Theodore Bagwell

Lore & Background

Despite being despised by other convicts for his heinous crimes and affiliation with the Alliance for Purity, T-Bag is quite eloquent and many women find him charismatic and charming. Knepper comments that, "T-Bag's not crazy. He knows exactly what he's doing. He's not going to make himself stupid." In a separate interview, Knepper says, "I never play him like a stereotypical racist or redneck. He's actually quite cunning and smart." He likens the character to "Truman Capote without a degree." As an adult, T-Bag starts committing more serious crimes, such as battery, assault, attempted murder, murder, rape, and kidnapping. It is also insinuated that he is a pedophile, and it is implied once in passing that he is also a necrophiliac. The character's sexual appetite ranges from young men and women, adolescents, and children. When asked about the character's sexuality, Knepper stated, "We're not passing judgment. We're not trying to get these people off the hook. T-Bag's not a homosexual. He's a raw animal. He'd [sleep with] anything." During season four, T-Bag starts showing disillusionment with his actions, even saying that he wishes he could have been Cole Pfeiffer, respected salesman and person. He shows reluctance to undertake disturbing tasks, shows emotion after receiving news of Bellick's death, does not want to take GATE hostage, reacts emotionally when Gretchen kills Gregory White, his employer and only true friend, demonstrates authentic reluctance to kill Gretchen's family or the Bible Salesman/Company Agent, and eventually offers to release him at great risk to his personal freedom. In the fall finale, T-Bag is the main party against Lincoln killing Gretchen, citing her being a mother as a reason.

In Their Own Story

In season 1, Theodore "T-Bag" Bagwell is the leader of the Aryan gang inside Fox River. A racist and a pedophile, he is detested by most other inmates, such as John Abruzzi and Benjamin Miles "C-Note" Franklin, but his status within the Alliance for Purity protects him from attacks. Upon Michael Scofield's arrival, Bagwell wants to ensnare him as his sex slave but is unsuccessful. During a race riot in episode "Allen", his cellmate and lover is fatally wounded. Believing Scofield responsible, Bagwell seeks revenge but is stopped by Abruzzi, who has his goons assault him, sending him to the infirmary. When he returns in "Riots, Drills and the Devil", Bagwell instigates a full-scale riot, accidentally learns of the escape attempt, and threatens to tell the other inmates if not included. He later defies orders and murders a guard, framing fellow Aryan gang member Trokey for the murder. Bagwell becomes a fully-fledged member of the escape team in "The Old Head", blackmailing them to include him. Throughout the season, T-Bag coerces new cellmate Seth into a sexual relationship; after Seth hangs himself, Bagwell moves on to harass Tweener. Michael confronts Bagwell with a crowbar to the knee. In "Odd Man Out", Abruzzi gives Bagwell an ultimatum: back out or die. Bagwell slashes Abruzzi's throat with a razor blade in a failed attempt to kill him. Bagwell is among six inmates included in the first unsuccessful escape attempt in "End of the Tunnel". In later episodes, he contributes to keeping the escape tunnel hidden and engages in reluctant relations with a transvestite inmate to further the escape plan. In "Bluff", his skills at rigging a deck of cards help the team. In "The Key", Bagwell makes a second attempt on Abruzzi's life but is stopped by C-Note. In the season finale, Bagwell escapes from Fox River along with Michael, Abruzzi, C-Note, Tweener, and three other inmates. He handcuffs himself to Michael for safety. Abruzzi gets revenge by cutting off Bagwell's cuffed hand with an axe. Bagwell survives and eludes capture, staggering through the woods with his severed hand tucked into his armpit.

Reader's Guide

Real Name: Theodore "T-Bag" Bagwell Role: Antagonist / Member of the Fox River Eight Key Relationships: Fellow prisoner of Michael Scofield; adversary of John Abruzzi and C-Note; manipulates Tweener and Seth Major Plot Twists: Handcuffs himself to Michael to survive escape; has hand severed by Abruzzi with an axe; survives and eludes capture Ultimate Fate: In season 2, Bagwell has his hand reattached by a veterinary surgeon Dr. Marvin Gudat, whom he murders afterwards. He bleaches his hair to change appearance and journeys to Utah to locate Charles Westmoreland's hidden money. He tricks other fugitives, stealing all five million dollars. He is captured by Brad Bellick and Roy Geary, tortured for the money location, and escapes by re-severing his hand. He kills Geary by smashing his head with a champagne bottle and frames Bellick for the murder. He sees a Vietnam war vet with a prosthetic hand, implies he killed the man, and takes the prosthetic hand. He then takes advantage of a postal worker to gain access to Susan Hollander's new address.

Did You Know?

• Robert Knepper became a regular cast member after guest-starring in the series' second episode, 'Allen'.
• Knepper likens T-Bag to 'Truman Capote without a degree.'
• In season 4, T-Bag says he wishes he could have been Cole Pfeiffer, a respected salesman and person.
• T-Bag's hand is severed by John Abruzzi with an axe in the season 1 finale, but he survives and eludes capture.
• A younger version of T-Bag, played by Michael Gohlke, appeared in one episode via a flashback sequence in 'Bad Blood'.