Eric Thompson, Sr.

Eric Thompson, Sr.
Portrayed by	Eric Roberts
First appearance	How Do You Stop an Exploding Man?, Part 2
In-story stats
Known ability	None
Alias	Thompson Sr. Jim Farrell
Gender
Date of death	November 7th, 2006
Occupation	Company high-ranking official & trainer & agent
Children	Eric Thompson, Jr.

Eric Thompson, Sr., also known as "Mr. Thompson" or "Thompson Sr.", was a high-ranking official of The Company who served as one of it's trainers and agents, and was the direct superior of Noah Bennet, as well as the direct subordinate of Daniel Linderman. He was the father of Eric Thompson, Jr., who also became an agent of the Company.

Character History

Genesis

Nathan Petrelli is on the phone through speakerphone with Thompson.

Graphic Novel:Wireless, Part 2

While overseeing the training of Hana Gitelman at a secret facility in Alaska, Mr. Bennet receives a text message on his cell phone from someone identified as "Thompson". The message inquires whether or not Hana has manifested her powers yet. Hana perceives and understands the message sooner than Bennet could read it himself.

Graphic Novel:How Do You Stop an Exploding Man?, Part 1

A large military force surrounds Ted's cabin.

Graphic Novel:How Do You Stop an Exploding Man?, Part 2

The military force surrounding Ted's cabin is led by Thompson. He orders Ted to be covered with liquid concrete in order to suppress any radiation that might be emitted. However, Ted escapes in a large blast, killing several men. Thompson, escapes the blast. Ted, filled with vengeance, seeks out the man in Billings, MT.

Company Man

Fifteen years ago, Thompson hires Mr. Bennet as an employee of the Company and introduces him to his partner Claude. A year later he is on Charles Deveaux's rooftop when Mr. Bennet becomes Claire's surrogate father. In the present day, Thompson arrives at the Bennet home during the standoff with Ted. Thompson shoots Ted, causing a near nuclear explosion. He witnesses Claire's healing abilities and inquires when Mr. Bennet will be giving Claire back to the company.

Parasite

At the secret medical facility in Primatech, Thompson is suspicious about Mr. Bennet and asks him if he remembers anything about what happened to Claire. Bennet says that he doesn't remember anything and is determined to find his daughter. Thompson tells Bennet that the Haitian has apparently "gone rogue" and erased the memories of both Bennet and his family. Bennet asks when he can go after the Haitian and find his daughter, but Thompson tells him that he can't be the one that goes on that mission. Thompson orders Bennet to detach himself from Claire and says that he expects Bennet to do as he's told. Thompson leaves the room and enters another room where a one-way mirror is being used to observe Bennet. Thompson asks Matt Parkman, who is bound to a chair, what he thinks. Matt tells Thompson that Bennet is telling the truth. Thompson and Candice go to leave the room and Matt tells them that they had a deal that they'd let him go if he helped them. Thompson tells Matt that he's making progress on being set free.

Later, Candice tricks Mr. Bennet into confessing to her that he helped Claire escape. Thompson arrives with a few other agents from the Company to confront Bennet.

Graphic Novel:Family Man

Thompson watches as the Bennets' home burns and Claire regenerates. He tells Mr. Bennet that he has one hour to turn his daughter over to the Company.

.07%

In Mr. Bennet's cell at Primatech Thompson tells Candice to leave him and Mr. Bennet alone. He tells Candice that she has more important matters to take care of. He explains to Mr. Bennet that the only reason "we haven't taken it up a notch is because of friendship". Thompson is disappointed in Mr. Bennet, saying "I brought you in, vouched for you. And how do you repay my kindness? Attempting to destroy the Company?" He tells Mr. Bennet that he got too close and then he got sloppy. Thompson then explains to Mr. Bennet that he is on death row and that he is just waiting for the order. "That's how we do it here," Thompson says. "We follow orders."

Later as Parkman is escaping from Primatech with Mr. Bennet's help, Thompson tell a Primatech agent that orders have come down to move Bennet, Sprague, and Parkman. Thompson orders the agent to gas Sprague before an IV is put in and to tape Parkman's mouth. Thompson and the agent go to Parkman's cell and see he has escaped, and Thompson presses an alarm. Matt later reveals he learned from Thompson's thoughts that Linderman is the head of the Company, something Mr. Bennet was unaware of.

