Jack Coleman: Paparazzi 'Hunted' Teen Panettiere
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- Jack Coleman posted an Instagram tribute after co-star Hayden Panettiere's death at 36, recalling she called him 'daddio' from the 'Heroes' pilot day and saying he was filled with 'sorrow and regret. And anger.'
- Coleman recalled that by 17, Panettiere was #1 on IMDB Pro and was routinely asked 'obnoxious questions' — mostly 'when are you going to go off the rails?' — which he now labels 'misogynistic provocations.'
- Coleman described paparazzi with 300mm lenses 'hunting' Panettiere everywhere, recounting one incident where photographers hid in bushes behind his yard and drove onto neighbors' lawns.
- 'Heroes' creator Tim Kring, in an exclusive Variety essay, called Panettiere a 'singularly talented' actor and 'true team player' who was 'levelheaded beyond her years' with 'a savant-like quality about her work.'
- Co-star Sendhil Ramamurthy remembered Panettiere standing up for mistreated background actors on set and knowing every crew member's name.
- Police said Panettiere's death is under investigation with 'not any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.'
Why it matters: Coleman's accusation reframes Panettiere's death around the media environment she navigated as a teenager on 'Heroes.' His first-hand anecdotes — paparazzi hiding in bushes behind his yard, driving onto neighbors' lawns — add weight to ongoing debates about legal safeguards for young performers.
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