Arthur Petrelli

Arthur Petrelli
Portrayed by	Robert Forster
First appearance	War Buddies, Part 2
In-story stats
Known abilities	Power absorption Absorbed abilities demonstrated: Telepathy, Rapid cell regeneration, Electric manipulation, Telekinesis, Poison emission, Mental manipulation, Space-time manipulation, Precognition
Alias	Dallas
Gender
Date of marriage	1964
Date of death	Post-March 2007
Occupations	Founding member of the Company, former leader of Pinehearst Company, former Linderman Group criminal defense attorney, former Law firm head, former U.S. Army Sergeant (served as a squad leader)
Significant other	formerly Angela Petrelli
Parent	Mrs. Petrelli
Children	Nathan Petrelli (deceased), Peter Petrelli
Grandchildren	Claire Bennet, Simon Petrelli, Monty Petrelli
Sibling	Tim Petrelli
Other relatives	Sister-in-law: Alice Shaw

Arthur Petrelli was the husband of Angela, the father of Nathan, Peter, and was a founding member of the Company. He was an evolved human with the ability to steal other evolved humans' abilities through physical contact.

About

After having served in the Vietnam War alongside Daniel Linderman, Arthur (and his wife) helped found the Company. He worked with the others in the group to perform acts they believed would help the world. Arthur continued his relationship with Linderman, as he was the criminal defense attorney for the Linderman Group. Arthur was reported to have committed suicide in April 2006 after a long battle with depression although in truth his wife Angela poisoned him. He survived, albiet completly paralyzed and faked his own death. However, about a year later, Arthur made his existence public and began assembling a team of evolved human "villains" to carry out his plans. He was finally killed by Peter and Sylar with the help of the Haitian.

Character History

Genesis

Angela Petrelli is acting strangely after Mr. Petrelli's death.

Don't Look Back

As Peter Petrelli recovers in his hospital bed, his mother comes to visit. After asking about Peter's rooftop episode, Angela reveals that Mr. Petrelli was diagnosed with clinical depression at age 23. He eventually committed suicide, but not before two failed attempts to kill himself. Both attempts were covered up as heart attacks. Angela fears Peter's delusions of grandeur are signs that he is developing the same problem his father had.

Collision

Peter jokes to Mohinder that they're both just cheap knockoffs of their fathers.

Six Months Ago

Mr. Petrelli does not come to Peter's apartment celebrating his graduation from nursing school. Angela tells Peter that Mr. Petrelli is very proud of him, but couldn't attend the party because he has a meeting with Mr. Linderman in Atlantic City. Later at the celebration, Nathan Petrelli informs Peter that the District Attorney wants him to prosecute Mr. Linderman. Peter points out that their father often defends Mr. Linderman in court. Going after Mr. Linderman will implicate their father, since he had knowledge of Linderman's crimes. Nathan explains that this is an opportunity to "take the stink off the family."

A while later, Nathan informs Peter that there's not going to be a deposition because their father is dead. Nathan claims that he died of a heart attack. He tells Peter to take comfort in the fact that their father didn't know what they were about to do to him.

Distractions

Claude says he would bet twenty bucks that Peter's dad didn't make much of him.

Graphic Novel:War Buddies, Part 2

In 1968, "Dallas" goes on seven-day mission to recover a downed A4 Skyhawk. He travels on a boat heading toward a Vietnamese base. To pass the time, Dallas plays winning hands of poker much to the chagrin of the other soldiers. When Loredo takes Austin's book, Dallas unsuccessfully tries to befriend Austin by sharing a letter from home. During an unexpected shoot-out, Dallas gets mortally wounded in the abdomen. Austin uses his powers to completely heal Dallas's wound, which both astonishes and scares "the living hell" out of Dallas.

Graphic Novel:War Buddies, Part 3

Austin and Dallas continue their mission to find a downed Skyhawk. Dallas interrogates a Vietnamese soldier about the Skyhawk's location by beating him up brutally. He commands Austin to use his powers to heal the soldier. Dallas continues beating the native for four hours until he gives up the aircraft's location--it's right outside a peaceful village called Au Co. Dallas plans to destroy the village and its inhabitants, despite Austin's protests.

