining a bond that predates and outlasts the show.

“Nina Dobrev gave Joe King my number because I was too shy to do it myself.”

— Candice King, via Yahoo Entertainment (news aggregator)

“Still just kids.”

— Nina Dobrev, Instagram caption, via People (reunion coverage)

Why this matters

For a fanbase that grew up with the show, seeing the core cast maintain real friendships adds authenticity to the nostalgia. Nina Dobrev’s role as matchmaker also underscores how tightly woven these lives remain.

Timeline

  • May 13, 1987 – Born Candice Rene Accola in Houston, Texas
  • 2009–2017 – Played Caroline Forbes on The Vampire Diaries
  • 2012 – Met Joe King at Super Bowl event
  • May 2013 – Engaged to Joe King
  • 2014 – Married in New Orleans
  • January 2016 – First daughter Florence born
  • 2020 – Second daughter Josephine born
  • January 2022 – Separated from Joe King
  • April 2022 – Divorce filed (People (divorce report))

Clarity: what we know and what we don’t

Confirmed facts

  • Candice King married Joe King in 2014 and divorced in 2022
  • She has two daughters, Florence and Josephine
  • The divorce cited irreconcilable differences
  • She and Nina Dobrev remain close friends
  • She is not married to Steven Krueger
  • She continues to use the surname King

What’s unclear

  • The exact reasons for the split beyond “growing apart”
  • Whether she is dating anyone currently
  • Her next acting projects
  • Full details of the custody arrangement

For readers following Candice King’s journey, the pattern is clear: she has chosen privacy over publicity in her personal life, leaving the public to rely on legal filings and occasional social media glimpses.

Additional sources

people.com, people.com, reddit.com, reddit.com, tiktok.com, facebook.com, imdb.com, people.com

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Frequently asked questions

Did Candice King cheat on Joe King?

No credible report has alleged cheating. The divorce filing cited irreconcilable differences, and neither party has made any public accusation of infidelity (Us Weekly (celebrity news)).

What is Candice King’s net worth?

Her net worth is estimated at $3 million as of 2025, primarily from her acting career on The Vampire Diaries and The Originals, plus music and brand endorsements.

Is Candice King still acting?

She has not announced any new major acting projects since The Vampire Diaries concluded in 2017. She has focused on motherhood and social media.

What is Candice King’s height?

She is 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m) tall.

Does Candice King have a new husband?

No. She has not remarried or announced a new relationship since her divorce from Joe King in 2022.

What is Candice King’s Instagram handle?

Her handle is @candiceking (verified, 12 million followers).

What movies has Candice King been in besides Vampire Diaries?

She appeared in The Originals (TV series), Deadly Daycare, and The Truth About Twisters. Her filmography is mostly television, with guest roles on Supernatural and How I Met Your Mother.

For a former actress who built her fame on a supernatural teen drama, the real story has become her grounded handling of divorce and motherhood. Candice King chose family privacy over Hollywood exposure.

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