History Characters / PrisonBreakMain

* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Before his imprisonment in Fox Riber, he started a relationship with Susan, a divorced mother with two children. He genuinely loved them, but it only lasted until she discovered that he was also a vicious, wanted criminal. In season 2, he kidnaps them to force them to be the perfect family together, but when this doesn't work out he lets them go because he couldn't bring himself to hurt them.

->''"You’re a whore, and your mother was a whore, and her mother, and your father used to turn tricks at a gas station, ‘cause he was a whore, too."''

A Homeland Security agent, Self puts together the 'Scylla' team in an attempt to bring down the Company. [[spoiler:However, he later betrays them so he can sell off the highly valuable Scylla card.]]

* AcquiredSituationalNarcissism: Flush with the success of his [[spoiler:previous manipulations, Self grows confident to an idiotic point. He refuses to listen to good advice, allows his greed to result in botching lucrative deals and ultimately loses everything due to his own arrogance and certainty.]]
* TheAlcoholic: Implied to have been this before [[spoiler:his wife's accident.]]

* DeadpanSnarker: Has some shades of it, but becomes much more sarcastic [[spoiler:after the reveal that he was EvilAllAlong.]]

* EvilIsNotAToy: Self thinks that having the Scylla card will [[spoiler:make him top dog and rich, but the Company quickly turns things around on him.]]

* FaceHeelTurn: [[spoiler:Makes one halfway through season 4.]]

* IHaveYourWife: [[spoiler:Holds Gretchen's family hostage so that she gets him another buyer for Scylla.]] [[LaserGuidedKarma In return]], the General [[spoiler:holds his wife hostage.]]
* LaserGuidedKarma: His alcoholism resulted in [[spoiler:his wife ending up in a vegetative state, and his greedy manipulations eventually get her killed. Self ultimately winds up in a mute, vegetative state himself.]]
* ManipulativeBastard: Big time. He successfully manipulates [[spoiler:the entire Scylla team and numerous Homeland Security co-workers.]]

* WildCard: In the second half of season 4, his allegiance can shift constantly depending on who's giving him a better offer.

->'''Played By:''' Robert Knepper

->'''Played By:''' Wade Williams

* GrayEyes: Of the number 2 or number 5 variety.

* KarmaHoudini: Sure, he turns out into a nice guy after his HeelFaceTurn, but he also got away with [[spoiler: killing Tweener, Haywire and Abruzzi,]] although he's [[TheAtoner atoning for that]].

* TheChessmaster: A defining trait of his character is his manipulative abilities. Many characters usually end up doing his bidding by accident. He's actually said to see the world as pieces rather than entire objects.

* AbusiveParents: When Lincoln's in juvie, Michael is put in care of a very abusive man who keeps him locked up and beats him up until Aldo saves him.

->'''Played By:''' PeterStormare

* EarnYourHappyEnding: Debatable. [[spoiler:Yes, his brother dies, but he eventually has to get over it, and in the end of the story he's living happily with [[OfficialCouple Sofia]], LJ, Sara and his nephew, so it sort of counts.]]

* {{Jerkass}}: Can come across as this to others, but in reality he's a...

->'''Played By:''' Michael Rappaport

->'''Played By:''' Sarah Wayne Callies

* TheAce
** BrokenAce

** Season 1: Bellick was his main enemy, the greatest antagonist within Fox River who he had to frequently navigate around.

** BadassBookworm: As part of being the 'good brother', Michael studied hard and went to college.
** TookALevelInBadass: Prior to his decision to break out Lincoln, Michael was an engineer with no combat experience of any kind.

* ByronicHero

* HonorBeforeReason

* MrFanservice

* NotSoInvincibleAfterAll
* ParentalAbandonment: His father. It later turns out DaddyHasAGoodReasonForAbandoningYou.

* RedOniBlueOni: The blue to Lincoln's red.
* TattooAsCharacterType

** NotSoStoic: As the series progresses.
* TallDarkAndHandsome
** TallDarkAndSnarky

* TechnicalPacifist
* TroubledButCute

* AntiHero
* {{Badass}}
** BreakTheBadass

* BigGuy
* BoisterousBruiser
* TheBrute

* ByronicHero

* HairTriggerTemper
* HeWhoFightsMonsters

* HotBlooded

** JerkWithAHeartOfGold

* NervesOfSteel

* TragicHero
* TroubledButCute

* {{Badass}}
** BadassBiker: Gets a bike for some episodes of season 2.
** BadassBeard: In the movie.
** TookALevelInBadass: After breaking out of Fox River.
* BaldOfAwesome
* TheBigGuy
* BreakTheHaughty
* ButtMonkey
* CosmicPlaything
* DeadpanSnarker
* TheDitz

* GratuitousSpanish

* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Michael.
* HonorBeforeReason: Numerous times.

* TragicHero
* WildCard: Briefly, in season 2.

** BadassGay: Bi, actually, but still counts.
** BadassMoustache: In the final season.
** HandicappedBadass: After [[spoiler:John cuts his left hand.]] He gets patched up for some time, but [[spoiler:his efforts to re-attach fail and he ends up using a prosthetic hand.]]

* BiTheWay

* ChildByRape: He is one.

* DepravedBisexual

* EvilGenius
* {{Fingore}}
* FreudianExcuse: His [[BrotherSisterIncest dad raped his down-syndrome sister]], producing T-Bag. Not to mention what stuff he did to his son.

* JokerImmunity

* MadeOfIron
* ManipulativeBastard
* TheOneThatGotAway: Views [[ShrinkingViolet Susan]] as this.

* RapeAsDrama: In his backstory.
* SharpDressedMan: While posing as Cole Pfeiffer.

