Noah Bennet
| Noah Bennet | |
|---|---|
| |
| Portrayed by | Jack Coleman |
| First appearance | Genesis |
| In-story stats | |
| Alias | Noah Butler |
| Nicknames | HRG, the man in the horn-rimmed glasses |
| Gender | |
| Age | 44 |
| Date of birth | August 6, 1962 |
| Home | Costa Verde, CA |
| Residences | Single-family home in Costa Verde, CA |
| Occupations | Copy Kingdom assistant manager, former regional manager at Primatech Paper Co. (cover), former agent of the Company |
| Significant other | Sandra Bennet |
| Children | Claire Bennet (adopted daughter), Lyle Bennet |
Noah Bennet is Claire's adoptive father. He was part of a secret operation based out of Primatech Paper Company which involves tracking and intervening in the lives of evolved humans.
About
To most of the world, Noah Bennet seems like a typical, if slightly geeky, suburbanite father. His loyalty to his family and his loyalty to his profession are frequently at odds. While it's clear that he loves Claire very much and would do anything to protect her, his methods indicate a level of ruthlessness that conflicts with his genuinely caring nature. For example, while he seems to initially show real concern for Isaac's well being and rehabilitation, he does not hesitate to have Eden use her persuasive powers to make Isaac use heroin again when he believes he needs to make use of Isaac's precognitive abilities. Similarly, while his use of the Haitian's memory modifying ability on Brody seems somewhat restrained given his intense anger at the boy, the casual use of the same ability on Zach and even his own family shows that his dedication to his job—and to keeping Claire safe—knows no limits. He does seem to possess his own moral code, though, as his intense reactions to Sylar's murders and Eden's father's callousness attest.
Character History
Season One
For an episode-by-episode summary, see Noah Bennet: Season One History.
Spying on and confronting Mohinder Suresh, Mr. Bennet appears to work for an organization that is involved in the death of Chandra Suresh. But Mr. Bennet also has a non-work persona who lives and cares for his adopted daughter Claire, his wife Sandra, and his son Lyle in their home in Odessa, TX. He tries to protect his family from the dangers of his work using his partner, the Haitian, to erase their memories when needed.
Based out of the Primatech Paper Co., Mr. Bennet, the Haitian, and Eden carry out the capture, evaluation, and release of people with special abilities. However, this work gets out of hand when two of the people, Matt Parkman and Ted Sprague, invade Mr. Bennet's home, burn it down, and almost blow up the neighborhood. They expose his daughter's ability and force him to send her on the run with his partner. Later, Mr. Bennet gets a new partner that exposes what he has done, and ends up on the run himself with Matt and Ted. Mr. Bennet decides they need to take out the Company's tracking systems used for locating people with special abilities. He sends one of his recruits to take out the satellite system while he, Matt, and Ted go to New York City to destroy another--the Walker system.
After discovering that the Walker system is a girl, they decide to rescue instead of kill her. However, they learn that a threat known as Sylar is near. Mr. Bennet uses Molly to locate Peter Petrelli to fight Sylar. He tries to help Peter, but is hurt and is only able to be a witness. Mr. Bennet watches Nathan fly Peter into the atmosphere where the explosion occurs. After the commotion is over, Bennet tells Claire that they should go home. Claire mentions that their house burned down, but Bennet tells her that home is anywhere their family is together.
Four Months Later...
Noah drops Claire off for her first day of school at Costa Verde High School. After warning her to stay out of the spotlight, he gives her a Nissan Rogue.
At his new job at Copy Kingdom, Noah is harassed by his new boss. He takes a verbal lashing at first, but eventually threatens his manager, who agrees to let him work on his own schedule.
During dinner in his new home, Noah and his family talk about their new lives as "The Butlers". He receives a phone call on his cell phone, and speaks with Mohinder about bringing the Company down once and for all.
