Despite their 12-year age difference (and the fact that she played his niece onscreen), Ventimiglia struck up a highly buzzed-about romance with his "Heroes" costar in 2007. However, they split up nearly two years later due to their "very different lifestyles," according to People.
In a 2017 interview with Mr. Porter, Ventimiglia admitted that while he "wouldn't change a thing" about dating Panettiere, he "would never do it again," and by it, he meant dating costars. "There are things that happen to you in your life that shape who you are. Everything I've been through from jobs to friendships to partnerships, everything has built me to who I am," adding, "You learn from it. You learn a better way of doing things. It wasn't until my mid to late 20s that the job wears on you, relationships wear on you."