By Christina Radish
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Jack Coleman at the GM Ten fashion bash held at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, Calif. on February 20, 2007. |
Known only as the mysterious H.R.G., or Horn Rimmed Glasses, on the NBC hit television series Heroes, Jack Coleman’s character is not only father to Claire -- a cheerleader with the ability to regenerate -- but he also has a vested interest in people with special abilities. Previously most recognized for his work on Dynasty, Coleman has performed on and off Broadway, in film and on television, including appearances on such shows as Entourage, Nip/Tuck and CSI Miami, prior to landing his latest role. Having recently been promoted to series regular, Coleman says that he truly enjoys the ambiguity of H.R.G., and loves how the audience is always kept guessing about his true motives.
On a break from filming, Coleman spoke with MediaBlvd Magazine about finding the perfect pair of glasses for his character and how he always felt he was involved with something special with Heroes, even in the beginning.
MediaBlvd Magazine> How did you come to this role and what were your first impressions of the show? Did you see it becoming as big as it has?
Jack Coleman> I first became aware of the show through a friend of mine, who’s a writer on another series. He said, “There’s this wonderful pilot called Heroes. It's my favorite script of the season.” And then, I realized that it was being produced by Dennis Hammer, who I know. Dave Semel, who directed the pilot, was also somebody who I know. I did not know Tim Kring, the creator, before this. So, I went in knowing that the part was a very small part. It was basically a one-page audition. But then, when I saw that he is Claire’s father, I said to myself, “This definitely has potential to carry on.” Having said that, I had no idea that the role would become what it did, and I had no idea the show would become the juggernaut that it has become. I did know that there was a tremendous buzz, within the industry, about this show. It was always seen as something that was potentially going to break out.
MediaBlvd> Was there a hunt in the props department for the perfect pair of glasses for your character?
Jack> We probably went through about 100 pairs. The props people, Dave Semel (director), Dennis Hammer (executive producer) and Tim Kring (executive producer/creator) all put in their opinion on it. And, there’s a back-up pair. Occasionally, I’ve had to wear the backup pair, and it feels completely different, off and uncomfortable. As soon as I put the glasses on, it's the character. Beyond that, it was just nice to find the pair that really felt and looked right. It’s amazing how much something like that becomes the character for you, to a certain extent.
MediaBlvd> As someone who’s done a lot of very high profile roles on the stage and on TV, does it bother you at all that so much attention is being given to your glasses?
Jack> I don't think it's odd because I think the glasses were a very big part of how the character was originally conceived. The glasses are a huge part of the look and who he is. It’s a curtain between him and other people that is a bit of a disguise and a bit of a wall. I think it makes perfect sense to discuss the glasses. The glasses are certainly a huge part.
MediaBlvd> Were you told what your character’s first name is, or have you given him a first name?
Jack> There was a first name in a draft, which was then removed, partly because it just kind of stopped the scene because it was delivered cold. They’re happy, at least for now, going without a first name. My personal preference has always been Anthony because then I could be Tony Bennett, but I don't think that's going to go anywhere.
MediaBlvd> When did you know that you would become a regular character, and do you know what prompted that?
Jack> It's one of those things that sort of gradually built. I don’t think there was ever a knowledge or intention that it was going to happen. Episode 11 was my first episode as a series regular, but I started to get the idea that maybe it was going to happen, a few episodes beforehand. This character serves so many different stories, and can be a catalyst for people who are struggling to get ahold of their abilities. You need an antagonist. You need somebody who’s driving them into a crisis. And then, I think they liked the chemistry with Hayden and me. That had a really nice emotional resonance, which added to the creepiness of what H.R.G. was doing during his day job. It just made sense to keep him around a little while.
MediaBlvd> Do you enjoy playing the ambiguity of your character?
Jack> I love the ambiguity. I know that people are perplexed because the question I’m asked all the time is, “Are you a good guy or a bad guy?” People want to know. They want to be able to pigeon hole you. They want to be able to figure out exactly who and what you are. But, I think the fact that he is both good and bad is what makes him so fascinating. You realize that people can do horrible things, and still come home and love their children. It's a perfectly human way to behave in the world because I think most of us are living in areas of gray, in some part or another of our lives. It’s what makes the character interesting and fun to play.
MediaBlvd> Do you know what his true motives are?
Jack> I think he sees himself as working for the greater good and taking on a job which is dirty, but has to be done, in much the same way that people can justify doing all kinds of things in their personal and professional lives. He’s been able to separate the personal and the professional for a long time, but that is about to end.
MediaBlvd> Have you developed any of your own theories about the show?