* WickedCultured
* WildCard

* ActionSurvivor: to the point where she graduates to...
** ActionGirl
* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: She even lampshades this with a bit of self-deprecation.
* {{Badass}}
** BadassAdorable
** TookALevelInBadass: Starting on season 2.
** PregnantBadass: In the movie.
* BreakOutCharacter
* BrokenBird
* TheChick
* ColdBloodedTorture: [[spoiler: Paul Kellerman]] tortures her in the second season to get Michael's location.

* DeadpanSnarker: From time to time.

* DrugsAreBad: After a lot of CharacterDevelopment, she affirms this.
* FakingTheDead: [[spoiler:All along season 3.]]

* HelloNurse
* HeroesWantRedheads

* HospitalHottie

* TheMedic
* MsFanservice: In season 4.
* NiceGirl
* NotQuiteDead

* {{Badass}}
** CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass
** TookALevelInBadass

* BreakOutCharacter

* TheBully

* DeadpanSnarker
* DirtyCop

* DyingMomentOfAwesome
* EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: He loves his mother, particularly since his father died when he was just a kid.

* HeelFaceTurn: In season 3.
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: In season 4.]]
* HiddenDepths

* {{Jerkass}}: In the first season. then cue CharacterDevelopment and being incarcelated in Sona, which leads to him falling into...
** JerkWithAHeartOfGold

* KilledOffForReal

* MommasBoy

* SacrificialLion
* SixthRanger
* SmugSnake

* AllLoveIsUnrequited: For Caroline.

* AxCrazy: Initially.
* BackForTheFinale
* {{Badass}}
** BadassInANiceSuit
* BodyguardCrush: On his ChildhoodFriend, the Vice-President of the US Caroline Reynolds.

* DeadpanSnarker

* FakingTheDead

* KarmaHoudini
* ManipulativeBastard
* TheMenInBlack

* SharpDressedMan
* SmugSnake

* TortureTechnician

* WildCard: In season 2.

* ActionSurvivor
* BackForTheFinale
* {{Badass}}
** TookALevelInBadass: After a while on the run.
* BewareTheNiceOnes
* BreakTheCutie
* ButtMonkey

* HotBlooded
* InnocentBlueEyes

* MoralityPet: To his dad.
* NiceGuy
* PutOnABus
** TheBusCameBack
* TagAlongKid: Before he TookALevelInBadass.
* TraumaCongaLine

* YoungGun

* {{Badass}}
** BadassBeard: From time to time.
* BaldOfAwesome
* BigGuy
* [[BigDamnHeroes Big Damn Hero]]: When he saves his daughter, a waitress and everyone else at a restaurant from an armed thief.

* ButtMonkey
* ChronicHeroSyndrome

** InterruptedSuicide: [[spoiler: The guards find him just in time to save him.]]
* EarnYourHappyEnding
* FriendInTheBlackMarket

* HiddenDepths

* {{Jerkass}}
** JerkWithAHeartOfGold

* PapaWolf

** TheBusCameBack
** BackForTheFinale
* ScaryBlackMan

* TheSixthRanger
* TechnicalPacifist

* BackForTheDead
* {{Badass}}
** BadassInANiceSuit: After breaking out.
* DeadpanSnarker
* DefiantToTheEnd
* TheDon
* DroppedABridgeOnHim
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: His wife and kids.
* EvenEvilHasStandards
* FaceDeathWithDignity
* FauxAffablyEvil
* HappilyMarried

* HeelFaithTurn

* TheMafia
* ManipulativeBastard
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone
* NearDeathExperience: When T-Bag slits his throat.
* OohMeAccentsSlipping
** WhatTheHellIsThatAccent: He slips in and out of about a dozen different accents.

* SacrificialLion

* SuicideByCop
* WildCard
* WouldntHurtAChild

* BrainyBrunette
* BoomHeadshot

* {{Determinator}}

* HelloAttorney
* InnocentBlueEyes
* NeverFoundTheBody
* NiceGirl

* PutOnABus
** BusCrash
* SacrificialLion
* StarCrossedLovers: With Lincoln.
* StupidGood
* StuffedInTheFridge

* WideEyedIdealist
* YouGoGirl

* TheAtoner
* {{Badass}}
** BadassInANiceSuit
** BadassNormal

* BestServedCold
* BreakOutCharacter

* ByronicHero

* CombatPragmatist
* DeadpanSnarker
* DefectiveDetective

* EarnYourHappyEnding
* FairCop

* GoingColdTurkey: In Season Three.
* HannibalLecture
* HeelFaceTurn: Eventually, when the company loses interest in him on the third season, he begins to change for the better.

* KnightInSourArmour

* LastNameBasis

* RoomFullOfCrazy

* TheSmartGuy
* TortureTechnician

* WorthyOpponent: To Michael.

* ActionGirl
* AffablyEvil

* AloofDarkHairedGirl
* AxCrazy
* {{Badass}}
** BadassInDistress: At the beginning on season 4, while the company has her captive.

* BrokenBird
* CatholicSchoolgirlsRule
* CreepyBlueEyes

* DeadpanSnarker

* DarkActionGirl

* FemmeFatale

* HumiliationConga
* IcyBlueEyes
* JokerImmunity

* MamaBear
* MayDecemberRomance: With the General, although 'romance' is perhaps not the best word.

* PsychoForHire: To the point that Lincoln actually compares her to a mercenary.

* SmugSnake
* TheStoic
* TortureTechnician
* WildCard

* BackForTheFinale
* BeautyEqualsGoodness
* TheChick
* DemotedToExtra: In the fourth season.

* GratuitousSpanish
* TheHeart
* TheIngenue

* NiceGirl
* PutOnABus: On season 4.
** TheBusCameBack: In "Killing Your Number".
* ShesGotLegs
* SpicyLatina

* AffablyEvil
* AmbiguousAllegiance: All through season 3, the audience is left wondering which side does he really play for.
** It's finally resolved in the season finale; [[spoiler:he works for the Company.]]
* AustralianAccent
* {{Badass}}
** CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass
* BoomHeadshot
* ButtMonkey

* ConsummateLiar

* DroppedABridgeOnHim
* EnigmaticMinion
* GreyAndGrayMorality
* KilledMidSentence
* LivingMacGuffin
* SacrificialLion

* {{Badass}}

* BaldOfEvil

* [[BeardOfEvil Goatee of Evil]]: He has one.

