Biography

Jack Coleman

Jump to

John MacDonald "Jack" Coleman is an American actor and screenwriter, known for playing the role of Steven Carrington in the 1980s prime time soap opera Dynasty (1982-88), and for portraying Noah Bennet in the science-fiction drama series Heroes (2006-10). Coleman's first major role was in the soap opera Days of Our Lives, where he appeared from 1981 to 1982 as the character of Jake Kositchek (aka The Salem Strangler). In 1982, he joined the cast of Dynasty when he took over the role of Steven Carrington, one of the first gay characters on American television. Coleman played the role until the end of the show's eighth season in 1988.
- IMDb mini biography by: omermertcanbolat

A sixth-generation grandson of Benjamin Franklin, in turn related to President John Calvin Coolidge Jr. and a remote descendant of the old Earls of Orkney and the ancient Kings of Scotland.
Turned down the role of Barry Allen in The Flash (1990) to pursue a career on Broadway.
Gained TV notice after replacing Al Corley in the role of "Steven Carrington", one of prime-time television's first openly gay characters, on the night time soap Dynasty (1981).
Graduated from Duke University in 1980, where he studied acting.
Has one daughter Tess, born in 1999. His wife Beth appeared in the Wes Craven film Red Eye (2005).

After a hit show is over, you soon realize this is a very tough business ... brutally tough. But I'm a better actor and I have more gravitas than I had at 24 with bleached-blonde hair.
I don't want to play earnest. I'd rather play somebody who's kind of sleazy. It's much more fun, especially in a comedy. You don't want to be some earnest guy who's just trying to do the right thing but can't. I want to be doing the wrong thing intentionally.
I always thought invisibility would be cool, but then I was invisible for most of the '90s.
I am blind as a bat and I wear contact lenses because the vision they afford is much better. So I wear contacts and then I have to wear reading glasses. My eyes have been bad - I come from bad eyesight on both sides of my family.
I don't play a lot of convicts or mafia guys. I'm usually a professional, a doctor, lawyer, banker... that kind of thing. But sometimes you get to be the twisted guy, too, which is what I'm relishing so much about this [Heroes] role. There's nothing worse than playing a milquetoast. I'm happy to play a jerk, and I'm happy to play a bad guy. It really is fun to be able to play somebody who has a dark, sinister side.

Suggest an edit or add missing content