Jack> You can come up with all kinds of things, but you’ll be wrong, which is what is so great. I learned a long time ago that, in serial television, you’ve got to play what’s in front of you. In general, I don't spend too much time worrying about what’s coming, five episodes down the road. One of the things that is so amazing about the show is how much happens in every episode, how action packed it is and how much story there is. The writers say they stuff 50 pounds of story into a 10-pound sack, and they really do that. From here until the end of the season, it's just going to be chock full of story, and it will be paying things off.
MediaBlvd> Do you prefer playing H.R.G. as the bad guy, or is it more interesting to play him as the good father?
Jack> If you’re just walking around, twirling your mustache and cackling like a villain, it's just not that interesting and people get tired of it. It really is the dichotomy of this guy who, on one hand, is doing things that are just so amoral, and then on the other hand, comes home and dotes on his daughter. As twisted as he may be, his feelings for his daughter are genuine, as they are for his entire family. I think it's the combination that makes it interesting.
MediaBlvd> How much of your character is your own personality fitting into the role as a father?
Jack> Certainly, you bring your own experience to the table. Generally, on television, parents tend to be a lot more patient and a lot more interested in their darling child than in real life. So, there’s an idealization of my parenting skills. I’m not bagging and tagging people, doing horrible things where I’m putting chips in them, and following them around and performing experiments, so that part of the parenting thing is quite different from my own experience. But, you do bring your own experience and parenting to it. I have a daughter that I doted on, like with Claire.
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Jack Coleman with his wife Beth Toussaint at the GM Ten fashion bash held at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, Calif. on February 20, 2007. |
MediaBlvd> Because your character remains so enigmatic, is it rough trying to decide how to play the part, or have the writers given you enough information about the general direction they’re going in to give you something to work with?
Jack> One of the writer-producers is usually on set, and they tend to have knowledge of things that I may not have knowledge of. They’re good at filling in the blanks where they need to be because there are some scenes where I am just at a loss. I have a very specific attitude toward the motivation for every individual scene, and I just try to play what I think is going on at that moment without worrying about how it will fit into the greater picture. On serial television, the greater picture is ever-shifting, as is the show.
MediaBlvd> Do you think the show would be just as popular, if it were just black and white, and there weren’t all the shades of gray?
Jack> It's very well might be, but it wouldn’t be as interesting a show, that's for sure. What makes the show interesting are the shades of gray, and the fact that, although we’re talking about super abilities, no one’s in costumes. People have to deal with the fact that it does make them a freak and it does make them hunted, if you think about how people might actually respond to these kinds of things. There could be widespread panic. So, I just like the fact that there’s a price to pay, and that you really have to come to terms with your ability. If you look at the difference between Peter and Nathan Petrelli, Peter has embraced, or is desperately trying to embrace, all of his abilities, and Nathan is trying desperately to deny his ability because it's a total liability to what he does for a living. I think that the realistic human consequences are what makes the show interesting, and I think it's what makes it appeal to people. I think that the old days of the straightforward superhero are probably behind us, for better or worse.
MediaBlvd> How is H.R.G. going to approach Sylar now?
Jack> The antipathy toward Sylar is put on the back-burner for a little while because other things come up and supercede it. Sylar’s out on his own, away from the prying eyes of H.R.G. for a little while. H.R.G. has other things on his plate, which are demanding his full attention. So, I’m not exactly sure what H.R.G.’s approach to Sylar is going to be, toward the end of the season. There’s no question that he would very much like to get his hands on Sylar. That is something that I think will keep H.R.G. moving forward.
MediaBlvd> Do you see a point in time where Claire and H.R.G. will become enemies? Is that somewhere where you think your character can go?
Jack> As any allegiance on the show is subject to change, it certainly can happen. The relationship between H.R.G. and Claire has certainly been very strained lately. I suspect that the relationship between Claire and H.R.G. is one of the core values of this show, as twisted as the relationship is. They’ve said so many lies to each other, but ultimately, I think they really do love each other and there’s a tremendous bond there. I can’t imagine that they’re going to be at each other’s throats and trying to kill each other. It’s much more of a domestic issue than a superhero issue.
MediaBlvd> Does it bother you that you are one of the few members of the cast that doesn’t have a superpower? Do you feel like you’re missing out on the fun?
Jack> My experience with prosthetics is that they are a lot more fun than to watch than to do. It’s also kind of fun to be the guy that has to rely on knowledge and anticipation to stay alive in this world. Up to this point, he’s been pretty on top of things, and now it's starting to unravel. I never thought, “I wish I could read people’s thoughts, or fly, or start fires, or whatever.” I just think of this guy as someone who really has to rely on his knowledge and understanding of the situation to survive. That is every bit as much fun for me to play as getting burned to a crisp and healing. Frankly, that’s a lot of prosthetics, which is not all that much fun.
