Cast
Originally, Kring designed the series to have an ever-shifting cast. However, his motivation changed when he realized how popular the original cast was with audiences; therefore, he brought back most of the first season cast for the second season, with a few additions who received star billing. In its first season, the show features an ensemble cast of twelve main characters making it the third largest cast in American primetime television behind Desperate Housewives and Lost. Although NBC's first season cast page listed only ten characters, Leonard Roberts, who first appeared in the series' fifth episode as D. L. Hawkins, was an additional member of the original full-time cast. In episode eleven of the first season, Jack Coleman, who portrays Noah Bennet, was upgraded from a recurring role to become the twelfth full-time cast member.
The first season featured 12 series regulars. Hayden Panettiere portrays high school cheerleader Claire Bennet who can spontaneously regenerate. Jack Coleman plays her father Noah Bennet, an agent for The Company. Santiago Cabrera played the troubled addict Isaac Mendez who can paint the future. Tawny Cypress portrays Simone Deveaux, an art dealer and skeptic. Greg Grunberg plays LAPD police officer Matt Parkman, who can read people's minds. Ali Larter plays Niki Sanders, an internet stripper with a severe dissociative disorder and super strength. Leonard Roberts plays Niki's husband D. L. Hawkins, an ex-convict who can pass through solid matter. Noah Gray-Cabey plays Micah Sanders, Niki and D. L.'s young son who can communicate with and control digital technology. Masi Oka portrays space-time manipulator Hiro Nakamura. Adrian Pasdar plays Nathan Petrelli, a congressional candidate with the ability to fly. Sendhil Ramamurthy plays geneticist Mohinder Suresh. Milo Ventimiglia portrays hospice nurse Peter Petrelli, with the ability to mimic abilities of other posthumans.
During the first two seasons, some characters were written out to make room for new characters with new stories. Simone was the first major character to be written out, dying near the end of season one. DL became a guest star after the events of the first season's finale, making two appearances throughout season two. Isaac Mendez was also written out, dying at the hands of Sylar, which was shown during Hiro Nakamura's time traveling expedition to New York earlier in season one. New characters added during season two include: Maya Herrera, played by Dania Ramirez, a fugitive with the ability to emit a deadly poison; Adam Monroe, a 400-year-old Englishman and legendary warrior Takezo Kensei with the ability to regenerate, portrayed by David Anders; Monica Dawson, portrayed by Dana Davis, a restaurant worker with the ability to mimic physical movements she sees; Elle Bishop, a sadistic sociopath with the ability to generate electricity portrayed by Kristen Bell. Two recurring characters from season one, Sylar, portrayed by Zachary Quinto, and Ando Masahashi, portrayed by James Kyson Lee, were upgraded to main characters in season two.
Starting in season three, recurring character Angela Petrelli, portrayed by Cristine Rose, was promoted to a main character. Elle, Adam and Micah were removed from the main cast. Monica Dawson did not appear after scenes including her were cut. Niki was also written out but actress Ali Larter remained on the show portraying a new character Tracy Strauss, Niki's triplet sister with the power to freeze objects with a touch. For season four, a new character Samuel, portrayed by Robert Knepper, was added. Originally cast as a recurring part, the part was changed to a starring role. Deanne Bray was also added as Emma Coolidge, the deaf woman who had enhanced synesthesia (seeing colors for music) including the ability to create a siren song.
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Famous quotes containing the word cast:
“Cassius is aweary of the world:
Hated by one he loves; braved by his brother;
Checked like a bondman; all his faults observed,
Set in a notebook, learned and conned by rote
To cast into my teeth.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“It was always the work that was the gyroscope in my life. I don’t know who could have lived with me. As an architect you’re absolutely devoured. A woman’s cast in a lot of roles and a man isn’t. I couldn’t be an architect and be a wife and mother.”
—Eleanore Kendall Pettersen (b. 1916)
“Shoals of corpses shall witness, mute, even to generations to come, before the eyes of men that we ought never, being mortal, to cast our sights too high.”
—Aeschylus (525–456 B.C.)