Jefferson Keane
Encyclopedia
Jefferson Keane aka Tizi Ozuo is a fictional character in the HBO prison drama Oz
played by American actor Leon Robinson
.
Keane was sentenced to life in prison without parole for murdering a couple on their wedding day because they "ripped off his package", and is the first leader of the homeboys gang in the series. Keane is a cold-hearted, methodical leader who contrasts the short tempered, often violent members in his gang. He is noted by McManus for his ability to make calculated decisions and restrain loose cannons. In the end, he is manipulated by the hacks and convicted for the murder of Latino inmate Julio Martinez. When Governor James Devlin
reinstates capital punishment Keane is sent to death row and later executed.
who wants into the Homeboys and appears to be worthy of membership. Keane does not know at the time that Markstrom is in actuality an undercover police officer. Keane then appears with Markstrom and Simon Adebisi
confronting new Muslim inmate Kareem Said
. Because the Muslims are anti-drug, Keane views Said as a threat taking several potential African American
soldiers and customers away from the Homeboys. Said shows that he is not scared however and the Homeboys and Muslims leave each other alone.
Keane is then approached by inmate Ryan O'Reily
, who asks him to murder Italian inmate Dino Ortolani
. He initially refuses as the current rules in keeping the inmates not at war involves killing no wiseguys. This changes however when Billie, his homosexual brother, is savagely beaten by Ortolani after making a pass at him in the shower. Angered, Keane conspires with O'Reily to get revenge on him. An opportunity presents itself, and Ortolani is put in the hole and is sedated after killing a fellow inmate in the infirmary. O'Reily
asks for a favor of one of the COs Mike Healy and Homeboy Johnny Post
is let into the hole. Post then spills some flammable fluid over Ortolani and sets him on fire while he is unable to defend himself or even notice it.
Later on, when O'Reily finds out that the Italians are not about to let this murder go and intend to take revenge on whoever did it, he suggests Keane to rat Post out to them to take the heat off the two of them. Keane refuses, but O'Reily rats him out to the Italians' leader, Nino Schibetta
as he is playing both sides, being in the good graces of both the Black and Italian gangsters. The Italians take their revenge on Post by castrating and killing him. They later put the severed penis in Keane's cell to let him know they are aware of the fact Post was not acting on his own.
Keane later converts to Islam and softens his image. This puts him at odds with his brother Billie, who is homosexual. To get in the good graces of Schibetta, O'Reily sets it up with CO's to have Jefferson fight two Latinos in the gym. The fight is caught on video tape and Keane ends up killing one of the Latinos and is sentenced to death row under the reinstated death penalty. Fellow inmate Tobias Beecher
discovers that Keane was set up and tries to file an appeal on his behalf but Keane wishes to stay on death row because he worries that if he is taken off of death row, he may revert back to his old ways. Keane's sister needs a kidney transplant and Governor Devlin grants a stay of execution for him to donate his kidney, but only under intense political pressure. Keane's execution goes on as scheduled as he hoped to bring peace between the Homeboys and Wiseguys through his death.
. The theme of that episode is death and the afterlife.
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 American actor Leon Robinson
Leon Robinson
Leon Preston Robinson IV usually credited as simply Leon, is an American actor and singer, who began his professional career as an actor in 1981.-Personal life:...
.
Character overview
Prisoner #97K186. Convicted May 14, 1997 - Two counts of murder in the first degree. Sentence: Life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Later convicted of another count of murder in the first degree and sentenced to death.Keane was sentenced to life in prison without parole for murdering a couple on their wedding day because they "ripped off his package", and is the first leader of the homeboys gang in the series. Keane is a cold-hearted, methodical leader who contrasts the short tempered, often violent members in his gang. He is noted by McManus for his ability to make calculated decisions and restrain loose cannons. In the end, he is manipulated by the hacks and convicted for the murder of Latino inmate Julio Martinez. When Governor James Devlin
Governor James Devlin
Governor James Devlin is a fictional character on the HBO drama Oz, played by Željko Ivanek.-Character overview:Devlin, the governor of the state, is hated by most of the inmates and some of the staff members at the Oswald State Correctional facilities as he proposes several anti-prisoner acts of...
reinstates capital punishment Keane is sent to death row and later executed.
