Lincoln Burrows

Lore & Background

Lincoln Burrows is the older brother of Michael Scofield. He is falsely convicted of the murder of Terrence Steadman and sentenced to death. He is surprised to see Michael in the same prison, planning to break him out before his execution. After escaping, he evades authorities and is eventually exonerated of all charges. In season 2, he and Michael successfully retrieve L. J. Burrows from the courthouse before his trial, and then head to Utah to find Westmoreland's hidden money. In season 3, Lincoln is free and successfully assists Michael and James Whistler to break out of Sona. In season 4, he is part of Self's covert "A-Team" assembled to bring down The Company. In the final scene, he visits Michael's grave and puts an origami crane on top, remembering the time Michael made them for him, so he would always know 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.

In Their Own Story

The fluorescent lights hummed overhead, casting long shadows across the concrete cell block. Lincoln paced slowly, his hands gripping the edges of his mind more tightly than the bars in front of him. He could hear the footsteps echoing down the corridor, rhythmic and cold. He wasn't just waiting for a meal or a count; he was waiting for the end that should have come months ago. A whisper from the bunk below broke the silence, reminding him that someone else was betting on his survival against impossible odds. Lincoln stopped pacing and looked at the ceiling, tracing the cracks with his eyes. He knew the walls were closing in, but somewhere beyond this stone fortress, a plan was unfolding to tear them down.

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.

Did You Know?

• Dominic Purcell was cast three days before the start of production, making him the last actor to join the original cast.
• Purcell auditioned for the role while he had a recurring role as Tommy Ravetto on North Shore.
• Lincoln is falsely convicted of the murder of Terrence Steadman and sentenced to death for the crime.
• In the final scene, Lincoln visits Michael Scofield's grave and puts an origami crane on top, remembering the time Michael made them for him.
• In season 5, Lincoln finds out Michael is still alive and incarcerated in Yemen, and leads an operation to save his brother.