Graphic Novel:War Buddies, Part 4

Austin and Dallas prepare for the invasion of Au Co. When Austin questions attacking civilians, they both witness a girl seemingly raise massive vegetables from the soil. When Austin questions killing the girl, Dallas snaps into a rant on how the mission can end the war and orders Austin to get the explosives ready. After the explosives detonate, Dallas and Austin proceed to take out targets. Dallas, however, hears a woman scream "Au Co" towards the girl with a special ability, coming to the realization that the girl, not the village, is the target. Right before he takes aim, Austin tackles him to the ground.

Graphic Novel:War Buddies, Part 5

Austin's effort to keep Dallas from shooting Au Co fails, and Dallas restrains Austin until she dies. Back at their military base, they both receive medals for their actions on the mission, but Austin refuses to corroborate Dallas's description of how Austin healed his wounds. Dallas's career suffers because of his unsubstantiated claims. Later, in New York City, "Dallas" receives a visit from his former army buddy, "Austin". They go to Central Park, where Austin says he finally understands the sacrifices Dallas had to make for the greater good, and he believes they can do great things together. For the first time, Dallas shares his real name with his old war buddy: Petrelli.

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Angela says she and her husband always knew of Claire's existence and made arrangements for her.

Landslide

Mr. Linderman says to Nathan that his father would be proud of him. He says that his father was "someone with great power", someone who wanted to make a difference. However, in the end, he gave up because he was weak. Nathan replies that his father was his hero.

Four Months Later...

When Nathan comes home drunk, his mother remarks to him that she's glad his father isn't there to see him now.

Kaito reveals that Mr. Petrelli was part of an elite group of twelve individuals.

The Kindness of Strangers

Nathan identifies his father amongst others in the photo of the group of twelve.

Graphic Novel:Elle's First Assignment, Part 1

Bob tells Elle that Claire's blood could make her a major player in the Company, comparing her to Arthur Petrelli.

Graphic Novel:War Buddies, Part 7

Arthur's name and location are in Linda Tavara's notepad, which Linderman currently possesses.

I Am Become Death

Angela informs Hiro Nakamura and Ando Masahashi that everyone is being manipulated by someone very powerful, and that they must stop it.

Angels and Monsters

Angela reveals that she and Arthur genetically enhanced their son, Nathan, as a baby, to give him an ability after Nathan was born an ordinary person, something which disappointed Arthur.

Angela has a dream, where she sees Nathan, Tracy Strauss, and Peter dead. Arthur appears to her in this dream, telling her that he can't have her dreaming the future like this. Angela vows to stop Arthur's plans, but in turn he tells her she won't be able to move. Angela wakes up from this dream in a coma, indeed unable to move.

Maury Parkman, another Company founder with the ability of telepathy, talks with a bedridden Arthur at Pinehearst. Though Arthur does not speak, Maury hears his questions using telepathy and answers, reporting that Adam Monroe will be delivered to them soon and that his illusions of Daniel Linderman are causing Nathan to believe he is carrying out God's plan.

Dying of the Light

While lying in bed hooked to a respirator, Arthur has Adam Monroe brought to him. Adam, greatly surprised that Arthur is still alive, is told by him something that visibly frightens Adam. Adam attempts to escape, but Knox holds him back. After Adam pleads for his life, Knox forces Arthur's hand on Adam's, causing Adam to age rapidly and turn to dust. Mr. Petrelli then pulls the respirator from his throat, heals instantly, and proclaims that "It's good to breathe again."

Later, Arthur welcomes Maury, Knox, Daphne, and Flint to Pinehearst. Peter interrupts the meeting and is understandably shocked to see his father. Arthur asks Peter to give him a hug, to which he reluctantly agrees. Suddenly, Peter cries out as a white light is pulled into Arthur from Peter. Peter falls to the floor and attempts to use an ability, but nothing happens. Arthur then demonstrates a spark of electricity at his fingertips, claiming that he has Peter's powers now.

