SUPERPOWER: Intuitive aptitude

LOCATION: Washington D.C.

JOB: Former agent of Pinehearst and The Company. Currently living as Nathan Petrelli, U.S. Senator

FAMILY: Adoptive parents: Virginia Gray & Martin Gray

Season 1

Sylar's real name is Gabriel Gray and he started out as a watchmaker. Initially, he had a talent for knowing how things worked simply by looking at them. Clever, but not the kind of superpower he dreamed of. When Chandra Suresh approached him and told him about his theories, Gabriel felt his destiny was going to be fulfilled. But, after tests, Chandra told him he had no special abilities, so Sylar killed him. When Chandra's son, Mohinder, arrived, Sylar posed as Zane, one of the superheroes on Chandra's list. Mohinder soon realised this but not before leading him to some of the other heroes, including Isaac. Isaac told him his fate was to die at the hands of the heroes. Hiro, Matt and Peter were already after Isaac as they believed him to be the exploding man destined to destroy New York. They had also been trying to keep him away from Claire so he couldn't absorb her ability to heal, thus making him indestructible. Having killed Isaac, Sylar painted a picture of himself facing off against Peter at Kirby Plaza. Ando appeared in an attempt to stop him and revealed a comic book showing Hiro killing Sylar. Sylar dismissed it and headed off to face Peter. But it was Hiro who stabbed Sylar and seemingly killed him in the Season 1 finale, just as Isaac's comic had predicted.

Season 2

Sylar was discovered alive. It wasn't long before he crossed the path of Maya and Alejandro. Enticed by Maya's powers he started formulating a plan - except this one didn't include Alejandro or Maya. He just wanted his powers back - and by the end of Season 2 he had succeeded.

Season 3

On the hunt for Claire, he found her and obtained her powers. Visiting Level 5 he then killed Bob and attacked Elle, resulting in a power failure that allowed the Level 5 prisoners to escape. Back from the dead Arthur Petrelli recruited Sylar to Pinehearst. When Arthur ordered Sylar and Elle to get Claire, the couple got intimate. But they were interrupted by H.R.G, who tried - and failed - to kill Sylar. When Sylar terrorised the Bennets, H.R.G told him he wasn't really Arthur's son. Elle later told Sylar that he had changed for the better. But he proved, beyond all doubt, that he hadn't when he killed her. Sylar told Arthur he was working for no one but himself, had found a new set of targets and was hell-bent on finding out the truth about his parentage. Armed with Sue Landers' lie detecting abilities, Sylar arrived at Pinehearst just as Peter was about to shoot Arthur. He stopped the bullet and asked Arthur whether he really was his father. Arthur said he was but Sylar knew he was lying and let the bullet kill him. Next stop for Sylar was Primatech, where Angela stunned him by revealing she knew the secret of his parentage. But before Sylar had time to digest this, Claire stabbed him and left him for dead in Primatech. At the start of Volume 4, Sylar began the search for his real father. He met a boy, Luke, who knew his real father's location and the pair headed off. Nathan's henchmen weren't far behind and they managed to capture Luke. Having formed a strong bond, Sylar couldn't abandon him and returned, killing Nathan's men, and proving that he's one dude not to be messed with. Sylar discovered an old diner which triggered early childhood memories - not only had his own father sold him, but his father had murdered his mother. He finally tracked down his father and discovered he was dying of cancer. After a fight Sylar needed an even bigger challenge and broke into The Hunter's house. He captured Doyle and delivered him to Danko as a giftwrapped present. He then offered Danko his help. Danko agreed and together they captured and killed the shapeshifter. They used the body to fake Sylar's death. Shapeshifting gave Sylar the chance to wreak revenge on H.R.G and destroy him. But the new power started to become more trouble than it was worth. Sylar started to lose himself, waking up in a different form. However, as soon as he received forgiveness from his mother he decided to use Nathan's form to go after the President. Danko wasn't impressed and stabbed Sylar. Thinking he was dead Danko was shocked to see Sylar get right back up. He had shifted the vulnerable part of his brain to another part of his body. Sylar framed Danko for murder, leaving his path to the President clear. He killed Nathan, but was then taken out by Peter, who had copied his powers. The unconscious Sylar had his mind manipulated by Matt, forcing him to believe that he was Nathan Petrelli. He began his new life as Nathan, but was his true identity really gone for good?