Lizards
Noah enters the kitchen, and Claire tells him that he may be able to hide who he is, but that she can't. Noah explains that his job is to keep their family safe no matter what it requires. Claire understands and tells him that it must be difficult to live such a normal life after the life he was living before. Noah tells her that their current life is a nice vacation compared to before. After Claire leaves for school, Sandra picks up a newspaper and shows Noah an article about Kaito Nakamura's death. Noah tells her that he knew this would happen, and shows Sandra an old painting from Isaac Mendez depicting Kaito laying in a pool of blood. He tells her that it's part of a series of eight paintings, but that he was only given the first one and needs to find the rest of them.
At Copy Kingdom, Claire tells her father that her car was stolen. He takes the opportunity to tell her that he needs to be able to trust her and that she can't afford to make mistakes like this or else she'll be found. She tells him that she may be missing an opportunity to help people, but Noah retorts that he's protecting her because if someone gets a hold of her she'll be in for a life of agonizing tests and research.
Noah calls Mohinder and asks if Mohinder's trip was productive. Mohinder replies that he'll have the answer very shortly. Mohinder explains that it doesn't appear he's raised any suspicion and that Bob seemed more disappointed in himself for having trusted Mohinder so completely, however that they're going to watch him more closely from now on. Noah tells him that he'll find the rest of the paintings himself now and that Mohinder's given him just what he needs. Noah greets a customer, the Haitian, welcoming him to Copy Kingdom.
Kindred
Claire reads Activating Evolution, and Noah mentions that Sandra is making waffles. He apologizes for talking to her the way he did, and offers his help. Claire asks what would happen if someone found out about her, and Noah mentions they'd have to leave at a worst case scenario.
Later, Noah receives a phone call from Mohinder. Mohinder finds Isaac's paintings, and takes a picture of the 8th picture in the series and sends it to Bennet. Bennet receives the picture, and it is of Bennet, lying dead with cracked glasses and a couple kissing in the background. Noah turns and sees Claire. Noah tells her goodnight, and she walks away. Bennet looks at the picture of the painting again in fear.
The Kindness of Strangers
Noah looks at the painting depicting his death, thinking about what could have happened. When Sandra walks in, Noah asks her if she knew anything about Claire, if she had met a boy. Claire enters the room, and the two ask her if she has met anyone, assuring her that there aren't many people they can trust. When Noah asks to meet him, she claims that there is no boy.
At dinner, Sandra suggests going out dessert. Claire claims she can't go, because she has to go to the library. Noah offers her a ride, but she turns down his offer and says she'll walk. As she leaves, Noah follows her out the door. When she turns the corner and he catches up, she is gone. That night, Claire comes home late. Noah is waiting up for her, and again mentions the boy. Claire again denies it, and reassures him by telling him that she joined the cheerleading squad. When she finally gets him to calm down, he makes her agree to one thing: She can join the cheerleading squad, but she cannot date. When she exits, the Haitian enters, and reveals to Noah that he'll have to go to Odessa, Ukraine. Noah states that he'll think of something to tell his family.
Fight or Flight
Noah and The Haitian arrive in Odessa, Ukraine. Noah receives a phone call from Mohinder stating that he wants to turn Molly into The Company in hopes that she will get better. Though Noah tells Mohinder not to do this, he goes ahead with it anyways.
The Line
Mohinder explains Bob's plans to Noah on the phone. Noah tells Mohinder that he has to take the risk, or else they will get rid of him and they will lose everything they've worked for. He explains that they have to do bad things sometimes in order to take down the Company.
