Jackson Vahue
Encyclopedia
Jackson Vahue is a fictional character from the HBO prison drama Oz
played by Rick Fox
, a former NBA basketball star and champion with the Los Angeles Lakers
.
, assault
. Sentence: 12 years, up for parole
in five. Paroled denied in 2001, but was granted parole in 2003.
Vahue was a wealthy, professional African-American basketball
player when he was sent to Oz. He was convicted of beating a woman trying to escape his chauffered limousine. It is implied later in the series that public perception of his crime was that he attempted to rape her.
The script writers do not identify what NBA basketball team Jackson Vahue played for before his incarceration, however it is insinuated that he played for the Lakers, which was Rick Fox's team at the time.
who had watched his games when he was a young boy. Hill's perception of his childhood sport idol changes after meeting him in prison with Vahue's own drug addiction letting most of Hill's hopes down, and when Hill later catches him “roughing up” cellist Eugene Dobbins
for no real reason. Vahue also is responsible for bringing Hill back to his drug addictions by way of peer-pressure. Hill later tells Vahue to “recognize Dobbins talent”. This angers Vahue, who smashes the cello in spite of Hill. During the prison riot, Vahue is shocked at the violence and chaos and mostly stays away from the gangs. He seems to regain some respect, as well as some compassion when he carries the injured Dobbins to safety (with some insistence from Hill) during the riot, resulting in his arrest. He is severely beaten when riot guards apprehend the two, despite his heroic act.
in a in a best-of-three game of basketball alongside a very nonathletic team-mate, who in the end, is decided to be Agamemnon Busmalis
. Meanwhile, Hill ruins Vahue's chance for early parole by informing the woman Vahue beat up and nearly raped of his parole hearing, to which she speaks in, resulting in the board denying his parole. Vahue becomes frustrated, and fights the COs at lunch and is consequently thrown into the hole. Once out and back on the court, Vahue and Busmalis easily win Game 1, and the prison population of Emerald City treat him like a superstar once more. However, Officer Johnson later hits Vahue in the knee with a nightstick in an altercation, severely injuring him for Game 2. Brass and McManus win Game 2, which has Poet and the entire prison population angry at Vahue (mostly because they bet on him and lost). Dave Brass was recruited by a scout who saw the games, to play in the NBA on the Sacramento Kings
, but before he could go, Enrique Morales
arranges to have his Achilles tendon sliced, for fearing of losing the third game and the series. With Brass out, Officer Sean Murphy steps into Brass's spot as McManus teammate and plays in the 3rd game, which Vahue and Busmalis (mostly Vahue) dominates and wins.
said that if Fox played for the New York Knicks
instead of the Los Angeles Lakers
, Vahue would have been on more episodes.
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...
played by Rick Fox
Rick Fox
Ulrich Alexander "Rick" Fox is a Canadian television actor and retired professional basketball player who last played for the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers in 2004.-Early life:...
, a former NBA basketball star and champion with the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
.
Character overview
Prisoner 97V588. Convicted August 17, 1997 - Attempted rapeRape
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...
, assault
Assault
In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more...
. Sentence: 12 years, up for parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
in five. Paroled denied in 2001, but was granted parole in 2003.
Vahue was a wealthy, professional African-American basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player when he was sent to Oz. He was convicted of beating a woman trying to escape his chauffered limousine. It is implied later in the series that public perception of his crime was that he attempted to rape her.
The script writers do not identify what NBA basketball team Jackson Vahue played for before his incarceration, however it is insinuated that he played for the Lakers, which was Rick Fox's team at the time.
