Samuel Sullivan

Samuel Sullivan
Portrayed by	Robert Knepper
First appearance	Orientation
In-story stats
Known ability	Terrakinesis
Alias	William Hooper
Gender
Residence	Sullivan Bros. Carnival
Occupation	Carnival worker
Parents	Unnamed father, Unnamed mother
Sibling	Joseph Sullivan
Other relatives	Rebecca Taylor (niece)

Samuel Sullivan is the the head of a carnival ring, working with other evolved humans. He refers to his carnival as his family and has recently decided to come out of hiding after the death of his brother. Samuel has the ability to manipulate earth and other minerals with his mind.

Character History

Orientation

Samuel gives a moving speech about people with abilities, family, and his late brother Joseph. He claims that the people around him are his family and that the world does not understand them. Ending his speech, Samuel throws a compass into Joseph's grave and fills it with dirt. When the other members of his family begin heading back to the carnival, Samuel stays behind momentarily.

Later, Lydia goes to see Samuel. She sits down in front of him and Samuel lifts a long stick. He gently places it onto her back and injects some kind of ink into her flesh. He asks her to show him who "he" is and a picture of Emile Danko appears as a tattoo on Lydia's back. Lydia is able to tell Samuel who he is and Samuel enlists Edgar's help in getting the compass back. Edgar is reluctant to kill anyone so Samuel "persuades" him by injecting some ink into his hand and choking him. Edgar agrees to go and Samuel apologizes, promising that he won't ask again. Shortly after this, Samuel creates another tattoo on Lydia's back, this time of Hiro Nakamura. Lydia tells him what he needs to hear and he goes to see Arnold, en elderly member of Samuel's "family". He then gets Arnold to send him back in time in order to meet Hiro.

Jump, Push, Fall

Fourteen years in the past, Samuel calls out to Hiro, who is trying to time travel back to the present time. He informs Hiro that they are going to be great friends and shows him a tattoo of the compass. Hiro decides to trust Samuel and explains that if he interferes with his younger self, the future could drastically change. Samuel tells him that he should take the risk and pushes him into the path of a slushy.

Later, Samuel has returned to the present and is once again having another session with Lydia. Edgar arrives and hands Samuel the compass, saying that he met someone with abilities but didn't get a chance to talk to them. When Edgar says that Samuel is replacing Arnold, Samuel insists that nobody replaces a family member. He tells Edgar that Hiro is now on the righteous path. He then says that it is time to gather the rest.

Graphic Novel:Stolen Fate

Fourteen years ago at the Sullivan Bros. Carnival, Samuel deals with an incident caused by Edgar and Lydia. Samuel is dissapointed that Lydia would allow Edgar to drag her along, and slaps Edgar when he calls the fortune teller a hag as he worries what Joseph would think if he heard him.

Ink

Samuel is at the carnival with Lydia, preparing to leave. He puts on a suit whilst talking about how he may have found someone to fill Joseph's attention. Lydia asks him if he wants to stay but Samuel insists that he has a responsibility to keep their family going. He absorbs some ink and starts to leave. Lydia asks if he might return to his first home but Samuel assures her that he has left that life behind.

Samuel later shows up at the hospital where Peter works, under the alias of William Hooper. Samuel insists that Peter injured him while trying to save people. Peter doesn't remember Samuel but Samuel suggests that perhaps Peter is spread so thin that he simply forgot. Angry, Peter leaves and says that he didn't forget. Later, Samuel breaks into Peter's apartment and inserts the ink into a newspaper photograph. He hides and Peter comes in, finding the photo and spotting Samuel amongst the victims. Peter later finds Samuel at a park and apologizes for hurting him. Samuel tells him not to worry about it and they talk about families and saving lives. Peter suggests that in order for Samuel to move on from Joseph's death, he should visit his old home.

Samuel goes to an expensive house and knocks on the door. A woman answers and Samuel explains that his parents used to work at the house and that he would like to see their old home. The woman tells him that it is not a good time and closes the door. Angry, Samuel uses his terrakinesis to part the earth and create a massive sinkhole. When Peter and Hesam arrive to help the victims, Samuel creates a tattoo of the compass on Peter's arm.