In Odessa, Ukraine, Noah and the Haitian sneak into Ivan's home, then knocks him out with a gun. Noah and the Haitian have Ivan handcuffed in a chair, and Noah asks Ivan about the series of eight paintings depicting Kaito and Noah's deaths. Ivan tells him that he's retired and that he's the regional sales manager of a textile factory. He reminds Noah that he trained him and Claude, and that the Haitian can't help get information from him. Noah tells him that the Haitian can pull out specific memories from his head, and as an aging man, those memories make his life worth something. Ivan says that he won't since he's his friend, but Noah reminds him that he was his friend, and tells the Haitian to start with taking the day of Ivan's wedding from his memory. After a memory is removed, Ivan continues to resist Bennet's questions by cursing at him. Before he can show his distaste to the remark, Noah receives a phone call from Claire asking if she can borrow the car. He allows her, so long as she locks the door this time. She asks where he is, and he tells her that he's at a seminar. After Noah hangs up, Ivan asks about the rough life Claire must have since the Bennet's are hiding, and offers his old protege a chance to come back to the Company, claiming that it has changed and they have new directives. He offers the Haitian and the Bennets protection and the whereabouts of the paintings.
Later, Noah asks why Ivan never mentioned anything about his daughter to Noah, and he realizes that she died. Ivan tells her that she died of leukemia. Noah tells him that if he forgot the memories of her, she would seemingly never have existed. He tells the Haitian to take the memories of Ivan's daughter from him, but Ivan tells them the location of the paintings in a warehouse by the train yard where they tagged the liquid man. When Ivan asks if the Haitian will remove any memories of Noah and the Haitian, Noah tells him that if he did so, the Company would be onto him, so he decides to make it look like a home invasion and a senseless murder. Ivan tells Noah that he can give him a new life so he doesn't have to run, but Noah shoots him, telling the dead Ivan he knows what life he's chosen.
In the warehouse, Noah and the Haitian find the remaining six paintings from Isaac, placing them in order. The paintings depict several things, including a vial, an angry blond woman, two men sword-fighting, Mohinder firing a gun, and Noah's death.
Graphic Novel:Team Building Exercise
Noah is given his first Company assignment in an Odessa, Ukraine, train yard in 1989. He works with Maarten and his trainee Ivan to bag and tag a liquid man.
Out of Time
Noah calls Mohinder, and warns him not to get too close to the company when he discovers a painting in the warehouse of Mohinder holding a company gun he is using to shoot him. Noah then returns home to Costa Verde where he discovers Claire is secretly dating West, even though Noah ordered her not to because it could jeopardize their safety. He then tells his family they're moving because of what Claire has done, but Claire refuses to go saying they should leave without her.
Four Months Ago...
Noah and Claire look on as Nathan flies away with an exploding Peter over Kirby Plaza.
Cautionary Tales
Attempting to avoid his own death, foretold in the Isaac Mendez paintings, Noah goes to Claire's school to try to talk with West. West unexpectedly kidnaps him as he walks out of the house by grabbing him and carrying him high into the sky. Noah convinces West that Claire is not setting him up, and West brings them down for a rough landing. On the ground, Noah tells West that he needs to break up with Claire for her own safety, but he changes his mind when he receives a call from Mohinder to meet him at an intersection where he claims to have spotted West.
Noah and West join forces to protect Claire. They go to meet with Mohinder, where they knock out and kidnap Elle. While they have Elle tied up at the Bennett home, Noah learns that Claire has been kidnapped and calls Bob to arrange a trade. During the meeting, Bob releases Claire and Noah releases Elle, who walk by each other. West tries to fly Claire away, but when Elle shoots them down with a lightning bolt. Noah then shoots Elle and threatens to kill Bob, but Mohinder shoots Noah in the eye, fulfilling the prophecy in painting #8 of the Isaac Mendez series of eight. Noah dies, but he later heals and awakens on a hospital bed in an empty room with an IV in his arm. The IV bag next to his bed contains blood, presumably Claire's.
Truth & Consequences
Thanks to an infusion of his daughter's blood, Noah recovers from his gunshot wound. He finds himself in a barren room strapped to a hospital bed. Mohinder comes in to check on him. Bennet tells Mohinder that he made a mistake by aiding the Company. Mohinder responds that he helped the Company save lives and stopped Noah's paranoia and violence. When Bennet is told that he was healed with Claire's blood, he panics and demands to know where his daughter is. Mohinder dryly answers that Claire is safe at home. As Mohinder leaves, Bennet shouts at him for his betrayal.