Eris Quod Sum

Peter has a dream, recalling the day that he learned that his father was dead, and some of his mother's words at Arthur's funeral. He then recalls his most recent memories of Arthur stealing all of his powers. Suddenly, Peter wakes up, and finds that he is handcuffed to a gurney and unable to escape. Arthur is sitting nearby reading Nietzsche. Arthur tells Peter that his body is still in shock from when he absorbed his abilities. Peter swears that he will stop Arthur. Arthur then tells Peter that he is grounded.

Daphne checks in with Arthur, who wants to know why she hasn’t recruited Matt to Pinehearst. He wonders if she was thinking something that might discourage Matt from joining. Knox picks up on her fear and she asks how she can fix it. Arthur tells her to kill Matt, much to Maury’s outrage. Maury says he’s promised his loyalty in return for Matt’s safety. When he tries to interfere, Arthur casually snaps his neck using telekinesis, and thanks him for all of his sacrifice. Daphne insists there must be another way, and Arthur glares at her.

Later Arthur is with Mohinder looking in on Maya, who, like Peter, is strapped to a bed. Mohinder tells Arthur that he only wanted to help Maya and relieve her of her ability. Arthur says that all Mohinder has to do is watch. He then enters the room and absorbs Maya's ability. He then shows Mohinder the formula and asks for Mohinder's help, who hesitates at first, then asks for test subjects.

Arthur, accompanied by guards, attempts to take Peter to Mohinder for testing. However, he sees that Peter has escaped his cuffs. Peter runs at Arthur with a tray but Arthur telekinetically stops him and then his guards subdue him. Peter is taken to Mohinder, who attempts to inject Peter with the formula. However, Sylar arrives to save Peter from Mohinder. After killing Dr. Livitz, Sylar frees Peter, but is attacked by Mohinder. Arthur comes in and tries to use electricity to stop Peter, but Peter escapes. Arthur then stops Mohinder from pummeling Sylar and reveals to Mohinder that Sylar is his son.

Later, Arthur speaks with Flint about Peter's escape from the building. Flint is sent to go find Peter. Arthur also has Sylar suspended in the air telekinetically. He explains to Sylar that Angela is not the woman Sylar thinks she is and that she had seen Sylar's future when Sylar was a baby. Arthur releases Sylar from the telekinetic suspension and says that Angela was so afraid of what Sylar would become that she tried to drown him in the bath. He tells Sylar that he arrived just in time to stop her.

Minutes later Arthur and Sylar arrive to recapture Peter. Peter tells Sylar that Arthur can't be trusted, but Arthur insists that they can change the future that Peter saw. Peter tells Sylar to just kick Arthur's ass so they can leave but Sylar tells him he isn't going anywhere, but Peter is. He telekinetically tosses Peter out a window for him to fall seven stories. Peter survives. Arthur asks Sylar how he thinks Peter survived but Sylar says he doesn't know. Arthur gazes as Sylar knowingly, then receives a call from Daphne. She says she's won Matt over. Arthur tells her that if she screws her mission up he'll put her back where he found her.

Villains

Hiro begins his spirit walk, learning that Arthur was responsible for Nathan's accident in the previous year. Arthur and Linderman expected the crash to kill Nathan to stop the DA's office from inquiring into Linderman's affairs. When Angela finds out that he tried to kill Nathan, Arthur uses his telepathy to convince Angela that it has to be done. Later, while having dinner, Angela confronts Arthur about it, having had her memory restored by Linderman. Using the Haitian to block his powers, she asks Arthur whether he can understand her any more without his powers. Arthur appears to be having a bout with indigestion until Angela says that she poisoned his food. Arthur is taken to the hospital where Dr. Livitz tells his family he's dead. However, Dr. Livitz explains to Arthur (who is really alive) that the poison caused permanent damage to his peripheral nervous system, paralyzing him and forcing him to have to breathe through a tube. Arthur telepathically orders Dr. Livitz to use someone else's body for the cremation that Angela ordered.

Hiro wakes from his spirit walk only for him and Ando to find that Usutu has been decapitated. Arthur suddenly appears and grabs Hiro by the head, causing him to scream as if in great pain.