MediaBlvd> Heroes has a big Internet presence. Do you follow a lot of that, or do you shy away from that community?
Jack> I follow it, to an extent. I’m not somebody who’s deep into the entire online culture of these shows, but I do follow it a little bit. It is pretty fascinating to hear the theories and to see all the different ideas people have about what’s happening. Some of the ideas are incredibly inventive and some of them are fairly accurate, and then, some are just way off. But, you can be very wrong today and then proven right six months from now because it's a very fast-moving show.
MediaBlvd> What has been the most challenging scene you’ve had to do so far?
Jack> I just did an entire scene in Japanese, and that was challenging. It took quite a bit of time for me to memorize and get comfortable enough that I could do it. There are some scenes that are just physically strenuous, but I don’t think there was one that caused me quite as much angst as when I got he script and I saw that I was doing a page and a half in Japanese. That got my attention very quickly.
MediaBlvd> What has been the biggest physical challenge for you?
Jack> I will say, without any trace of embarrassment, that my interest in doing stunts is limited. I’m an athlete and I like doing things that are handy, but I’m not interested in high falls and being set on fire. It’s fun to do that stuff, but I have no interest in being a stuntman. People who say they do all their own stunts are either lying or putting the production in jeopardy. And, I’d be taking work away from stunt people, which I also don’t like to do. I would say that, overall, the most dangerous thing I’ve done is just being on fire. Fights are generally much more controlled. Every once in a while, a punch will slip, and that’s bad.
MediaBlvd> Growing up, did you always want to be an actor, or did you have other professions in mind?
Jack> I wouldn’t say that I always wanted to be an actor. Look at Hayden Panettiere, who has been doing this since she was 2. There’s just never been any doubt in her mind. She just pursued it at a very early age. I grew up on the East Coast and I wasn’t surrounded by Hollywood, but I was always into theater and acting, and I did it all through school. And then, when I went to college, I went to Duke and, at the time, there was a very small program there. Now, it’s actually quite big. Through my freshman year, I decided to do some theater and realized that this was really what I wanted to do. That’s when I made the decision. But, it was not something that I knew from early childhood. I was a jock and I loved playing sports, but I don’t think that I ever thought I was going to make it as a professional. I’m the youngest of seven and all the other professions were taken by the time I came of age, so I chose to look for something else.
MediaBlvd> What still makes acting rewarding for you, after all this time?
Jack> What’s happening right now is incredibly rewarding. Woody Allen said that half of it is just showing up, but I’ll tell you that it also really is just refusing to go away. You have to believe in yourself, you have to believe that you’re good, and you just have to refuse to go away. Eventually, they just might hire you out of exhaustion. This is the second really big hit that I’ve been on, on television. I have 20 years of work on television and most of it is forgettable. You just have to stay alive and pay the bills, and keep your insurance. Something like Heroes is like lightning in a bottle. It's very hard to come by, so I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity.
MediaBlvd> Which character that you’ve played is the one that you’re the most proud of? And, which role do you get recognized for most often?
Jack> I get recognized much more from Heroes, at this point. Anyone who recognizes me from Dynasty is, dare I say, of a certain age because Dynasty has been off the air for quite awhile. Whereas, Heroes is so big with teenagers and 20-year-olds. It’s a whole new audience for me, which is fantastic. I have to say that H.R.G. is much more interesting and fun to play than Steven Carrington was. Don’t get me wrong, Dynasty was a great opportunity. I loved doing that. But, this is a much juicier role. As you know, the devil gets all the best lines, and it's a lot of fun to play. It’s definitely one that I’m proud of.
MediaBlvd> Have you been working on anything, in terms of extras, for the Season 1 DVD?
Jack> We’ve been doing all sorts of behind the scenes stuff. It will be fascinating to see what they use, when the DVD set is put together. We’ve done a lot of interviews, and there are probably some scenes that didn’t make it. There will be an exploration of the first season
MediaBlvd> Since the show will be getting a second season, what might we expect for any cliffhangers involving your character and where you see your character going into Season 2?
Jack> I have absolutely no idea about what’s going to happen next season. I do think that there are some relatively profound changes heading toward H.R.G., but I don’t know that they’re going to continue into the next season. I think the mission will definitely change, but I the question is for how long and at what cost. It's certainly not going to be the same kind of bagging and tagging that we’ve seen H.R.G. I think that it's going to be a very different kind of mission that he’s on.