Webisode:Slow Burn, Part 1

Caleb tells Samuel it is good to have him back, and that Edgar has been spending a lot of time in Lydia's trailer. Samuel thanks him, and says he knows just what to do.

Graphic Novel:Running in Circles

Samuel tells Edgar to kill Danko and get the compass back. Lydia later asks Edgar to do a favor not even Samuel can know about.

Acceptance

Samuel interrupts a discussion between Edgar and Lydia, who were talking about their concerns with the new arrivals to the carnival. Samuel makes it clear that it is his duty and decision to expand the family. He then takes Lydia into his trailer and places some ink onto her back. A tattoo of Noah Bennet appears and Samuel wonders why as he knows he has retired. Lydia points out that he may have changed his mind.

Webisode:Slow Burn, Part 2

Samuel approaches Edgar, who is practicing his knife throwing. Samuel asks him if he has noticed anything wrong with Lydia and Edgar says he hasn't. Samuel suggests that she is either distracted or unsatisfied. He then corrects himself and states that both Edgar and Lydia are free to make their own mistakes. Samuel throws one of Edgar's knives and hits it dead in the centre.

Hysterical Blindness

At breakfast time at the carnival, the carnies prepare for breakfast while Mrs. Comey makes blueberry waffles. Samuel exits a trailer and comments on her waffles. He tells everyone that breakfast is his favorite part of the day and that he thank heaven and earth for his family. He then reflects on the fact that Joseph's seat is still empty but tells them that by the end of the day, his seat will be filled.

During the day, a short distance from the carnival, Samuel buries some seeds in the ground.

Still trying to find the person to join the carnival, Samuel attempts to use Lydia's ability to find them. When nothing appears he throws a cloth away, but it is caught by an invisible person, Rebecca Taylor. Rebecca reveals that Samuel has been using her to get close to Claire and bring her to the carnival. As the two reflect on Rebecca's actions, Lydia interrupts them and tells Samuel that her ability has found the person he is looking for.

Later, Sylar encounters the carnival after escaping from the police. Samuel stands at the entrance to the carnival and gestures Sylar to enter with him. Sylar does so and the police on Sylar's tail cannot see the carnival. Samuel welcomes him home.

Webisode:Slow Burn, Part 3

When Edgar leaves Lydia's trailer, Samuel catches him pocketing some money. He asks him where he got it from and Edgar explains that he has been grifting. Samuel asks him if Lydia knows about it but Edgar says that she doesn't. Lydia steps out of her trailer and asks Samuel if he has a problem. Samuel says that Edgar has broken the family's trust and puts an arm around her, asking what they are going to do with him.

Tabula Rasa

Samuel speaks with Lydia about the rumors speculating that Sylar is the most powerful evolved human in the world. He is disappointed that he doesn't seem to remember his identity and Lydia suggests that there two sides waging a war within Sylar. Samuel goes to Sylar's trailer and wakes him up. Samuel suggests that Sylar has no memories due a massive pain inflicted upon him. He also says that the carnival is here to heal him. Sylar asks Samuel what is wrong with him (referring to his telekinesis). To make him feel at ease, Samuel introduces him to a carnival member named Teddy. Samuel then has Lydia continue the tour. Samuel then goes to see Edgar and informs him of his plans to jump start the return of Sylar.

Samuel soon intervenes and breaks up a fight between Sylar and Edgar and introduces Sylar to another carnival member named Damien. Samuel assures Sylar that in Damien's hands he will remember. Later, Samuel introduces himself to Captain Lubbock and comments on the whereabouts of Sylar. Samuel then goes to Sylar and leads him to believe that he will be doing the right thing if he kills Lubbock. Once the deed is done, Samuel performs a baptism on Sylar with every member of the carnival attending. He then talks with Edgar over his pouting. Edgar wonders what Samuel's plans are and Samuel claims that they will remake Sylar in a whole new way.