It's Coming

Arthur, still grabbing Hiro by the head, damages a great deal of his memories leaving him to as a ten year old kid, Ando tries to stop Arthur but he pushes him telekinetically. While looking around Arthur notices the eclipse painted by Usutu. Arthur takes a closer look at the eclipse when he notices Hiro and Ando attempting to escape. He walks towards them but Hiro manages to teleport away before he reaches them. Arthur then teleports back to Pinehearst, where he tells Sylar that he doesn't need to kill to obtain new abilities, that he can obtain new abilities by using his empathy, which he can teach him. He leads him down a corridor into a dark room and locks him there. Later, he is seen watching Sylar and Elle's interactions in a computer. Also he is able to use his telepathy to fight with Matt who is attempting to free Angela from being trapped in her mind. Appearing as Daphne, Arthur arrives and stabs Matt but is revealed when the real Daphne joins them and professes her love for Matt. Angela reminds Arthur that he did and still does love her and convinces him to let her go after which Matt is able to wake himself, Angela and Daphne up. Arthur, sitting in the chair in his office at Pinehearst, senses Tracy Strauss behind him. He asks her if she wants her ability taken away but Tracy says she is happy with it. Tracy then states that they can help each other by saying that she can try to win Nathan over to Arthur's side and becomes one of the villains. Finally, he paints a picture of an eclipse and says that it's coming.

The Eclipse, Part 1

Arthur is doing more precognitive sketches. They include: Peter and Nathan falling toward a jungle; Sylar kissing Elle; Hiro, Matt, and Ando standing in a cornfield; and Noah holding a dead Claire.

Mohinder is conducting an autopsy on his test subject and realizes that he himself is still mutating. He goes to see Arthur and demands the catalyst. Arthur shows him the picture of Noah and Claire and says it’s going to happen today. Mohinder says it’s impossible since Claire can't die, but Arthur asks him how it could happen. Mohinder suspects the eclipse is involved and notes that if Claire dies, the catalyst dies with her and he can't get a cure. There’s another sketch of Mohinder in a cocoon and Arthur warns that everything is going to change today.

Tracy calls Arthur with information on where Nathan and Peter are going. Tracy wonders if Arthur is going to hurt Nathan, and Arthur says there are some things out of his control. Tracy, concerned, says they need him. Arthur tells Tracy to go to the Marine training facility at Parris Island and use some of her connections to put together an army. She balks but he says she has to do what he says or Nathan won't make it to the White House.

During the eclipse, Arthur throws the sketches on the ground in frustration.

Mohinder determines that every facet of the formula has disappeared from his body. He has no idea why or how and then brings up a file on Maya. He prepares to leave but Arthur and Flint come in. Arthur says that Mohinder has to get everyone’s abilities back and Mohinder warns that it may be irreversible. Flint slams Mohinder into the wall and tells him he’s going to stay there until Mohinder gets their powers back.

The Eclipse, Part 2

At Pinehearst, Mohinder goes over research materials on eclipses and considers Maya’s address. Flint is watching him and Arthur arrives to demand answers. Mohinder says there are too many possibilities to narrow anything down, and Flint snaps at him. Arthur tells Mohinder that he needs more incentive and has Flint torture him with a cigarette lighter. Mohinder collapses in pain and Arthur leaves.

After the eclipse, Arthur is watching a battered Flint when Mohinder returns. Arthur admits the eclipse showed them all that they’re desperate and weak, and asks if Mohinder is ready to go back to work. Mohinder says he has nowhere else to go and Arthur assures him that they’ll find a cure. However, he warns Mohinder he’ll have to take care of the monster within him on his own.