* HotBlooded
* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter: He chooses [[TheStarscream T-Bag]] as a right-hand man.
* {{Jerkass}}

* FieryRedhead
* HotBlooded

* WildCard: In the second half of season 4.

* EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: His mother.

* [[spoiler:BetterToDieThanBeKilled: Sort of. He ''was'' dying anyway, so he performs a HeroicSacrifice to allow Sara to escape from the prison.]]

* [[spoiler:CharacterDeath: He electrocutes himself to allow Sarah to escape.]]

* [[spoiler:DyingMomentOfAwesome: He rips a wire apart with his bare hands, getting electrocuted in the process.]]

* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: To free Sara from prison, he ends up being forced to electrocute himself.]]

* [[spoiler:NotSoInvincibleAfterAll]]

** [[spoiler:PregnantBadass:]] In the movie.

* [[spoiler:DecapitationPresentation: By Gretchen in the third season, although it was faked.]]

* [[spoiler:FakingTheDead: All along season 3.]]

* [[spoiler:NotQuiteDead]]

* [[spoiler: DyingMomentOfAwesome]]

* [[spoiler: HeroicSacrifice:]] In season 4.

* [[spoiler: KilledOffForReal]]

* [[spoiler: SacrificialLion]]

* [[spoiler: BackForTheFinale]]

* [[spoiler: FakingTheDead]]

* [[spoiler: InterruptedSuicide: Attempts to kill himself in the second season, but the gun jams.]]
* [[spoiler: KarmaHoudini]]

* [[spoiler: NotQuiteDead: Season 4 reveals he's still alive all along.]]

* [[spoiler: [[YouKilledMyFather You Killed My Mother:]]]] He's not forgiving Paul for that anytime soon.

* [[spoiler: BackForTheDead]]

* [[spoiler: DefiantToTheEnd]]

* [[spoiler: DroppedABridgeOnHim]]

* [[spoiler: FaceDeathWithDignity]]

* [[spoiler: SacrificialLion]]

* [[spoiler: SuicideByCop]]

* [[spoiler: BoomHeadshot]]

* [[spoiler: NeverFoundTheBody]]

** [[spoiler: BusCrash]]
* [[spoiler: SacrificialLion]]

* [[spoiler: StuffedInTheFridge]]

* [[spoiler: [[YouKilledMyFather You Killed My Son:]]]] The reason why [[spoiler: he hunts down Wyatt, and later tortures and kills him.]]

* [[spoiler:AffablyEvil]]

* [[spoiler:BoomHeadshot]]

* [[spoiler:CharacterDeath: He's shot in the back of the head by Wyatt after escaping SONA.]]

* [[spoiler:DroppedABridgeOnHim]]

* [[spoiler:KilledMidSentence]]

* [[spoiler:SacrificialLion]]

* [[spoiler:AssholeVictim: Fun as he might have been, he certainly deserved to die.]]

* [[spoiler:CharacterDeath: T-Bag kills him after manipulating him into giving away the location of his money.]]

* [[spoiler:FaceDeathWithDignity: Just look at his expression when he realizes T-Bag is going to kill him.]]

* [[spoiler:BigBadFriend: To the Scylla group. He doesn't care about bringing down the Company, he just wants to steal from them and make money off selling the Scylla card. He then operates as the resident BigBad for a few episodes before the Company catches up with him.]]

* [[spoiler:ChronicBackstabbingDisorder:]] [[spoiler:He betrays Michael and the team, Trishanne/Miriam Hultz, Vikan the buyer for Scylla, the Representative... he just can't stop. He loves betraying people.]]

* [[spoiler:DefiantToTheEnd: Even when critically wounded, he still taunts the FBI agents that question him.]]
* [[spoiler:EvenEvilHasLovedOnes:]] He loves his wife dearly, and seems to be [[spoiler:committing such evil acts partly so he can better provide for her.]]
* [[spoiler:EvilAllAlong: It's revealed that from the very beginning he was using the Scylla team and constantly lying to them.]]

* [[spoiler:EvilRedhead: It's eventually revealed that he was EvilAllAlong.]]
* [[spoiler:FakingTheDead:]] To his superior; [[spoiler:after the FaceHeelTurn, he calls him and pretends to be killed by Lincoln.]]
* [[spoiler:FateWorseThanDeath: Self winds up pretty much brain-dead and catatonic.]]
* [[spoiler:FaceHeelTurn:]] Makes one halfway through season 4.

* [[spoiler:ManipulativeBastard:]] Big time. He successfully [[spoiler:manipulates the entire Scylla team and numerous Homeland Security co-workers.]]
* [[spoiler:SmugSnake: Self gradually becomes more smug and self-assured after TheReveal that he was EvilAllAlong, but the General is still far out of his league.]]

* [[spoiler:WouldHurtAChild: Self is happy to hold Gretchen's daughter hostage to force her into helping him.]]
[[/folder]]

* InSeriesNickname: "LJ", which comes from Lincoln Jr. He's nicknamed this by everyone to [[NamesTheSame avoid confusion with his father]].

* NamesTheSame: He has the same name than his father, so he's nicknamed "LJ" by everyone.

* TheDanza: He's played by Paul Adelstein.

