Andrew Schillinger
Encyclopedia
Andrew Peter Schillinger, played by Frederick Koehler
, is a fictional character in the HBO drama Oz
.
Raised with his brother Hank
by his racist
grandfather Heinrick and equally racist father Vern Schillinger, Andrew has supported the ideology of the Aryan Brotherhood
throughout his whole life. As a result, he lands in Oz for his part in a hate crime
— he and his brother murder a black man by dragging him from the back of a pickup truck (very similar to the James Byrd
murder in Jasper, Texas
).
Andrew, however, has a problem that makes his commitment to the brotherhood questionable: he is a full-blown heroin addict. Andrew's addiction causes problems between him and his father in Oz that eventually result in his death.
When he and Hank were 12 and 10 years old (respectively), Vern nearly murdered a black drug dealer from whom they were trying to buy marijuana, the crime for which he was incarcerated.
inmate Ryan O'Reily
. He has been moved to Emerald City purposefully by unit manager Tim McManus
, who hates his father Vernon Schillinger
, the head of the Aryan Brotherhood, serving time in Oz's unit B. When Schillinger begs Warden Glynn to move Andrew to Unit B, Glynn refuses in order to punish him.
In the cafeteria, Vern sees Andrew drugged out courtesy of O'Reilly and then gets guard Len Lopresti
to take him to the isolation ward for using heroin. Because of Andrew's addiction, Vern tells the brotherhood to ignore him until he is drug free, as the Aryans in Oz oppose the use of drugs. At the same time, the other inmates, including the blacks, who are sickened by his crime, do not make any attempts to kill or rape
Andrew out of fear of Vern's wrath. When Andrew gets back to Emerald City, he is cut off from O'Reilly's drug connections, who claims that Andrew is burning through his supply too fast. O'Reilly then points out that the other dealers in Oz are of other races, who Andrew refuses to buy from.
In drug rehab, Andrew is very disrespectful to Sister Pete
and his attitude starts a fight between inmates Chris Keller
and Tobias Beecher
, which they later reveal was staged. Beecher then befriends Andrew, a move that McManus, the staff, and other inmates question, given Beecher's longstanding feud with Vern. Over a period of time, Beecher helps Andrew beat his addiction, and Andrew befriends O'Reily and Keller as well. As all three are looking to exact revenge on Vern, Schillinger becomes worried that his son will be murdered or raped by any of the three, especially after Beecher taunts Schillinger in the mail room. Meanwhile, as Andrew gets clean, he starts to question the ideology taught to him by his family.
In the cafeteria, Vern speaks with Andrew and hugs him, happy that he is drug free. He claims that he wants have a better relationship with him, but Andrew rejects him, angered by everything that his father stands for. Vern hits him and Andrew retaliates, until the guards, led by Lopresti, take Andrew to the hole. Vern, heartbroken that his son has renounced him, arranges for the guards to take Andrew a package of heroin, as a way of "renouncing" him. Lopresti delivers the heroin to the hole. Andrew at first resists, throwing the package away, but breaks down and then overdoses
on it. As the guards carry Andrew's personal effects out of his cell, Beecher, O'Reilly, and Keller reveal that this was their plan all along.
Frederick Koehler
Frederick Koehler is an American actor best known for his role as Chip on Kate & Allie as well as Andrew Schillinger on the HBO drama Oz.- Film work :* Death Race 2 -- Lists* Death Race – Lists...
, is a fictional character in the HBO drama Oz
Oz (TV series)
Oz is an American television drama series created by Tom Fontana, who also wrote or co-wrote all of the series' 56 episodes . It was the first one-hour dramatic television series to be produced by premium cable network HBO. Oz premiered on July 12, 1997 and ran for six seasons...
.
Character overview
Prisoner 99S333. Convicted February 16, 1999 - Murder in the second degree, possession of narcotics. Sentence: 50 years, up for parole in 20.Raised with his brother Hank
Hank Schillinger
Henry "Hank" Schillinger, played by Andrew Barchilon, is a fictional character on the HBO drama Oz.-Character overview:His father Vern Schillinger is an inmate who runs the Aryan Brotherhood within Oz. An amoral drug addict, Hank, like his younger brother Andrew, has been raised on white...
by his racist
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
grandfather Heinrick and equally racist father Vern Schillinger, Andrew has supported the ideology of the Aryan Brotherhood
The Aryan Brotherhood in Oz
The Aryan Brotherhood in the TV series Oz is a gang of white supremacist inmates led by Vernon Schillinger.-Overview:The Aryans of Oz are a loosely organized gang of white supremacist inmates. As a minority, the Caucasian-American prisoners of the gang mostly come from criminal backgrounds already...
throughout his whole life. As a result, he lands in Oz for his part in a hate crime
Hate crime
In crime and law, hate crimes occur when a perpetrator targets a victim because of his or her perceived membership in a certain social group, usually defined by racial group, religion, sexual orientation, disability, class, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, gender identity, social status or...
— he and his brother murder a black man by dragging him from the back of a pickup truck (very similar to the James Byrd
James Byrd, Jr.