Our Father

Arthur is pleasantly surprised when Nathan arrives to join him. Nathan tells Arthur that he is taking over Pinehearst. After some quick negotiating by Tracy, Arthur reluctantly agrees. Sixteen years in the past, Hiro's mother gives the catalyst to her son. Unfortunately, Arthur appears as Hiro and Claire are about to return to the present. Arthur takes both the catalyst and Hiro's powers before telekinetically throwing him from the balcony (Hiro manages to grab a flagpole on the way down). Arthur then returns Claire to the present day with a message for Angela: "I've won". Arthur returns to present-day Pinehearst and release the catalyst into the formula. Mohinder is preparing to test the formula on a Marine when Arthur senses a disturbance and exits the lab. Arthur finds Peter brandishing a gun. Arthur tries to telekinetically knock the gun away, but the Haitian blocks his powers. Arthur tells Peter that they can use the formula to restore his powers, but Peter isn't buying. The Haitian's powers begin to falter against Arthur's power, but Peter remains ambivalent. Arthur taunts Peter, saying "That's your problem, son: too much thought, not enough action" and "How could you be my son?" Peter fires his gun as Arthur overcomes the Haitian's power and slices Peter's cheek, but Sylar stops the bullet in mid-air. Sylar asks Arthur if he is his family; Arthur replies "yes, I'm your father." But Sylar, having acquired the power of lie detection from Sue Landers, knows Arthur is lying. Sylar says "You're not a killer, Peter--I am", then telekinetically projects the bullet into Arthur's head, killing him permanently.

Graphic Novel:Truths

Seconds away from death, Arthur remembers a hunting trip at Pinehearst when Nathan and Peter were children. He is disappointed when Peter is unwilling to shoot a deer, and proud of Nathan when he takes the shot. Later, he discusses with Angela that "the wrong son" has the genetic markers for abilities, and they discuss flying Dr. Zimmerman in to inject Nathan with the formula for synthetic abilities. He realizes that Peter is now strong enough to take the shot – even with his own father as the target – and has proven his doubts wrong. As Sylar releases the bullet into his forehead, Arthur is proud that both his sons are strong enough to do what must be done once he is dead.

Dual

Arthur lies dead on the floor as Peter gazes at his body. Nathan enters the room. He is sorrowful to see that his father is dead, and he closes Arthur's eyes.

Cold Snap

Millie, a friend of Angela Petrelli's, mentions that Angela has never been the same since Arthur died. It is assumed she was referring to when Angela secretly tried to kill Arthur, as nobody outside of Pinehearst or the Company ever knew of his survival or plans.

Into Asylum

Angela takes Peter to a church, and tells him that this church is where she and Arthur got married. She blames herself for taking all of the love out of the Petrelli family, and for losing her husband.

An Invisible Thread

Arthur appears in Nathan Petrelli's memories as Matt Parkman implants Nathan's personality into Sylar.

Graphic Novel:The Natural Order of Things

Mohinder recalls how, when he began working for Pinehearst, he had unexpectedly met Sylar and began attacking him, and Arthur had pulled Mohinder away from him.

Orientation

Angela tells Nathan that Arthur got himself "a big expensive sports car and a younger woman with questionable morals" to get over his midlife crisis.

Evolved Human Abilities

Arthur Petrelli had the ability to steal the abilities of other evolved humans. By making physical contact, Arthur took Adam Monroe's ability and was immediately able to access it, healing the nerve damage that had left him paralyzed. A person whose ability Arthur has stolen is left powerless.

He claimed to have absorbed all of Peter's abilities after touching him, leaving Peter without his abilities; however, he did not demonstrate all of the abilities that Peter possessed.

Acquired Abilities

The abilities that Arthur had acquired and demonstrated are:

• Telepathy from an unknown source and Peter Petrelli (demonstrated in Villains)
• Rapid cell regeneration from Adam Monroe and Peter Petrelli (Dying of the Light)
• Electric manipulation from Peter Petrelli (Dying of the Light)
• Telekinesis from Peter Petrelli (stolen in Dying of the Light, demonstrated in Eris Quod Sum)
• Poison emission from Maya Herrera (Eris Quod Sum)
• Mental manipulation from an unknown source (demonstrated in Villains)
• Space-time manipulation from Peter Petrelli and Hiro Nakamura (first stolen in Dying of the Light, demonstrated in It's Coming)
• Precognition from Peter Petrelli (stolen in Dying of the Light, demonstrated in It's Coming)

The known abilities that Arthur had acquired but didn't demonstrate are:

• Empathic mimicry from Peter Petrelli (Dying of the Light)
• Enhanced strength from Peter Petrelli (Dying of the Light)
• Flight from Peter Petrelli (Dying of the Light)
• Induced radioactivity from Peter Petrelli (Dying of the Light)
• Intuitive aptitude from Peter Petrelli (Dying of the Light)
• Invisibility from Peter Petrelli (Dying of the Light)
• Phasing from Peter Petrelli (Dying of the Light)
• Precognitive dreaming from Peter Petrelli (Dying of the Light)
• Pyrokinesis from Peter Petrelli (Dying of the Light)
• Super speed from Peter Petrelli (Dying of the Light)

Arthur claimed that the effects of his ability are permanent.

