Paul Kellerman

Lore & Background

After graduating with honors from West Point, Paul Kellerman served in U.S. Army as part of the 2nd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment and eventually the U.S. Special Forces; achieving the rank of major. Kellerman served in the Gulf War and his awards include a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, an Army Commendation Medal and an Army Achievement Medal. Although he had a promising future in the military, he received a better offer from the federal government: a leadership position within the Secret Service, and was soon assigned to Caroline Reynolds, whom he has served for fifteen years. He eventually hardened into a ruthless fanatic, capable of suppressing his humanity to commit horrible crimes in the name of Caroline Reynolds. Due to his commitment to her plans, he became a key figure in the conspiracy that framed Lincoln Burrows for murder. Officially, as revealed in episode 'The Rat', he is no longer listed as a member of the Secret Service or even as an employee of the Federal Government, and lives under the alias Owen Kravecki. Kellerman is at least 35 years old.

In Their Own Story

In Season 1, along with his partner and long-time friend Danny Hale, Kellerman's role is to prevent anyone from uncovering the Lincoln Burrows conspiracy. He goes to great lengths to do this, blackmailing and even murdering a number of innocent people on Reynolds' orders. Kellerman keeps a cool head throughout this, showing no remorse for what he has to do. But when Caroline Reynolds is revealed to be dealing with sinister corporate powers—simply called 'The Company'—Kellerman is shown making his opposition known to her about this. Kellerman is eventually forced to kill his partner Hale, who has a crisis of conscience and attempts to betray the conspiracy in the episode 'End of the Tunnel'. It marks the first time in the series that the character shows true remorse and complexity. In the final episode of the season, Kellerman helps her assassinate the sitting president, and is by her side as she is being sworn into office. In Season 2, Kellerman's role is larger. He decides to track Sara Tancredi, who he thinks will lead him to Michael Scofield and Lincoln Burrows. After being disallowed from contacting President Reynolds, instead being forced to report to Company operative Mr. Kim, Kellerman confirms his growing fear that Reynolds is no more than a pawn of The Company. In 'Bolshoi Booze', he tortures a captured Sara and is then told by Kim to kill her. His growing doubts causes him to falter and he has a crisis of conscience. His failure prompts Kim to authorize a total disavowal of Kellerman and erasure of all records pertaining to him. The rest of the season follows Kellerman as a rogue agent. In the episode 'The Killing Box', he engineers a trap for Michael and Lincoln but instead allies himself with the brothers in hopes of seeking revenge on the President and The Company. Kellerman's testimony exonerates Sara and Lincoln, but he is himself arrested. In his final appearance of the season, Kellerman is seemingly killed by Company operatives. In Season 4, Kellerman is revealed to be alive, having been freed by people working for Aldo Burrows. In the series epilogue set four years later, Kellerman is shown to have become a popular Congressman who is running for president. In Season 5, Kellerman is shown to be working for the US State Department as a director. During an interrogation by T-Bag, Kellerman is shot in his chest through a window, and Bagwell flees. The gunman and Kellerman have a brief interaction, culminating in Kellerman being shot off-screen.

Reader's Guide

Real Name: Paul Kellerman (also known as Owen Kravecki) Alias: Owen Kravecki, Lance (used to befriend Sara Tancredi) Role in Conspiracy: Key figure in the framing of Lincoln Burrows; later a rogue agent seeking revenge Key Relationships: Caroline Reynolds (served for 15 years, proposed to her), Danny Hale (partner and friend, later killed by Kellerman), Michael Scofield and Lincoln Burrows (allies in Season 2), Sara Tancredi (befriended as 'Lance', later tortured), Mr. Kim (Company operative, antagonist) Major Plot Twists: Kills his partner Danny Hale; helps assassinate the sitting president; becomes a rogue agent; testifies to exonerate Sara and Lincoln; survives apparent death; becomes a Congressman running for president; works for the State Department; is shot off-screen in Season 5 Ultimate Fate: Shot off-screen in Season 5; earlier believed killed by Company operatives but survived

Did You Know?

• Paul Kellerman is also known by the alias Owen Kravecki, as revealed in the episode 'The Rat'.
• Kellerman graduated with honors from West Point and served in the Gulf War, earning a Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, and Army Achievement Medal.
• He served Vice President (later President) Caroline Reynolds for 15 years and even proposed to her, but was rejected.
• Kellerman killed his long-time friend and partner Danny Hale after Hale planned to betray the conspiracy.
• In the series epilogue set four years after Season 4, Kellerman is shown as a popular Congressman running for president.