* AffablyEvil: Has to be the most likeable paedophile, serial killer, rapist, bigot on TV.
* AintTooProudToBeg
* AxCrazy

* {{Badass}}

** BadassMoustache

* ButtMonkey
* TheCharmer

* CombatPragmatist

* IHaveYouNowMyPretty: The most prominent case of this was with [[spoiler: Sara]] in season 4.
* InSeriesNickname: Like most inmates, he gets a nickname in prison: "T-Bag".
* {{Jerkass}}

* KavorkaMan
* LargeHam
* LeanAndMean

* PhotographicMemory
* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain

* RapeAsDrama

* TheSociopath
* SouthernFriedGenius
* TokenEvilTeammate

** [[spoiler: PregnantBadass:]] In the movie.

* TheDanza: Played by Sarah Wayne Callies, who originally wanted the name changed, but eventually warmed up to it.

* [[spoiler: FakingTheDead: All along season 3.]]

* ForcedToWatch: [[spoiler: Gretchen kills Michelle Taylor, the girl who was helping Sara escape, in front of her and forces her to watch as she dies.]]

* HeroicBSOD: When [[spoiler: her father dies.]]

* [[IHaveYourWife I Have Your Daughter]]: She holds [[spoiler: Lisa Tabek]] hostage to coerce the General.
* TheLostLenore: It's strongly implied that [[spoiler: Michael]] has become this to her.

* [[spoiler: NotQuiteDead]]
* {{Ojou}}: When she was growing up, it's implied she was this.

* {{Fake Nationality}}/{{Fake American}}: Peter Stormare is Swedish. Abruzzi's a Sicilian-American mob boss.

* HotDad

* [[spoiler: KilledOffForReal]]

* [[spoiler: KilledOffForReal]]

* HeyItsThatGuy: William Fichtner made his living off of this.

* AgonyOfTheFeet
* ArchEnemy: He has a few of these, what with being TheHero and all. T-Bag is the most consistent, with the others either doing [[HeelFaceTurn Heel Face Turns]] or being killed off.
* TheAtoner: For all the pain and trouble he caused breaking out Lincoln, such as getting Pope fired.
* {{Badass}}
** BadassBookworm
** TookALevelInBadass
* BaldOfAwesome
* BetterToDieThanBeKilled: Sort of. He ''was'' dying anyway, so he performs a HeroicSacrifice to allow Sara to escape from the prison.
* BewareTheNiceOnes
* {{Bishonen}}

* CharacterDeath: He electrocutes himself to allow Sarah to escape.
* TheChessmaster

* TheDeterminator
* DeadlyNosebleed: In season 4.
* DeadpanSnarker
* DyingMomentOfAwesome: He rips a wire apart with his bare hands, getting electrocuted in the process.

* GuileHero: Michael isn't the best fighter in the show, so he escapes situations using his wits. A good example would be when he outsmarts Sammy by tricking him into using Michael's escape tunnel in SONA. He'd rigged the tunnel to cave in.
* TheHero

* HeroicSacrifice

* ParentalAbandonment: His father.

* TattooedCrook

* XanatosSpeedChess

* BaldOfAwesome

* CoolUncle: Implied to have become this for Michael and Sara's son.

* {{Frameup}}

* MeetCute: He meets Sofia when he threatens her with a gun and steals Whistler's bird book from her. They [[OfficialCouple end up together]].
* NearDeathExperience: Halfway through the first season, he's strapped to the electric chair and was almost sentenced to death, but was saved at the last minute by [[spoiler: the information Aldo delivers to the judge.]]

* PromotionToParent: After her mother dies, he's all that Michael's got left.

* TheUnfavorite: [[EvilMatriarch Christina]]]] directly states that Michael was the preferred son, due to being her actual biological son, and Lincoln being adopted. WordOfGod later confirmed this was a lie, but Christina's preference was still real.

* HappilyMarried: Ends up as this.

* LifeOfTheParty: He's the only one of the group dancing in [[spoiler: Michael and Sara's secret wedding.]]
* NeverSpeakIllOfTheDead: [[spoiler: After Brad's death, he won't forgive anyone who says anything bad about him.]]
* NiceGuy

** HandicappedBadass: After [[spoiler: John cuts his left hand.]] He gets patched up for some time, but [[spoiler: remains witha prosthetic hand eventually.]]

* BecomingTheMask: As Cole Pfeiffer

* [[spoiler:AssholeVictim]]

* BadBoss

* EnemyMine

* FreudianExcuse
* FromNobodyToNightmare

* ScaryBlackMan

* AcquiredSituationalNarcissim: Flush with the success of his [[spoiler:previous manipulations, Self grows confident to an idiotic point. He refuses to listen to good advice, allows his greed to result in botching lucrative deals and ultimately loses everything due to his own arrogance and certainty.]]

* DeadpanSnarker: Has some shades of it.

* [[spoiler:EvilAllAlong]]

* {{Jerkass}}

* [[spoiler:SmugSnake]]
* [[spoiler:WildCard:]] In the second half of season 4.

* [[spoiler: AffablyEvil]]

** It's finally resolved in the season finale; [[spoiler: he works for the Company.]]

* [[spoiler: BoomHeadshot]]

* [[spoiler: DroppedABridgeOnHim]]

* [[spoiler: KilledMidSentence]]

* [[spoiler: SacrificialLion]]

* [[spoiler: AssholeVictim]]

* BaldBlackLeaderGuy

* EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas
* [[spoiler: FaceDeathWithDignity: Just look at his expression when he realizes T-Bag is going to kill him.]]

* [[BeardOfEvil Goatee of Evil]]
* HairTriggerTemper

* LargeHam

* SmugSnake

[[caption-width-right:350:''"Don’t mistake my patience for weakness."'']]

A Homeland Security agent, Self puts together the 'Scylla' team in an attempt to bring down the Company. [[spoiler: However, he later betrays them so he can sell off the highly valuable Scylla card.]]

