Prison Break: Cast, Seasons, and Plot - Netflix Tudum

  • Deep Dive

    Prison Break: Everything You Need to Know About the Series

    Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell star as two ride-or-die brothers trying to spring from the clink.

    By Ingrid Ostby
    Aug. 2, 2024

In August 2005, the world was introduced to Michael Scofield and Lincoln Burrows, two brothers turned inmates at a Level 1 prison, trying to make a run for it … trying to, you know, Prison Break. The series from creator Paul T. Scheuring (Den of Thieves) garnered more than 10 million viewers when it premiered, and went on to receive a slew of accolades, including Golden Globe nominations for Best Drama and Best Actor. Prison Break ran for five seasons and led to a couple spin-offs, Prison Break: Proof of Innocence and Prison Break: The Final Break. And now, nearly two decades later, it’s high time to become acquainted (or reacquainted) with the ingenious criminal mind of Michael (Wentworth Miller), his tough-as-nails brother, Linc (Dominic Purcell), and all their allies and enemies at Fox River State Pen.

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When will Prison Break be released?

Stream it now.

How many seasons of Prison Break are there?

There are five seasons of Prison Break. The first season aired in 2005, and the final season aired in 2017. 

Is there a Prison Break Season 5?

Yes, Season 5 is the final season of Prison Break.

Wentworth Miller as Michael Scofield sits behind Dominic Purcell as Lincoln ‘Linc’ Burrows in an image from the series ‘Prison Break.’

Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell in Prison Break

Who’s in the cast of Prison Break?

  • Wentworth Miller (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow) as Michael Scofield, a structural engineer who goes to prison at Fox River State Penitentiary for armed robbery
  • Dominic Purcell (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow) as Lincoln Burrows, aka Linc, Michael’s brother, who’s incarcerated at Fox River
  • Robert Knepper (iZombie) as Theodore Bagwell, aka T-Bag, Michael and Linc’s fellow inmate 
  • Wade Williams (Mercy Street) as Brad Bellick, a prison guard at Fox River 
  • Sarah Wayne Callies (The Walking Dead) as Sara Tancredi, a prison doctor at Fox River
  • Amaury Nolasco (Hightown) as Fernando Sucre, Michael’s cellmate at Fox River
  • Rockmond Dunbar (9-1-1) as Benjamin Miles Franklin, aka C-Note, an inmate known as the unofficial pharmacist of Fox River
  • Michael Rapaport (Atypical) as Donald Self, an agent with the Department of Homeland Security
  • Paul Adelstein (Cruel Summer) as Paul Kellerman, a former Secret Service agent
  • Robin Tunney (The Mentalist) as Veronica Donovan, Michael and Linc’s longtime friend
  • William Fichtner (Mom) as Alexander Mahone, a federal agent
  • Peter Stormare (American Gods) as John Abruzzi, an inmate at Fox River and a Chicago mob boss
  • Marshall Allman (The Wolf of Snow Hollow) as LJ Burrows Jr., Linc’s son
  • Danay Garcia (Fear the Walking Dead) as Sofia Lugo
  • Chris Vance (The Transporter) as James Whistler, an inmate at Penitenciaría Federal de Sona in Panama
  • Robert Wisdom (Barry) as Norman St. John, aka Lechero, a prisoner at Sona
  • Jodi Lyn O’Keefe (The Vampire Diaries) as Gretchen Morgan, an operative of The Company
  • Inbar Lavi (Lucifer) as Sheba, a resistance leader in Yemen
  • Mark Feuerstein (Royal Pains) as Jacob Anton Ness, an economics professor
  • Augustus Prew (The Morning Show) as David Martin, aka Whip, who partners with Michael in Season 5
William Fichtner as Michael Scofield, Wentworth Miller as Michael Scofield, and Chris Vance as Whistler in an image from the series ‘Prison Break.’

William Fichtner, Wentworth Miller, and Chris Vance in Prison Break

Bill Matlock

What happens in Prison Break?

Structural engineer Michael Scofield (Miller) gets a five-year sentence at the Chicagoland maximum security prison Fox River State Penitentiary after faking a bank robbery — on purpose. It’s part of his intricate plan to rescue his brother, Lincoln Burrows (Purcell), from death row. Lincoln was wrongfully accused of killing the brother of the vice president of the United States, and has since lost all of his appeals. Once inside Fox River, Michael learns the lay of the land, locates his brother, and forges connections with inmates Sucre (Nolasco), Abruzzi (Stormare), and T-Bag (Knepper); shady prison guard Brad Bellick (Williams); and prison doctor Sara Tancredi (Callies) in order to set his plan in motion. 

Is Prison Break based on a book?

No, it isn’t based on a book. 

Wentworth Miller as Michael, Dominic Purcell as Lincoln ‘Linc’ Burrows, and Sarah Wayne Callies as Sara Tancredi in an image from the series ‘Prison Break.’
Bill Matlock

Is Prison Break based on a true story?

No, it’s fictional. 

Where does Prison Break take place?

The first season takes place at the fictional Fox River State Penitentiary near Chicago, the second season takes place across the US and in Panama, the third season takes place in Panama, the fourth season primarily takes place in Los Angeles, and the fifth season takes place in Yemen and in multiple locations in the US.  

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