Season 1
Jackson Vahue is known and admired by most of Oz's prison population as a superstar basketball player, and is welcomed by most prisoners of most gangs. He was a major role model to Augustus HillAugustus Hill
Augustus Hill is a fictional character, played by Harold Perrineau on the American television show Oz, serving as the show's narrator.-Character overview:...
who had watched his games when he was a young boy. Hill's perception of his childhood sport idol changes after meeting him in prison with Vahue's own drug addiction letting most of Hill's hopes down, and when Hill later catches him “roughing up” cellist Eugene Dobbins
Eugene Dobbins
Eugene Dobbins, played by Zuill Bailey, was a character on the HBO prison drama "Oz".-Character Overview:Prisoner #97D403. Convicted August 18, 1997. Murder in the second degree. Sentence: 22 years, up for parole in eight....
for no real reason. Vahue also is responsible for bringing Hill back to his drug addictions by way of peer-pressure. Hill later tells Vahue to “recognize Dobbins talent”. This angers Vahue, who smashes the cello in spite of Hill. During the prison riot, Vahue is shocked at the violence and chaos and mostly stays away from the gangs. He seems to regain some respect, as well as some compassion when he carries the injured Dobbins to safety (with some insistence from Hill) during the riot, resulting in his arrest. He is severely beaten when riot guards apprehend the two, despite his heroic act.
Season 2
Vahue makes a minor appearance at the beginning of Season 2 when he informs Hill of Dobbins’ death. He is shown being escorted away from Hill's cell and disappears after that, presumably being moved to general population.Season 4, Part 2
Vahue reappears in the fourth season playing basketball in the prison gym. He informs Hill of his early parole hearing. Hill is still upset at Vahue for betraying him years ago as well as nearly bringing him back to his drug addictions. Hill expresses his disagreement with Vahue's parole despite Vahue defending himself by referencing his attempt to save Dobbin's in the riot, yet being cruelly transferred to General Population for his efforts. During this time, he is once again noticed by Tim McManus, who approaches him with another chance of coming back to Emerald City, on the condition that he beats him and C.O. Dave BrassDave Brass
Dave Brass is a fictional character on the HBO drama Oz, played by Blake Robbins.-Character overview:Impressed with Brass' talent at basketball, Unit Manager Tim McManus recruits him to play in a pick-up game against inmate Jackson Vahue. After his achilles tendon is cut by Carlos Martinez, he...
in a in a best-of-three game of basketball alongside a very nonathletic team-mate, who in the end, is decided to be Agamemnon Busmalis
Agamemnon Busmalis
Agamemnon "Aggie" Busmalis a.k.a. The Mole is a fictional character of the television series Oz, portrayed by Tom Mardirosian. He is also referenced in OZ: Behind These Walls: The Journal of Augustus Hill.-Character's backstory:...
. Meanwhile, Hill ruins Vahue's chance for early parole by informing the woman Vahue beat up and nearly raped of his parole hearing, to which she speaks in, resulting in the board denying his parole. Vahue becomes frustrated, and fights the COs at lunch and is consequently thrown into the hole. Once out and back on the court, Vahue and Busmalis easily win Game 1, and the prison population of Emerald City treat him like a superstar once more. However, Officer Johnson later hits Vahue in the knee with a nightstick in an altercation, severely injuring him for Game 2. Brass and McManus win Game 2, which has Poet and the entire prison population angry at Vahue (mostly because they bet on him and lost). Dave Brass was recruited by a scout who saw the games, to play in the NBA on the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, but before he could go, Enrique Morales
Enrique Morales
Enrique Morales is a fictional character played by NYPD officer turned actor David Zayas on the HBO drama Oz.-Character overview:Prisoner #00M871. Convicted April 6, 2000 - Murder in the second degree. Sentence: 25 years, up for parole in 15....
arranges to have his Achilles tendon sliced, for fearing of losing the third game and the series. With Brass out, Officer Sean Murphy steps into Brass's spot as McManus teammate and plays in the 3rd game, which Vahue and Busmalis (mostly Vahue) dominates and wins.
Season 6
Vahue reappears in this season as a free man, having been paroled early off-screen. He returns to Oz to talk with young prisoners about his life, and surviving in Oz in general, advising them on their own difficult time ahead. When he denies Brass tickets or backstage access to games, Brass snaps and attempts to kill him at a game. Brass is arrested but finds joy in achieving some of the fame he had hoped to gain from playing basketball.Trivia
On audio commentary for the series finale, series creator Tom FontanaTom Fontana
Tom Fontana is an American writer and producer.-TV career:Fontana has been a writer/producer for such series as Oz , The Jury, The Beat, The Bedford Diaries, Homicide: Life on the Street, St...
said that if Fox played for the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
instead of the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, Vahue would have been on more episodes.