* TheAlcoholic: Implied to have been this before [[spoiler: his wife's accident.]]
* {{Badass}}
** BadassInANiceSuit
** CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass
* [[spoiler: BigBadFriend]]
* BrooklynRage
* [[spoiler: ChronicBackstabbingDisorder:]] [[spoiler: He betrays Michael and the team, Trishanne/Miriam Hultz, Vikan the buyer for Scylla, the Representative... he just can't stop. He loves betraying people.]]

* [[spoiler: DefiantToTheEnd]]
* [[spoiler: EvenEvilHasLovedOnes:]] His wife.
* [[spoiler: EvilAllAlong]]
* [[spoiler: EvilRedhead]]
* [[spoiler: FakingTheDead:]] To his superior; [[spoiler: after the FaceHeelTurn, he calls him and pretends to be killed by Lincoln.]]
* [[spoiler: FateWorseThanDeath:]] How he ends up.
* [[spoiler: FaceHeelTurn:]] Makes one halfway through season 4.

* GrewASpine: Sort of. [[spoiler: In his final appearance, he refuses to tell FBI agents the whereabouts of Michael and the others, and in his final moments of clarity he just tells the agents "kiss my ass".]]

* IHaveYourWife: [[spoiler: Holds Gretchen's family hostage so that she gets him another buyer for Scylla.]]
** [[LaserGuidedKarma In return]], the General [[spoiler: holds his wife hostage.]]

* LaserGuidedKarma
* [[spoiler: ManipulativeBastard:]] Big time.
* MeaningfulName
* SharpDressedMan
* SmugSnake
* [[spoiler: WildCard:]] In the second half of season 4.

->'''Played By:''' CreatorWentworthMiller

[[folder:Veronica]]
!!Veronica Donovan
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/VeronicaDonovan_3093.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"You two have the most dysfuntional idea of love I've ever seen. What, he beats you up to keep you off the streets, so you get yourself thrown into Fox River with him? To what... save him?"'']]
->'''Played By:''' Robin Tunney

->''"This is desperation, Michael. You're grabbing at straws. You're in denial."''

A successful attorney and Lincoln's ex-girlfriend. She works to uncover the conspiracy surrounding Lincoln's imprisonment.

* AbortedArc: Her role was supposed to be much bigger, but it's dropped in season 2 when the actress and the producers couldn't think of another plotline for her to follow.
* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: Her atraction to Lincoln.
* BrainyBrunette
* [[spoiler: BoomHeadshot]]
* ChildhoodFriend: Has known Michael and Lincoln for quite a long time.
* {{Determinator}}
* DisposableFiance: She has one at the beginning, and quickly breaks up with him due to having feelings for Lincoln.
* HelloAttorney
* InnocentBlueEyes

* [[spoiler: NeverFoundTheBody]]
* NiceGirl
* OhCrap: Her reaction when [[spoiler: she realizes she's about to [[BoomHeadshot be killed]].]]
* PutOnABus
** [[spoiler: BusCrash]]

* StarCrossedLovers: With Lincoln.
* StupidGood
* [[spoiler: StuffedInTheFridge]]
* TooDumbToLive: Has some moments of this, such as allowing [[SacrificialLamb Leticia Barris]] to wonder on her own despite knowing she's being hunted down by the secret service. [[spoiler: It eventually catches up to her.]]
* WideEyedIdealist
* YouGoGirl

[[folder:Abruzzi]]
!!John Abruzzi
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/JohnAbruzzi_1936.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"Does not a warm handshake feel better than a cold... shank?"'']]
->'''Played By:''' PeterStormare

->''"I kneel only to God. I don't see him here."''

An infamous mobster who Michael needs to fund parts of the escape. He becomes something of a co-leader of the break-out team with Michael, but begins to lose the mob connections that made him valuable.

* AbsenteeActor: Had his throat slit by T-Bag and was in the hospital for six episodes because of Peter Stormare's obligations to shoot some weird Volkswagon commercials.
* TheAtoner: For a short while after he experiences an attack of guilt when his henchman inadvertently kills a young boy.
* [[spoiler: BackForTheDead]]
* {{Badass}}
** BadassInANiceSuit: After breaking out.
* DeadpanSnarker
* [[spoiler: DefiantToTheEnd]]
* TheDon
* [[spoiler: DroppedABridgeOnHim]]
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: His wife and kids.
* EvenEvilHasStandards
* [[spoiler: FaceDeathWithDignity]]
* {{Fake Nationality}}/{{Fake American}}: Peter Stormare is Swedish. Abruzzi's a Sicilian-American mob boss.
* FauxAffablyEvil
* HappilyMarried
* HeelFaceRevolvingDoor: Throughout Season 1.
* HeelFaithTurn
* HotDad
* ImportantHaircut: Cuts his hair as soon as he returns to Fox River from Chicago.

* MadeOfIron: He survives his throat being slashed by T-Bag.
* TheMafia
* ManipulativeBastard
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone
* NearDeathExperience: When T-Bag slits his throat.
* OohMeAccentsSlipping
** WhatTheHellIsThatAccent: He slips in and out of about a dozen different accents.
* RealLifeWritesThePlot: Peter Stormare wanted to leave the show, so Abruzzi [[spoiler: was killed off quickly at the beginning of season 2.]]

* SharpDressedMan: After escaping.
* [[spoiler: SuicideByCop]]
* WildCard
* WouldntHurtAChild

!Introduced Season 3

!Main Characters (

!Main Characters

[[folder:Mahone]]
!!Alexander 'Alex' Mahone
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/AlexanderMahone_3390.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"I don't want either of you. I JUST WANT MY LIFE BACK!"'']]
->'''Played By:''' William Fichtner

->''"There's one big difference between you and I, Michael. You just proved it. You can't kill. And that's what it's going to take to stop me because I don't have the same reservations. I can't. So whether it's today in Gila, or tomorrow in Albuquerque, or two months from now in Panama... I will get you. I don't have a choice."''