Graphic Novel:Special
Mr. Bennet and the Haitian abduct a young West Rosen from St. Louis and take him to the Primatech building for testing purposes. When West escapes into the ventilation shaft, Mr. Bennet finds Claire talking to him but, when he checks the shaft and finds no one inside, assures her that there is nobody inside.
Equipment
- Gun--carried by Mr. Bennet while conducting The Company's business
- Horn-rimmed glasses--selected by Claire from a number of available frames
- Taser--used to subdue subjects at range.
- Thermal imaging goggles--used to detect invisible subjects
- Tranquilizers--used to subdue Sylar and Ted Sprague; also used as part of bag and tag missions
- Cell phone-- used to make calls to his boss
Memorable Quotes
"Go deep and clean him out."
- - Mr. Bennet (to the Haitian), referring to Matt Parkman (Collision)
"I've done some things I am not proud of to keep you safe."
"I'm comfortable with morally gray."
- - Mr. Bennet (to Thompson) (Company Man)
"I'm just a paper salesman."
- - Mr. Bennet (to Matt Parkman) (Company Man)
"Home is anywhere our family is together."
- - Mr. Bennet (to Claire) (How to Stop an Exploding Man)
"I'm not part of any organization that has initials."
- - Mr. Bennet (to Matt Parkman) (Collision)
"What am I thinking now, Parkman?"
"Your last thought."
- - Thompson and Mr. Bennet (to Matt) (The Hard Part)
"Stings like a bitch doesn't it?"
- - Mr. Bennet (to Elle) (Cautionary Tales)
"Holy Sh-."
- - Mr. Bennet ("Cautionary Tales")
Notes
- Mr. Bennet speaks fluent Japanese, and can even think in Japanese if needed. (Company Man)
- Mr. Bennet speaks Russian. (The Line).
Trivia
- Mr. Bennet's driver license lists his birth as 8/6/62, the same year that Primatech Paper Company claims to have been founded. The license lists his height as 6'1". The license specifically gives no first name, stating his name as just "Bennet". He signs his name the same way. It otherwise appears to be a normal state ID for Texas.
- His Visa card, on the other hand, appears to list two names. (Graphic Novel:Family Man)
- Tim Kring's original script for the pilot listed this character's name only as "H.R.G." — standing for Horn-Rimmed Glasses. 1
- Bennet is a variant of "Bennett", meaning "blessed". Incidentally, Mr. Bennet and his wife had difficulty conceiving a child. Then one day, Bennet was blessed with a baby girl whom he held very dearly.
- Mr. Bennet's first name, Noah, wasn't revealed until the season 1 finale.
- On the television show Passions, there is a character named Noah Bennett. Passions and Heroes are both programs on NBC.
- Mr. Bennet needed glasses when he was 41 years old. His father also needed glasses at 41. (Company Man)
- In the script for the unaired pilot, Claire's father's name is Kent. He is 43 years old, and is a separate character from the man who wears horn-rimmed glasses.
- Jack Coleman became a regular in the eleventh episode of the first season, Fallout.
See Also
- For other uses of Noah, see Noah (disambig).
- For articles related to Noah Bennet, see Related Articles:Noah Bennet.
- For images of Noah Bennet, see Images of Noah Bennet.
- For Noah Bennet as he appeared in the dark future, see Noah Bennet (future).
- For other members of the Bennet family, see Bennet (disambig).
- For others that could be considered Claire's parents, see Claire's parents (disambig).
External Links
- Horn-rimmed glasses - Wikipedia
- HRG Rap/Theme Song
- Mr. Bennet's Blog (Fan Site)
Fan Theories
Please refer to Theory:Noah Bennet for fan-created theories and other speculation.