James Byrd, Jr. was an African-American who was murdered by three white men, asserted to be white supremacists, during a racially motivated crime in Jasper, Texas, on June 7, 1998. Shawn Berry, Lawrence Brewer, and John King dragged Byrd behind a pick-up truck along an asphalt road after they...
murder in Jasper, Texas
Jasper, Texas
Jasper is the county seat of Jasper County, Texas, in the United States. The population was 8,247 at the 2000 census. Jasper is situated in the Deep East Texas subregion, about northeast of Houston. The city is best known for the 1998 murder of James Byrd, Jr., an event which gained national...
).
Andrew, however, has a problem that makes his commitment to the brotherhood questionable: he is a full-blown heroin addict. Andrew's addiction causes problems between him and his father in Oz that eventually result in his death.
When he and Hank were 12 and 10 years old (respectively), Vern nearly murdered a black drug dealer from whom they were trying to buy marijuana, the crime for which he was incarcerated.
Season 3
Andrew arrives in Oz for his part in a hate crime (murdering a black man). When in Oz, he looks for drugs immediately and is supplied by IrishIrish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
inmate Ryan O'Reily
Ryan O'Reily
Ryan O'Reily is a main character in the television series Oz. He was portrayed by Dean Winters from 1997 to 2003.-Character overview:Prisoner #97P904. Convicted July 12, 1997 - Two counts of vehicular manslaughter, five counts of reckless endangerment, possession of a controlled substance,...
. He has been moved to Emerald City purposefully by unit manager Tim McManus
Tim McManus
Tim McManus is a fictional character on HBO's prison drama Oz, played by Terry Kinney.-Character overview:McManus, the idealistic manager of Emerald City, is unlike the rest of the staff members at Oz as he has never been a CO, has a college education, and generally believes in the inmates as...
, who hates his father Vernon Schillinger
Vernon Schillinger
Vernon Schillinger is a fictional character, played by American actor J. K. Simmons, on the HBO series Oz.-Character overview:Prisoner #92S110. Convicted October 21, 1992 – Aggravated assault in the first degree. Sentence: Eight years, eligible for parole in five...
, the head of the Aryan Brotherhood, serving time in Oz's unit B. When Schillinger begs Warden Glynn to move Andrew to Unit B, Glynn refuses in order to punish him.
In the cafeteria, Vern sees Andrew drugged out courtesy of O'Reilly and then gets guard Len Lopresti
Len Lopresti
Len Lopresti is a fictional character on the HBO drama Oz, played by Carl DiMaggio.-Character overview:A corrections cfficer in the prison, Lopresti is a mean-spirited, racist bully who terrorizes non-white inmates...
to take him to the isolation ward for using heroin. Because of Andrew's addiction, Vern tells the brotherhood to ignore him until he is drug free, as the Aryans in Oz oppose the use of drugs. At the same time, the other inmates, including the blacks, who are sickened by his crime, do not make any attempts to kill or rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
Andrew out of fear of Vern's wrath. When Andrew gets back to Emerald City, he is cut off from O'Reilly's drug connections, who claims that Andrew is burning through his supply too fast. O'Reilly then points out that the other dealers in Oz are of other races, who Andrew refuses to buy from.
In drug rehab, Andrew is very disrespectful to Sister Pete
Sister Peter Marie
Sister Peter Marie Reimondo aka Sister Pete is a fictional character on the HBO drama Oz played by Rita Moreno.right|thumb|Rita Moreno as Sister Peter Marie.-Creation:...
and his attitude starts a fight between inmates Chris Keller
Chris Keller
Chris Keller is a fictional character on the HBO series Oz, portrayed by Christopher Meloni from 1998 to 2003.-Character overview:Prisoner ID 98K514. Convicted June 16, 1998 - felony murder, two counts of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, driving under the influence and...
and Tobias Beecher
Tobias Beecher
Tobias Beecher is a main character on the television show Oz, played by Lee Tergesen. He is one of only eight regular characters to survive the entire run of the show...
, which they later reveal was staged. Beecher then befriends Andrew, a move that McManus, the staff, and other inmates question, given Beecher's longstanding feud with Vern. Over a period of time, Beecher helps Andrew beat his addiction, and Andrew befriends O'Reily and Keller as well. As all three are looking to exact revenge on Vern, Schillinger becomes worried that his son will be murdered or raped by any of the three, especially after Beecher taunts Schillinger in the mail room. Meanwhile, as Andrew gets clean, he starts to question the ideology taught to him by his family.
In the cafeteria, Vern speaks with Andrew and hugs him, happy that he is drug free. He claims that he wants have a better relationship with him, but Andrew rejects him, angered by everything that his father stands for. Vern hits him and Andrew retaliates, until the guards, led by Lopresti, take Andrew to the hole. Vern, heartbroken that his son has renounced him, arranges for the guards to take Andrew a package of heroin, as a way of "renouncing" him. Lopresti delivers the heroin to the hole. Andrew at first resists, throwing the package away, but breaks down and then overdoses
Drug overdose
The term drug overdose describes the ingestion or application of a drug or other substance in quantities greater than are recommended or generally practiced...
on it. As the guards carry Andrew's personal effects out of his cell, Beecher, O'Reilly, and Keller reveal that this was their plan all along.