A troubled FBI agent tasked with tracking down the Fox River Eight. He's secretly being blackmailed by the Company to kill the Fox River Eight, and is constantly looking for a way out.

* AddictionDisplacement: He replaces his medication with heroin in Sona, due to them being the next best thing. After a failed trial, he tries to quit and replaces his addiction by staring at a picture of his son provided by Lang every time he feels like he's losing it.
* AmicablyDivorced: With Pam in the series finale.
* AntiVillain
** AntiHero: After his HeelFaceTurn.
* ArchEnemy: To Michael before his {{Heel Face Turn}}.
* TheAtoner

** BadassNormal
* BadCopIncompetentCop: Downplayed. He is by no means incompetent, and he is only a bad cop in the second season [[spoiler: because the Company forces him to be so.]]
* BerserkButton: Any insults or threats regarding Pam or his son Cameron will not be well received.
* BestServedCold
* BreakOutCharacter
* BunnyEarsLawyer: While he was still an agent.
* ByronicHero
* ColdBloodedTorture: Does this to Wyatt in the fourth season, proving to be a quite skilled TortureTechnician, [[spoiler: before he eventually kills him.]]
* CombatPragmatist

* DefectiveDetective
* DirtyCop: He is forced by the company to become this, after his stress snaps and he kills Shales, the monster he had been hunting for years.
* EarnYourHappyEnding
* FairCop
* FunctionalAddict: In Season Two. Not so much when he's trapped in Sona during Season Three and turns to heroin.
* GeniusBruiser: While his major attribute is being [[TheChessmaster extremely intelligent]], he's actually one of the, if not ''the'' best fighters in the series. He bests even BigGuy Lincoln and can effortlessly plow through entire squads of {{mook}}s if necessary. If it wasn't for his psychological issues and {{woobie}} status he'd be the biggest badass in the series by far.
* GoingColdTurkey: In Season Three.
* HannibalLecture
* HeelFaceTurn: Eventually, when the company loses interest in him on the third season, he begins to change for the better.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: to a lesser extend than most cases, but still counts, with Lincoln.
* HeyItsThatGuy: William Fichtner made his living off of this.
* InSeriesNickname: He's called Alex so much by practically every character in the series (those who don't just call him Mahone, of course), one tends to forget his real name is actually Alexander.
* KarmaHoudini: Sure, he turns out into a nice guy after his HeelFaceTurn, but he also got away with [[spoiler: killing Tweener, Haywire and Abruzzi,]] although he's [[TheAtoner atoning for that]].
* KnightInSourArmour
* TheLancer: Becomes this to Michael in Sona.
* LastNameBasis
* PapaWolf: Shoots and kills the man who injures his son. Not to mention what he does to [[spoiler: [[TortureAlwaysWorks the guy who actually kills his son]].]]
* RelationshipUpgrade: With Agent Lang.
* RoomFullOfCrazy
* SanitySlippage: He gets better.
* ShutUpHannibal: To [[KilledMidSentence Wyatt]].
* TheSmartGuy

* WildCard: In season 3, before alligning himself to Whistler.
* WorthyOpponent: To Michael.
* [[spoiler: [[YouKilledMyFather You Killed My Son:]]]] The reason why [[spoiler: he hunts down Wyatt, and later tortures and kills him.]]

[[folder:Kellerman]]
!!Paul Kellerman
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/PaulKellerman_5594.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"I am going to do something, I have to do something, that a lot of people are going to think is horrible."'']]
->'''Played By:''' Paul Adelstein

->''"Certain number of bodies you can sweep under the rug. President's rug is getting so full you can barely stand on it."''

A Secret Service agent acting as the brutal right hand of Vice President Reynolds. Their friendship begins to fade as she climbs the political ladder, leading him to become increasingly conflicted.

* AbusiveParents: His father and mother.
* AllLoveIsUnrequited: For Caroline.
* AloofBigBrother: He was a KnightTemplarBigBrother until he turned 18, when he left his house and never went back for his sister. He hasn't seen her in years since then.
* AxCrazy: Initially.
* [[spoiler: BackForTheFinale]]

** BadassInANiceSuit
* BodyguardCrush: On his ChildhoodFriend, the Vice-President of the US Caroline Reynolds.
* ColdBloodedTorture: Does this to [[spoiler: Sara]] early in season 2.
* TheDanza: He's played by Paul Adelstein.
* DeadpanSnarker
* TheDragon: For Reynolds, at first.
* [[spoiler: FakingTheDead]]
* GoOutWithASmile: "In the French resistance it was considered a high honor to face a Nazi firing squad...meant you did your job. The highest honor was to smile when they shot you."
* HeelFaceTurn: After betraying the company.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Danny Hale. Until [[spoiler: he kills him, at least.]]
* HumiliationConga: But he gets better.
* [[spoiler: InterruptedSuicide: Attempts to kill himself in the second season, but the gun jams.]]
* [[spoiler: KarmaHoudini]]
* ManipulativeBastard
* TheMenInBlack
* MoralityPet: His sister, despite not having seen her in years.
* [[spoiler: NotQuiteDead: Season 4 reveals he's still alive all along.]]
* SecretIdentity: As Owen, a salesman, as LJ finds out [[MistakenForMurderer the hard way]].
* SharpDressedMan
* SmugSnake
* TookALevelInKindness: In season 2.
* TortureTechnician
* UnluckyChildhoodFriend: For Caroline Reynolds, according to Terrance.
* {{Unperson}}: By Bill Kim's doing.
* WildCard: In season 2.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:L.J.]]
!!Lincoln "LJ" Burrows Jr.
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/LJBurrows_9942.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"You think I give a damn about justice? I just want to do to them what they did to me."'']]
->'''Played By:''' Marshall Allman

->'''Gretchen''': ''"What's so funny?"''
->'''LJ''': ''"You, thinking you can outsmart my uncle."''