After Peter is killed, Mohinder contacts Primatech from his apartment expecting Mr. Bennet but Thompson comes instead. Thompson explains that Mr. Bennet is no longer with the Company. Thompson tells Mohinder that he can fight Sylar, but he just needs help. Thompson tries to convince Mohinder to come work for the Company saying "We can provide you with the resources." After Mohinder argues that stopping Sylar takes precedence over academics, Thompson says, "I can assure you we have similar priorities. The best way to stop Sylar is for us to work together."

The Hard Part

In New York City, Thompson meets with Mohinder and tries to convince him to help Molly Walker. Later, he tells Mohinder that Molly is the only one who can stop Sylar and finally convinces him to help her.

Later, Thompson speaks with Nathan in his campaign office, and they discuss Ted and the impending explosion. Nathan becomes upset about not being told everything and expresses his lack of conviction for Linderman's plan.

Landslide

Thompson arrives to inform Mohinder and Molly Walker that they are to leave the building by helicopter. Alerted to the arrival of Mr. Bennet and Matt Parkman by the security cameras, Thompson draws his gun and prepares to ambush the two. Parkman's ability costs Thompson the element of surprise, causing his shots to miss. As Bennet moves to find him, Thompson circles around to catch Matt off guard. Thompson levels his gun at the back of Parkman's head, but is shot by Bennet before he can pull the trigger.

How to Stop an Exploding Man

Mohinder and Mr. Bennet drag Thompson's body, wrapped in a sheet, out of the hallway and into a biohazardous waste bin in the medical offices at the Kirby Plaza building. Bennet says that he killed Thompson in self defense to save his own life.

Graphic Novel:It Takes a Village, Part 4

Thompson comes upon the Haitian village looking for Guillame, who has already died, but finds the Haitian instead. He discovers the Haitian's powers, introduces himself as "Mister Thompson", and takes him away from his now vacant village.

Graphic Novel:Golden Handshake, Part 4

A secretary at Primatech tells Noah and Claude that Mr. Thompson is waiting to see them.

Graphic Novel:Donna's Big Date, Part 1

Elle tells Donna that both her father and Thompson, Jr.'s father are Company men.

Graphic Novel:The Kill Squad, Part 1

On a Company mission in West Virginia, Thompson, Jr. mentions that the evolved human they are after has been brought in before, and that his father suspected that the man's power could mutate, as it seems to have done.

Villains

One year ago, Thompson goes after Meredith and her brother Flint as they rob a convenience store. He uses a fire extinguisher against Flint's pyrokinesis and threatens to tase Meredith. Flint escapes during the distraction.

Thompson later interviews Meredith in her cell and reviews her record. He offers her a job as an agent with the Company and refuse to negotiate when she tries to bargain for the safety of her brother.

Thompson takes Meredith on her first assignment, the capture of Danny Pine. He orders her not to use her powers, but when Pine turns violent and attacks Thompson, Meredith subdues him and Thompson congratulates her. As they take Pine to a holding facility, Thompson tells Meredith that when she has demonstrated unswerving loyalty to the Company then she'll truly be an agent. She talks with a captive Flint, who believes he's been recruited as an agent. Meredith has doubts but when Thompson asks her if she has a problem, she says she doesn't.

Later, Meredith helps Flint escape and they flee on a train. Thompson goes after them and tases Meredith. Flint believes her dead and Thompson sarcastically agrees with him. Flint leaps out of the train and Meredith wakes up and attacks Thompson, setting the volatile contents on fire. They both leap clear of the train just as it explodes. Thompson recaptures Meredith but when he learns that Meredith believes that the Company killed her daughter Claire, he changes his mind and frees her, telling her to think of it as a gift from her daughter. Unnoticed by either of them, Claire runs into the train wreck below them.

Graphic Novel:The Caged Bird, Part 1

While Daphne is running off, Thompson watches her from the window. Four hours later, Thompson comes back to the Millbrooks' home. He tells Mr. Millbrook that he was at his wife's funeral earlier and offers his condolences. Thompson then goes on to tell Mr. Millbrook his name and why he is there, to talk about Daphne.

Graphic Novel:The Caged Bird, Part 2

Thompson sits in the Millbrooks' kitchen trying to convince Daphne to come with him. He tell her that his staff can help with her, but Daphne responses by staying that she is cured. To this statement, he response by saying, "For now." Mr. Millbrook tells Thompson that he wants to talk to his daughter and that they will see him in the morning. Thompson thanks Mr. Millbrook for his time and leaves.

