Jack Coleman remembers Hayden Panettiere after her death aged 36
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Jack Coleman, who played Noah Bennet opposite Hayden Panettiere's Claire Bennet in NBC's "Heroes," has published a heartfelt tribute to his former co-star following her death at the age of 36. Writing on Instagram, Coleman described Panettiere as a "prodigious talent" and "extraordinary young woman," recalling that she greeted him on the pilot's first day 20 years ago by shouting "daddy" and hugging him, after which she called him "daddio" while he nicknamed her "Haydini." His tribute joins those of other "Heroes" cast members, including Greg Grunberg, Dania Ramirez and Masi Oka, who have also paid respects since Panettiere's death was announced.
Coleman, who starred alongside Panettiere throughout the show's four-season run from 2006 to 2010, praised both her technical skill and emotional honesty, recounting how at 16 she corrected him for calling her tears "technique," insisting instead that she genuinely felt each moment. He also directed pointed criticism at the press, saying journalists had "routinely asked obnoxious questions" about when she would "go off the rails," which he called "misogynistic provocations," and described paparazzi hiding in bushes near his home as "predatory." He closed by remembering her warmth and "megawatt smile" on set, expressing sorrow that she had suffered and saying he would miss her.
- Jack Coleman pays tribute to late "Heroes" co-star Hayden Panettiere, 36
- Recalls her calling him "daddio" and being nicknamed "Haydini" on set
- Criticises press for "predatory" paparazzi and "misogynistic" questioning
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Jack Coleman is an actor best known for playing Noah Bennet in the NBC science-fiction drama "Heroes," which ran from 2006 to 2010. In the show, his character was the adoptive father of Claire Bennet, played by Hayden Panettiere, and the two shared much of the series' emotional core. Panettiere, who began acting as a child and became widely known through "Heroes," has died at the age of 36.
Since news of her death broke, several of her former "Heroes" co-stars have shared tributes, with Coleman among those offering personal recollections of their time working together. His comments touch not only on their on-set relationship but also on the wider pressures Panettiere faced as a young actress in the public eye, including scrutiny from journalists and photographers. This background helps explain why his remarks carry particular weight, given the close working relationship the two had over the show's four-season run.
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Originally published by Deadline as “Hayden Panettiere’s ‘Heroes’ Dad Jack Coleman Pays Tribute To “Extraordinary Young Woman””.