or


[11/08/06 - 11:02 AM]
From "Dynasty" to NBC's "Heroes," Life Never Looked Better Through "Horn Rimmed Glasses" for New Series Regular Jack Coleman
The recently upped series regular details his experiences on the show.

[via press release from NBC]

FROM "DYNASTY" TO NBC'S "HEROES," LIFE NEVER LOOKED BETTER THROUGH "HORN RIMMED GLASSES" FOR NEW SERIES REGULAR JACK COLEMAN

FROM "DYNASTY" TO NBC'S "HEROES," LIFE NEVER LOOKED BETTER THROUGH "HORN RIMMED GLASSES" FOR NEW SERIES REGULAR JACK COLEMAN

Every day, ex-"Dynasty" star Jack Coleman is asked by someone if the mysterious character of "H.R.G." that he plays on NBC's "Heroes" � this year's top-rated new series � is essentially a good guy or a bad guy. Coleman always answers with authority:

"Yes."

That ambiguous reply also reflects Coleman's (now a new series regular) duplicitous alter ego who has many veteran television viewers wondering if "H.R.G." (or "Horn Rimmed Glasses") is played by the same actor Coleman who stopped hearts in the 1980s as Steven Carrington on the red-hot "Dynasty," which once soared to become the top-rated series.

"Even when I got the pilot script, 'Heroes' already had a tremendous buzz behind it in the industry," said Coleman. "There was all kinds of potential for espionage and intrigue. And as soon as I saw myself put on the giant horn-rimmed glasses, it was very scary � I looked like my dad, circa 1968.

"I see my character as someone who could be either good or bad, but definitely creepy. That's the operative word. He's a guy caught out of time, like a refugee from the Cold War in the 1950s. H.R.G.'s default position is to plot � he doesn't know any other way."

Coleman, who is also a writer, admires how creator-executive producer Tim Kring and the creative staff have crafted the character and the direction of "Heroes" so that the audience is always left guessing -- and craving more clues about the characters.

"They've made H.R.G. even scarier since he loves his daughter (cheerleader Claire, played by Hayden Panettiere) and his family, and thinks he's doing everything for the greater good," he said. "Every time he goes too far in one direction, they bring him back to the other direction. They've woven a rich tapestry and the show creates insatiable hunger for answers that form the journey."

"It seems H.R.G. is the only one to have tentacles into so many other characters, but he might be biting off more than he can chew. And the ultimate question is � who does he take orders from?"

As for himself, Coleman doesn't bother the creative staff to gain insight into what might happen in long-range storylines.

"I feel it's only on a 'need-to-know' basis, just like on 'Dynasty,'" said Coleman, who starred on the primetime soap from 1982-88. "It's not mine to know. Things can change due to so many factors. Even my agent says, 'Don't tell me. I want to find out for myself.'"

Nevertheless, Coleman occasionally logs on to one of the many raging chat rooms dedicated to the series and observes what viewers have to share about recent episodes. "I just saw a lot of reaction to the 'Save the Cheerleader' revelation. That got a lot of people wondering what that meant."

Coleman (who describes himself as "blind as a bat," and hence, wears contact lenses), was a young, inexperienced actor from Easton, Pennsylvania who was thrust into stardom virtually overnight when cast as Carrington on "Dynasty" (which, like "Heroes," began its run on Mondays, 9-10 p.m.). "Being in that show was a wild, wild time � like being one of the Beatles in 'A Hard Day's Night,'" he recalls. "There were fewer choices for TV audiences and we had triple the viewers that shows today have.

"I remember that the cast once came to Bloomingdale's in New York for a personal appearance and they had such a riot that they had to shut down the store. We were mobbed in Italy. It was a different world at that time."

Since then, Coleman counts himself grateful for the experience and has worked hard to learn every aspect of his craft. "After a hit show is over, you soon realize this is a very tough business � brutally tough. But I'm a better actor and I have more gravitas than I had at 24 with bleached-blonde hair."

Coleman's resume has included stints on Broadway and guest-starring roles on "Entourage," "Nip/Tuck" and "Without a Trace." In two of his favorite roles, he won a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for his performance in "Bouncers" and earned another nomination for his work as Tom Griffin in the play "Stand-up Tragedy" at the Mark Taper Forum. He also wrote, produced and acted in the film short "Studio City," a black comedy centered on the entertainment industry. He also hopes to produce his current screenplay, "Can't Help Falling," a comedic-drama about a family's love triangle.

For trivia buffs, his sixth-generation grandfather is the legendary American inventor-patriot, Benjamin Franklin ("It wasn't until I was 10 that I even knew we were related to him!"). Coleman and his wife, Beth, have a 7-year-old daughter, Tess, who appeared in the Wes Craven film "Red-Eye."