Memorable Quotes

"Your father was weak."

"My father was my hero."

- Linderman, Nathan (Landslide)

"Ah, it feels good to breathe again."

- Arthur (Dying of the Light)

"The bad guys are here."

- Arthur (Dying of the Light)

"You don't have your powers anymore, Peter...because I have them now."

- Arthur (Dying of the Light)

"I am better, Peter. That's not a belief, it's a fact."

- Arthur (Eris Quod Sum)

"Son, until you change that attitude, you're grounded."

- Arthur (to Peter) (Eris Quod Sum)

"I understand you've been dreaming about me."

- Arthur (to Hiro) (Villains)

"It's coming."

- Arthur (It's Coming)

Notes

Arthur Petrelli as he appeared in the photo of the Company's founders.

• Since the photo of the Company's founders was taken before Robert Forster was cast, it has another actor as Arthur. A similar problem happened with Chandra.
• Arthur Petrelli appears to have been financially successful as a lawyer, and seems to have left his wife considerably wealthy.
• According to Angela, at age 23 Arthur was diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Though this may have been a lie, as she said it was the reason for his suicide.
• Arthur Petrelli, as Dallas, tells part of his Vietnam War history in the Lonestar File. This file is found in the top secret Pentagon archives.
• The note that Dallas shares with Austin appears to be from the mother of Dallas's son--it reads, "Our son...took his first steps yesterday."
• Mr. Petrelli's law firm used the Symbol in its logo (Lizards). Now he apparently uses two of the Symbols joined together as the logo for Pinehearst, his new place of business.
• At the time Arthur removed his powers, Peter had also been exposed to the abilities of persuasion, freezing, mental manipulation, melting, enhanced hearing, Trevor's ability, clairvoyance, technopathy, alchemy, sound manipulation, Mohinder's ability, and clairsentience.
• In an interview, Chuck Kim confirms that Arthur stole Peter's ability of empathic mimicry.
• When Peter wakes up and finds that he is handcuffed to a gurney and unable to escape, Arthur is sitting nearby reading Nietzsche (Eris Quod Sum). A major concept in Nietzsche's philosophy is the Übermensch (variously translated as superman, superhuman, or overman).
• Angela was put into a coma after a vision involving Arthur. In it, Arthur said that she "won't be able to move" (Angels and Monsters). It is unclear exactly how she became comatose/paralyzed but it looks like he simply trapped her in her mind like Maury did to Molly. Matt Parkman freed Angela after a telepathic struggle with Arthur that ended with Angela convincing him to let her go (It's Coming).
• Arthur has been an experienced user of telepathy since at least April 2006. (Villains)
• Arthur, having taken the the ability to erase memories from somebody (presumably from Peter), erases nearly two decades worth of memories and knowledge from Hiro (Villains).
• Arthur, during the Vietnam War, strongly resembled his son Nathan. (War Buddies)
• Despite all of his powers, Arthur was finally killed by the Haitian, Peter and Sylar. The Haitian used his his ability to suppress Arthur's powers, while Peter fired a bullet at his father's head. Sylar temporarily stopped the bullet in midair but then, having discovered that Arthur lied about being his father, projected the bullet through Arthur's head, killing him permanently.
• In a deleted scene from Our Father (found on the Season 3 DVD), Arthur goes to Madras, India after reading Mohinder's mind, and steals Molly's ability.

See Also

• For other uses of Arthur, see Arthur (disambig).
• For other members of the Petrelli family, see Petrelli (disambig).
• For images of Arthur, see Images of Arthur Petrelli.
• For a list of his victims, see Arthur's victims.

Fan Theories

Please refer to Theory:Arthur Petrelli for fan-created theories and other speculation.