Former Heroes Cast: Where Are They Now?

The first season phenomenon that was Heroes on NBC premiered over a decade ago. A show about regular people with extraordinary abilities pulled in a much larger audience than was once considered possible for a show all about superpowers.

But it was the very nature of the diverse cast and the very normal ways their characters were forced to use, hide, or learn about their new abilities that enticed a wider audience to tune in every week to see, not only if saving a cheerleader could save the world, but if painting the future could actually further an artistic career. Here’s what some of our favorites have been up to since the show ended in 2010.

10 Jack Coleman – Noah Bennett

Though Jack Coleman’s character didn’t earn a real name until long after fans met him (usually referred to as Horn Rimmed Glasses or Claire’s dad) he was an early connection between the heroes and their enemies, as he hunted down superpower people for “The Company”. Since the end of Heroes Coleman also starred in the spinoff series, Heroes Reborn, The Office, Scandal, and voiced a number of Marvel heroes in cartoons. Most recently he’s appeared in How to Get Away With Murder, Hawaii Five-O, and Chicago PD. 

9 Hayden Panettiere – Claire Bennett

One of the most recognizable Heroe’s characters, Hayden Panettiere played Claire or the “cheerleader” who so much of the first season centered around. She was indestructible and, it ended up, related to quite a few of the other heroes fans came to know and love.

Since leaving the show, Panettiere has starred on another mega TV drama hit, Nashville, for six seasons. She did also make an appearance with her former on-screen dad, Jack Coleman, in Heroes Reborn.

8 Milo Ventimiglia – Peter Petrelli

The younger of the Petrelli brothers, Milo Ventimiglia was the heart of both the Petrelli family and the Heroes show. He was one of only two characters who really seemed to enjoy some of his powers, and one of the only characters who actually went searching for his abilities. Since saving the world he’s worked on Gotham, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, as well as The Art of Racing in the Rain. What most fans, new and old, will recognize Venimiglia from these days is his portrayal of Jack Pearson on NBC’s This is Us.

7 Masi Oka – Hiro Nakamura

If anyone had fun with their superpowers it was definitely time manipulating Hiro Nakamura. If Masi Oka was having half as much fun off-screen as he seemed to be having on-screen then Heroes was certainly the job of a lifetime. Since the end of the show, Oka has also been working on a number of other hit television shows including Mozart in the Jungle and Hawaii Five-O. He most recently voiced Kimura in the Will Smith animated film, Spies in Disguise.

6 Sendhil Ramamurthy – Mohinder Suresh

The Heroes narrator and resident scientist, Sendhil Ramamurthy had some of the best lines and monologues in all of Heroes. Many episodes opened and ended to the sound of his voice. Since Heroes went off the air he has appeared on a few episodes of The Office as well as Heroes Reborn.

More recently he’s had recurring roles on New Amsterdam and another superhero hit, CW’s The Flash.

5 Greg Grunberg – Matt Parkman

The telepathic cop Greg Grunberg played on Heroes had no way of predicting his big-screen future back in 2006. Since ending his stint on Heroes Grunberg has gone on to work on a number of high profile projects, including those with long time friend J.J. Abrams. Besides working on television in The Flash, he also took part in Star Trek Reborn. He also played the role of Snap Wexley, skilled X-Wing pilot in both Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

4 James Kyson – Ando Masahashi

As Hiro Nakamura’s best friend and sidekick, James Kyson took some time to find his own superpowers, but that made him all the more loveable as a character and supportive friend. He’s continued to make the round of well-loved television shows appearing on Justified, Adventure Time, NCIS: Los Angeles, Sleepy Hollow, and Elementary. He is next due to appear in Lovecraft Country, set to premiere on HBO this coming year.

3 Adrian Pasdar – Nathan Petrelli

Nathan Petrelli, Adrian Pasdar, the big brother of Peter and the sometimes Sylar suit, was one of the more controversial, but not less interesting characters to appear in the Heroes series. He’s continued to work closely with the superhero world by voicing a number of Marvel heroes on television over the years including Iron Man, and Captain America. He also joined the cast of the Marvel live-action series, Agents of Shield, as Glenn Talbott. In the DC universe, he’s appeared on Supergirl as Morgan Edge. 

2 Zachary Quinto – Sylar

Zachary Quinto’s portrayal of psycho super killer, Sylar on Heroes might have been the defining role of his career had he not been cast as one Dr. Spock in the Star Trek reboot series, originally helmed by J.J. Abrams. The original Spock himself, Leonard Nimoy loved Quinto’s take on the classic character. He also made quite the impression as a cast member of American Horror Story. Coming up next is a film version of the play The Boys in the Band, which Quinto previously starred in on Broadway alongside Jim Parson, Matt Bomer and Andrew Rannells.

1 Ali Larter – Niki Sanders

Ali Larter had quite the job to do playing both Niki Sanders as well as her super-powered alternate personality, Jessica. The working mother struggled more than most with her new found abilities. Post Heroes Larter worked on the Resident Evil series, and starred on the short-lived, but much appreciated, Fox series Pitch, about the first woman to play in major league baseball. She also worked alongside Nathan Fillion on ABC’s police drama, The Rookie. Next up she will star as Susan in The Last Victim, about an anthropologist on the run from a number of a violent gang in the desert of New Mexico.

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