Season 1
Jefferson runs the Homeboys, the Black inmates involved in drug dealing. He first appears sponsoring new inmate Paul MarkstromPaul Markstrom
Paul Markstrom, played by O.L. Duke, is a fictional character on the HBO series Oz.-Character overview:Paul Markstrom is an undercover police detective sent to Oz in order to investigate the drug trade within its walls. He is introduced as Warden Leo Glynn's cousin as his cover. He joins the...
who wants into the Homeboys and appears to be worthy of membership. Keane does not know at the time that Markstrom is in actuality an undercover police officer. Keane then appears with Markstrom and Simon Adebisi
Simon Adebisi
Simon Adebisi is a fictional character played by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje on the HBO dramatic series Oz, set in an experimental prison unit.-Character overview:Prisoner #93A234. Convicted May 2, 1993 - Murder in the first degree...
confronting new Muslim inmate Kareem Said
Kareem Said
Kareem Saïd is a character played by British actor Eamonn Walker on the American television show Oz.-Character overview:Prisoner #97S444. Convicted June 6, 1997 - Arson in the second degree. Sentence: 18 years, eligible for parole in five...
. Because the Muslims are anti-drug, Keane views Said as a threat taking several potential African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
soldiers and customers away from the Homeboys. Said shows that he is not scared however and the Homeboys and Muslims leave each other alone.
Keane is then approached by 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,...
, who asks him to murder Italian inmate Dino Ortolani
Dino Ortolani
Dino Ortolani, played by Jon Seda, is a fictional character who appeared in three episodes of the HBO series Oz. Although he dies in the first episode of the series, which is more or less centered on his character, his death has a strong impact on the rest of season 1.-Character overview:Prisoner...
. He initially refuses as the current rules in keeping the inmates not at war involves killing no wiseguys. This changes however when Billie, his homosexual brother, is savagely beaten by Ortolani after making a pass at him in the shower. Angered, Keane conspires with O'Reily to get revenge on him. An opportunity presents itself, and Ortolani is put in the hole and is sedated after killing a fellow inmate in the infirmary. 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,...
asks for a favor of one of the COs Mike Healy and Homeboy Johnny Post
Johnny Post
Johnny Post is a fictional character on the HBO drama Oz.-Character overview:Johnny Post is a member of the Homeboys, Oz's African American drug dealers. He despises the Italians, an attitude he displays up until he is murdered by them.-Season 1:Post is Jefferson Keane's right hand man in the...
is let into the hole. Post then spills some flammable fluid over Ortolani and sets him on fire while he is unable to defend himself or even notice it.
Later on, when O'Reily finds out that the Italians are not about to let this murder go and intend to take revenge on whoever did it, he suggests Keane to rat Post out to them to take the heat off the two of them. Keane refuses, but O'Reily rats him out to the Italians' leader, Nino Schibetta
Nino Schibetta
Antonino "Nino" Schibetta, played by Tony Musante, is a fictional character in the HBO series Oz.-Character overview:Prisoner #95S604. Convicted December 12, 1995 - Two counts of conspiracy to commit murder...
as he is playing both sides, being in the good graces of both the Black and Italian gangsters. The Italians take their revenge on Post by castrating and killing him. They later put the severed penis in Keane's cell to let him know they are aware of the fact Post was not acting on his own.
Keane later converts to Islam and softens his image. This puts him at odds with his brother Billie, who is homosexual. To get in the good graces of Schibetta, O'Reily sets it up with CO's to have Jefferson fight two Latinos in the gym. The fight is caught on video tape and Keane ends up killing one of the Latinos and is sentenced to death row under the reinstated death penalty. Fellow inmate 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...
discovers that Keane was set up and tries to file an appeal on his behalf but Keane wishes to stay on death row because he worries that if he is taken off of death row, he may revert back to his old ways. Keane's sister needs a kidney transplant and Governor Devlin grants a stay of execution for him to donate his kidney, but only under intense political pressure. Keane's execution goes on as scheduled as he hoped to bring peace between the Homeboys and Wiseguys through his death.
Season 6
In season six Jefferson Keane narrates the first episode, "Dead Man Talking", along with 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:...
. The theme of that episode is death and the afterlife.