Graphic Novel:Rebellion, Part 5

Micah Sanders compares Thompson, Jr. to his late father, calling them both liars and killers.

The Wall

In the past, Noah is selling used cars, and ruthlessly convincing a young couple to buy. A man arrives and offers him a job: Thompson. He admits he's impressed that Noah killed the repairman, and offers to help Noah find Richard in return for him finding more specials. Two years later, Noah and Thompson meet at a restaurant and talk about how Noah has been working with Claude. However, he admits that he has some trust issues and considers Claude abnormal. Thompson knows what he means and admits that Noah's case is unusual. However, he notes that Noah has killed three specials during his missions. Thompson says that they can't cut ties with Noah due to their investment in him, but something has to change. He tells Noah to start a family so he'll become calmer, and suggests he marry the waitress that brought them their sandwiches. Noah turns to the waitress, Sandra, and considers the matter. When he asks what happens if he refuses, Thompson assures him that he won't.

Graphic Novel:From the Files of Primatech, Part 5

In 1988, Thompson visits Noah while he is on his honeymoon in Berlin, Germany. He gives Noah a note and tells him that he will be a note passer until Ivan says he is ready for more.

Later, Thompson and Claude go after a KGB special target. Claude asks for more information but Thompson says they need to get through the guards first. Claude extends his invisibility to Thompson and the two sneak by the guards relatively unnoticed. The two of them then meet with J. Kuznetsov, who gives them the information they need. Thompson explains to Claude that they have been ordered to turn her but adds that he has permission to terminate her as well. Claude asks what her name is and Thompson tells him that she goes by Sylvia.

The two of them arrive at Sylvia's hideout and Claude asks if Thompson would like to become invisible. Thompson declines the offer and tells Claude to search the downstairs area. Claude yells that he has found her and Sylvia warns him that Thompson will turn on him after he gets what he wants. Claude reminds her that she is the target and asks Thompson to confirm it. Thompson then demands to know where "it" is, making Claude realize that Sylvia was telling the truth. Thompson shoots Sylvia, who disappears. Confused and horrified by Thompson's actions, Claude demands to know what is going on.

Graphic Novel:From the Files of Primatech, Part 6

In 1988, Claude and Thompson search for Sylvia, but she runs at both of them, sending them flying. When Thompson threatens her, she grows taller than the pair of them and sends Thompson flying out of a window, while Claude runs off.

Later, in a hospital, Angela, Charles, Bob, and Thompson visit Claude and talk about the mission. Angela then brings out a new tracker and injects it into Claude, stating that it is perfect to test on an invisible man.

Heroes Evolutions

Assignment Tracker 2.0

In Assignment Tracker profiles, Thompson is occasionally mentioned as "Thompson Sr." This implied that his first name is also "Eric" (his son mostly referred to as "Thompson Jr.", and his full name is "Eric Thompson, Senior." This was later revealed in Rebellion, Part 5.

A Hero's Quest

In Hiro's tenth blog post, "Numbers Numbers Everywhere", Hiro, Ando, and Kenjiro have been searching through Yamagato Industries' Danger Room and found Thompson's personnel file that just contained a lot of numbers.

Heroes Reborn App

Prior to Heroes Reborn starting, an app was released with a video summary of Thompson's history. The summary included:

• Ability: none
• Mr. Thompson is a manager for the Company, recruiting teams to track evolved humans. (Company Man)
• When it comes to rounding up "specials," Thompson is both ruthless and impatient. (Company Man)
• Realizing his daughter Claire is on the wanted list, HRG severs his relationship with Thompson. (Landslide)

Trivia

• The car that Thompson drives in 1992 has Texas license plates 862T3S. (Company Man)

Gallery

• 
  Thompson sends a message to Mr. Bennet.
  (Wireless, Part 2)
• 
  Thompson leads the Company's military force around Ted's cabin.
  (How Do You Stop an Exploding Man?, Part 2)
• 
  Thompson has worked for the Company since at least 1991.
  (Company Man)
• 
  Thompson conducts interviews in his office.
  (Company Man)
• 
  Thompson is shot by Mr. Bennet.
  (Landslide)
• 
  Thompson first meets The Haitian while searching for Guillame.
  (It Takes a Village, Part 4)

See Also

• For other uses of Thompson, see Thompson (disambig).