For the time being, he will continue to keep those giant horn-rimmed glasses polished enough to perplex diehard "Heroes" fans � and keep America wondering if good or evil is at work when he is on screen.

Then again, perhaps Coleman might offer a clue.

"There's so much clarity in the way H.R.G. operates with deliberation in such an ambiguous part," he says. "Because if you've got a show called 'Heroes' � aren't you going to need some kind of antagonist?"





  [november 2006]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· ENTOURAGE (HBO)
· HEROES (NBC)
· NIP/TUCK (FX)
· WITHOUT A TRACE (CBS)





[03/13/25 - 08:01 AM]
TNT Sports to Premiere "Dance of Destiny: A Guide to Winning the Men's Basketball Tournament", Tuesday, March 18 at 5 p.m. ET on truTV
The hour-long documentary will delve into the thrilling and unpredictable men's college basketball tournament and how some of the best head coaches across the country are able to navigate the chaos of the survive-and-advance event, while inspiring their players through it all.

[03/13/25 - 08:00 AM]
A24's "Babygirl" Begins Streaming Exclusively on Max April 25
A high-powered CEO puts her career and family on the line when she begins a torrid affair with her much younger intern.

[03/13/25 - 08:00 AM]
Showtime Original Series "Dexter: Resurrection" Adds Guest Star David Dastmalchian
Dastmalchian will guest star in the role of Gareth.

[03/13/25 - 07:02 AM]
Video: "The Gardener" - Release Date Announced - Netflix
Elmer's mother used his lack of feelings to turn him into a hitman. But when he falls for his next victim, their cover as calm local gardeners wavers.

[03/13/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "North of North" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Determined to forge her own path in her small Arctic town, Siaja, a newly single young mom, takes bold risks in her career and love life.

[03/13/25 - 07:01 AM]
The CW Network to Broadcast 4th Annual Men's HBCU All-Star Basketball Game
The elite college basketball showcase, featuring the nation's most dynamic and talented men's basketball players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), will air live on Sunday, April 6 (1:00-3:00pm ET) from the historic Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas.

[03/13/25 - 07:00 AM]
Video: "Earnhardt" - Sacrifice Teaser - Prime Video
The new original series premieres this Memorial Day Weekend.

[03/13/25 - 06:31 AM]
Video: "Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing" - Official Trailer - Netflix
In this eye-opening documentary exposé, teens and parents reveal disturbing accounts of abuse and exploitation within the world of child influencers.

[03/13/25 - 06:05 AM]
Apple TV+ Unveils First Look of Emmy Award-Winning Original Series "Jane"
From Emmy Award winner J.J. Johnson, Sinking Ship Entertainment and the Jane Goodall Institute, the five-episode, third installment of "Jane" premieres globally on Friday, April 18 on Apple TV+.

[03/13/25 - 05:00 AM]
Nikki Glaser Returns to Host the "83rd Annual Golden Globes"
"Hosting the Golden Globes this year was without a doubt the most fun I have ever had in my career," said Glaser. "I can't wait to do it again, and this time in front of the team from 'The White Lotus' who will finally recognize my talent and cast me in season four as a Scandinavian Pilates instructor with a shadowy past."

[03/13/25 - 01:01 AM]
Video: "Go!" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A young runner is given a second chance at life when he is offered a track scholarship, but can he chase his dreams without tripping on his lies?

[03/12/25 - 12:02 PM]
Video: BET+ Original - "The Gen Zone" - Streaming March 13
Jhone Lucas takes the "Gen Zone" team around the country documenting the race to the White House providing a Gen Z perspective on the Presidential campaigns of Kamala Harris/Tim Walz and Donald Trump/JD Vance.

[03/12/25 - 11:29 AM]
Food Network's Hit Series "24 in 24: Last Chef Standing" Is Back for Season Two on Sunday, April 27th at 8pm ET/PT
Shot in real time, the hosts have gathered a group of 24 talented and fearless chefs for 24 challenges over the course of 24 straight hours.

[03/12/25 - 11:01 AM]
Welcome to Yates: Prime Video Releases First-Look Images and Premiere Date for Benito Skinner's Comedy Series "Overcompensating"
The comedy series, produced by A24 and Amazon MGM Studios, will premiere all eight episodes on May 15 on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

[03/12/25 - 10:06 AM]
"The Last of Us" Season 2 Trailer Shatters Records, Becoming HBO and Max's Most-Watched Original Trailer with 158 Million Views
The trailer outperformed previous "The Last of Us" trailers and teasers by a margin of at least 160%.