Lincoln Burrows
Wrongfully condemned, he became the spark that ignited a revolution against the conspiracy.
Lincoln Burrows (played by Dominic Purcell) is falsely convicted of the murder of Terrence Steadman and sentenced to death for the crime. He is surprised to see his younger brother Michael Scofield in the same prison and who is planning to break him out of prison before his execution. He evaded authorities after escaping from prison and has been exonerated of all charges. In the second season of the series, the story continues to follow Lincoln, his brother and other escapees as they try to evade the authorities pursuing them. Away from the prison setting, Michael and Lincoln are frequently featured in scenes together in the first seven episodes. After successfully retrieving L. J. Burrows from the courthouse, they decide to head to Utah to find Westmoreland's hidden money. In season 3 he is free and successfully assists Michael and James Whistler to break out of Sona. As of season 4, he is now part of Self's covert "A-Team" assembled to bring down The Company. He is also in the very last scene when he visits Michael Scofield's (his brother) grave, and he puts an origami crane on top of the grave so he can remember the time when he made them for him, so he would always know that his brother was caring for him. In season 5, he finds out Michael is still alive and incarcerated in Yemen, and leads an operation to save his brother. Purcell was cast three days before the start of production and consequently, he was the last actor to join the original cast. He auditioned for the role while he had a recurring role as Tommy Ravetto on North Shore.
Quick Facts
- First appears
- Season 1, Episode 1
Reader's Guide
Investigative File: Subject LB-01. Originating Incident: Wrongful conviction for capital murder at Fox River State Penitentiary. Connection to Conspiracy: The Company utilized the justice system as a weapon against dissenters. Lincoln's knowledge of a cover-up involving federal officials made him expendable. Key antagonists Paul Kellerman and Charles Westmoreland orchestrated the setup to silence potential witnesses regarding a high-profile assassination linked to government corruption. Timeline Analysis: While Season One focuses on the escape, subsequent seasons reveal the depth of the threat. The initial murder charge was merely the first step in eliminating loose ends connected to the President's brother-in-law incident years prior. Lincoln's survival became an anomaly that threatened their control over national security narratives and political stability. Motivation: Antagonists sought total erasure of the truth to maintain power structures within the executive branch. Lincoln represented a living variable they could not calculate or predict. His resilience forced Michael Scofield to evolve from architect to combatant against state-sponsored forces. The conspiracy shifted from local prison oversight to international espionage and assassination plots. Conclusion: Lincoln was never just an inmate; he was the key to unlocking a decades-old secret that threatened the highest levels of government authority and public trust in the legal system.
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