Webisode:Slow Burn, Part 4

Samuel approaches Lydia and tells her to show "it" to him. He takes her arm and reveals a tattoo of Amanda, Lydia's daughter. Samuel then has Lydia tell him the story of Amanda and Samuel is eager to know whether she possesses any abilities. He then comments on the fact that Amanda is reaching out to Lydia and that she is ignoring her. He claims that the carnival is a safe place for people like them and promises to protect Amanda if she does have any ability. After being reassured that Amanda is not special, Samuel leaves.

Strange Attractors

Samuel appears to Tracy shortly after she finishes speaking with Jeremy, and takes her to the carnival. There, he explains that it could be Jeremy's real home, where he is surrounded by the warmth of family and without having to hide who he is. He also extends the invitation to Tracy as well, aware of her feelings of being lost. However, she declines the offer for herself and Jeremy. Samuel, in apparent understanding, hands her a compass in case she should ever change her mind, and then has Lydia see her out. Following Jeremy's lynching in Cainan, a furious Samuel returns to the town and enacts revenge on the town's police by bringing it crashing to the ground.

Graphic Novel:Yang & Yang

Amanda asks Caleb about Samuel and wonders if he is also "weird".

Heroes Evolutions

Slow Burn

In chapter 1 of Slow Burn, Samuel and Edgar welcome the Bowman family into the Sullivan Bros. Carnival.

A few months later, Chris Bowman tells his wife that he does not trust Samuel. Gail Bowman also tells Lydia that Samuel asked her if she would do something, and Lydia tells her that it probably means he wants her to recruit others into the carnival, as Samuel has been doing that ever since his brother died, as if trying to fill a void.

In chapter 2 of Slow Burn, a carny tells Jennie Bowman that he doesn't think Samuel would really like her having a cell phone.

In chapter 3 of Slow Burn, Chris and Gail Bowman watch Samuel as he confronts Edward and Lydia about a large sum of money he has just put in his pocket. Edward tells him that he has been doing extra work elsewhere and denies Lydia's involvement in it. Samuel's snitch, Caleb, catches Chris and Gail and tells them that Samuel does not approve of spying. He keeps them with him until Samuel approaches them asking what is going on.

In chapter 4 of Slow Burn, Samuel preaches to Chris and Gail about trust within the "family", but decides that instead of punishing them, he'll send Gail on a mission with Edgar to recruit new members. Later, he steps into the Bowmans' trailer and announces to young Jennie that their family has an important mission to complete: recruit a woman named Tracy.

In chapter 5 of Slow Burn, Samuel asks Gail, Chris and Jennie to help convince Tracy Strauss to join the carnival. Later, Samuel shows Tracy around the carnival and stops at the fire breathing routine. He asks her about her ability and the first time she manifested. She answers coldly but he surprises her by describing the feelings that she went through. The two of them then continue walking.

Evolved Human Abilities

Samuel has the ability to move earth and manipulate minerals with the power of his mind. He has shown that he has a mental influence over the earth, as well as a form of ink.

Notes

• According to the casting call, Samuel the "carnival barker" is 40 to 60 years old. He is a "charming character with an evil sense of humor", like Eddie Izzard or "The Joker without his makeup".

Trivia

• When Samuel brings a lawsuit against Peter he uses the alias "William Hooper" (Ink). Bill Hooper is a prominent member of the Heroes crew.
• Samuel speaks some Japanese.
• In an interview, Tim Kring said about Samuel: "This one charismatic leader of the carnival has now decided that it is time to stop hiding in shadows and to present themselves to the world, and in order to do that he feels in a kind of misguided way that they have to be as strong as they can be."
• Samuel told a woman that his mother was a maid and his father was a butler. (Ink)

See Also

• For other uses of Samuel, see Samuel (disambig).
• For other uses of Sullivan, see Sullivan (disambig).
• For images of Samuel, see images of Samuel Sullivan.

Fan Theories

Please refer to Theory:Samuel Sullivan for fan-created theories and other speculation.