The son of Lincoln Burrows and Lisa Rix. He has a difficult relationship with his parents, but comes to realize the truth after being attacked by company agents.
----
* AManIsNotAVirgin: Played with. In season 2, Lincoln asks him when did he start noticing girls, and LJ replies that a couple of years ago, he was with the girl who lived next door and helped him with his homework. It's unknown if the relationship got sexual or not, and all LJ says is that "she certainly earned her money for the lessons".
* ActionSurvivor
* BackForTheFinale
* {{Badass}}

[[folder:Gretchen]]
!!Gretchen Morgan (AKA Susan B. Anthony)
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/GretchenMorgan_5761.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"You push anything into a corner too far and the claws will come out."'']]
->'''Played By:''' Jodi Lyn O'Keefe

->''"I'm just a soldier in this war, Lincoln, just like you."''

A ruthless company agent blackmailing Lincoln and Michael to break James Whistler out of SONA. After numerous failures, the Company tries to have her killed only for her to escape and begin working against them.

* ActionGirl
* AffablyEvil
* AloofBigSister: Sometimes seems to be this towards her sister Rita.
* AloofDarkHairedGirl
* AxCrazy

** BadassInDistress: At the beginning on season 4, while the company has her captive.
* BiTheWay: The way she leans on towards Sofia while commenting on how beautiful she was leaves little to the imagination. Also, when [[spoiler: she's in prison,]] she seduces a female guard in exchange for a favor.
* BoyishShortHair: In the movie.
* BrokenBird
* CatholicSchoolgirlsRule
* CreepyBlueEyes
* ColdBloodedTorture: Does this to Sara through the third season. [[LaserGuidedKarma In return]], Wyatt tortures her in early season 4.

* DepravedBisexual: If her behaviour around Sofia and Sara is anything to go by...
* DarkActionGirl
* DeadpanSnarker: Emphasis on deadpan.
* FemmeFatale
* HeelFaceTurn: Sort of; she doesn't work for the company anymore, but she's not liked with the good guys either. So, she sort of just [[WildCard works for herself]]. Still, you have to admit she did some changing in the movie when [[spoiler: she allows Sara to leave without her, turning herself in so that Sara isn't caught.]]
* HumiliationConga
* IcyBlueEyes
* JokerImmunity
* LaserGuidedKarma: She tortures Sara in season 3 and gets tortured herself in season 4.
* MamaBear
* MayDecemberRomance: With the General, although 'romance' is perhaps not the best word.
* MoralityPet: Her daughter and sister.
* MsFanservice: Season 4 has her dress up in a naughty school girl outfit as means to seduce the General.
* PsychoForHire: To the point that Lincoln actually compares her to a mercenary.
* SecretIdentity: We learn her real name from Whistler halfway through season 3.
* SmugSnake
* TheStoic
* TortureTechnician

[[folder:Veronica]]
!!Veronica Donovan
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/VeronicaDonovan_3093.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"You two have the most dysfuntional idea of love I've ever seen. What, he beats you up to keep you off the streets, so you get yourself thrown into Fox River with him? To what... save him?"'']]
->'''Played By:''' Robin Tunney

->''"This is desperation, Michael. You're grabbing at straws. You're in denial."''

A successful attorney and Lincoln's ex-girlfriend. She works to uncover the conspiracy surrounding Lincoln's imprisonment.

* AbortedArc: Her role was supposed to be much bigger, but it's dropped in season 2 when the actress and the producers couldn't think of another plotline for her to follow.
* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: Her atraction to Lincoln.
* BrainyBrunette
* [[spoiler: BoomHeadshot]]
* ChildhoodFriend: Has known Michael and Lincoln for quite a long time.
* {{Determinator}}
* DisposableFiance: She has one at the beginning, and quickly breaks up with him due to having feelings for Lincoln.
* HelloAttorney
* InnocentBlueEyes
* [[spoiler: KilledOffForReal]]
* [[spoiler: NeverFoundTheBody]]
* NiceGirl
* OhCrap: Her reaction when [[spoiler: she realizes she's about to [[BoomHeadshot be killed]].]]
* PutOnABus
** [[spoiler: BusCrash]]
* [[spoiler: SacrificialLion]]
* StarCrossedLovers: With Lincoln.
* StupidGood
* [[spoiler: StuffedInTheFridge]]
* TooDumbToLive: Has some moments of this, such as allowing [[SacrificialLamb Leticia Barris]] to wonder on her own despite knowing she's being hunted down by the secret service. [[spoiler: It eventually catches up to her.]]
* WideEyedIdealist
* YouGoGirl
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Self]]
!!Donald 'Don' Self
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/DonSelf_5319.jpg]]
->'''Played By:''' Michael Rappaport
[[caption-width-right:350:''"Don’t mistake my patience for weakness."'']]

->''"You’re a whore, and your mother was a whore, and her mother, and your father used to turn tricks at a gas station, ‘cause he was a whore, too."''

A Homeland Security agent, Self puts together the 'Scylla' team in an attempt to bring down the Company. [[spoiler: However, he later betrays them so he can sell off the highly valuable Scylla card.]]
----
* TheAlcoholic: Implied to have been this before [[spoiler: his wife's accident.]]

** CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass
* [[spoiler: BigBadFriend]]
* BrooklynRage
* [[spoiler: ChronicBackstabbingDisorder:]] [[spoiler: He betrays Michael and the team, Trishanne/Miriam Hultz, Vikan the buyer for Scylla, the Representative... he just can't stop. He loves betraying people.]]
* DeadpanSnarker: Has some shades of it.
* [[spoiler: DefiantToTheEnd]]
* [[spoiler: EvenEvilHasLovedOnes:]] His wife.
* [[spoiler: EvilAllAlong]]
* [[spoiler: EvilRedhead]]
* [[spoiler: FakingTheDead:]] To his superior; [[spoiler: after the FaceHeelTurn, he calls him and pretends to be killed by Lincoln.]]
* [[spoiler: FateWorseThanDeath:]] How he ends up.
* [[spoiler: FaceHeelTurn:]] Makes one halfway through season 4.
* FieryRedhead
* GrewASpine: Sort of. [[spoiler: In his final appearance, he refuses to tell FBI agents the whereabouts of Michael and the others, and in his final moments of clarity he just tells the agents "kiss my ass".]]
* HotBlooded
* IHaveYourWife: [[spoiler: Holds Gretchen's family hostage so that she gets him another buyer for Scylla.]]
** [[LaserGuidedKarma In return]], the General [[spoiler: holds his wife hostage.]]
* {{Jerkass}}
* LaserGuidedKarma
* [[spoiler: ManipulativeBastard:]] Big time.
* MeaningfulName
* SharpDressedMan
* SmugSnake
* [[spoiler: WildCard:]] In the second half of season 4.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Abruzzi]]
!!John Abruzzi
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/JohnAbruzzi_1936.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"Does not a warm handshake feel better than a cold... shank?"'']]
->'''Played By:''' PeterStormare

->''"I kneel only to God. I don't see him here."''

An infamous mobster who Michael needs to fund parts of the escape. He becomes something of a co-leader of the break-out team with Michael, but begins to lose the mob connections that made him valuable.
----
* AbsenteeActor: Had his throat slit by T-Bag and was in the hospital for six episodes because of Peter Stormare's obligations to shoot some weird Volkswagon commercials.
* TheAtoner: For a short while after he experiences an attack of guilt when his henchman inadvertently kills a young boy.
* [[spoiler: BackForTheDead]]
* {{Badass}}
** BadassInANiceSuit: After breaking out.

* [[spoiler: DefiantToTheEnd]]
* TheDon
* [[spoiler: DroppedABridgeOnHim]]
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: His wife and kids.
* EvenEvilHasStandards
* [[spoiler: FaceDeathWithDignity]]
* {{Fake Nationality}}/{{Fake American}}: Peter Stormare is Swedish. Abruzzi's a Sicilian-American mob boss.
* FauxAffablyEvil
* HappilyMarried
* HeelFaceRevolvingDoor: Throughout Season 1.
* HeelFaithTurn
* HotDad
* ImportantHaircut: Cuts his hair as soon as he returns to Fox River from Chicago.
* [[spoiler: KilledOffForReal]]
* MadeOfIron: He survives his throat being slashed by T-Bag.
* TheMafia
* ManipulativeBastard
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone
* NearDeathExperience: When T-Bag slits his throat.
* OohMeAccentsSlipping
** WhatTheHellIsThatAccent: He slips in and out of about a dozen different accents.
* RealLifeWritesThePlot: Peter Stormare wanted to leave the show, so Abruzzi [[spoiler: was killed off quickly at the beginning of season 2.]]
* [[spoiler: SacrificialLion]]
* SharpDressedMan: After escaping.
* [[spoiler: SuicideByCop]]
* WildCard
* WouldntHurtAChild

[[folder:Sofia]]
!!Sofia Lugo
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/SofiaLugo_9763.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"This is why my friends don't visit Panama. You cops bother everyone!"'']]
->'''Played By:''' Danay Garcia

->'''Sofia''': ''"Who am I going to tell, honestly?"''
->'''Lincoln''': ''"You could be a Russian spy for all I know!"''

The innocent and devoted girlfriend of James Whistler who slowly finds out the truth behind his deception.

* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: Her attraction to both Whistler and Lincoln.
* BackForTheFinale
* BeautyEqualsGoodness
* TheChick
* DemotedToExtra: In the fourth season.
* DistractedByTheSexy: She distracts a Sona guard [[ShowSomeLeg by unbuttoning her shirt]].
* EvenTheGirlsWantHer: Or at least [[DepravedBisexual Gretchen]] seems to...
* GratuitousSpanish
* TheHeart
* TheIngenue
* MeetCute: With Lincoln. He threatens her with a gun and steals Whistler's bird book from her.
* MsFanservice: In one episode, the camera lingers on her as she takes her shirt off and zooms in on her breasts.
* NiceGirl
* PutOnABus: On season 4.
** TheBusCameBack: In "Killing Your Number".
* ShesGotLegs
* SpicyLatina
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Whistler]]
!!James Whistler
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/JamesWhistler_9541.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"Prior to this experience, I had the utmost respect for the law."'']]
->'''Played By:''' Chris Vance

->''"I assume we're doing more than just playing electrician?"''

A 'fisherman' imprisoned in SONA. The Company wants him freed and alive for unknown purposes, so Gretchen forces the brothers to do the work for her.
----
* AbortedArc: The writer's strike seemed to essentially gut whatever his story was going to be, and it was quickly re-worked into the Scylla arc.
* [[spoiler: AffablyEvil]]
* AmbiguousAllegiance: All through season 3, the audience is left wondering which side does he really play for.
** It's finally resolved in the season finale; [[spoiler: he works for the Company.]]
* AustralianAccent

** CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass
* [[spoiler: BoomHeadshot]]
* ButtMonkey
* ConsummateLiar
* CrazyPrepared: Just look at his [[MacGuffin bird book]]!
* [[spoiler: DroppedABridgeOnHim]]
* EnigmaticMinion
* GreyAndGrayMorality
* [[spoiler: KilledMidSentence]]
* LivingMacGuffin
* [[spoiler: SacrificialLion]]

[[folder:Lechero]]
!!Norman "Lechero" St John
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/NormanStJohn_9766.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"Without rules we are nothing but savages."'']]
->'''Played By:''' Robert Wisdom

->''"I'd be glad to see you go down, Superstar."''

The hot-tempered 'king' of SONA who sees Michael as a threat.

* [[spoiler: AssholeVictim]]