Jia Kenmin
Encyclopedia
Jia Kenmin is an Asian American inmate on the HBO drama Oz
played by Michael Delmare
.
Imprisoned on drug charges, he also is tried in federal court for arranging a horrid ship ride that brought over some undocumented Chinese citizens. Upon his arrival, the refugees and he are separated from each other as the staff does not want any murder attempts made at Kenmin. One of the refugees then states to Kenmin that he can regain his honor in their eyes by killing Enrique Morales
, for killing one of their own. From there, Kenmin wars with the Latino and Irish inmates in Oz, a move that eventually results in his death.
. One of the older refugees then asks to see Kenmin briefly before the deportation back to China where he states that Kenmin has been deceitful but can regain his honor avenging the death of Yixhue by killing Latino leader Enrique Morales. Kenmin then assists Redding in a plot to eliminate the Italians and Latinos going into the gymnasium with the Homeboys ready to murder off their enemies. The S.O.R.T. team breaks it up though but Kenmin does let the Latinos know he is after them as Oz is locked down. After the Lockdown is ended, Kenmin is placed in the cage for fighting with Morales and Guerra upon his release. Kenmin then later provokes the O'Reily brothers into a fight, a move that has Cyril O'Reily
put Kenmin into a coma. Kenmin then is in the hospital for the duration of the season.
, he makes it look like he has offered the O'Reily brothers peace as a means of setting them up. Kenmin then pays Glen Shupe
to lie to Ryan O'Reily
about the two of them planning to rape Suzanne Fitzgerald, Ryan's mother and an assistant at Oz. O'Reily then starts a fight with the two that ends with Chen being stabbed to death by Cyril. Unit manager Tim McManus
then has Cyril charged with murder and Ryan then realizes that Kenmin made him believe the rape threat as a means of legally eliminating the O'Reily brothers. Ryan then plots for revenge and sees the hate that Enrique Morales has for Jia. The Irish then make a deal with the Latinos, Jia Kenmin will die without the traceback coming to Morales while Glen Shupe will be horribly injured without the traceback coming to O'Reily. Shupe's arm is then severed and O'Reily fills his end of the bargain by provoking a fight against Kenmin. In the fight, Kenmin with his martial arts skills is clearly winning but as the COs have trouble restraining Kenmin, O'Reily picks up a baton that has fallen on the floor and strikes Kenmin in the back of the head. Because Kenmin assaulted a CO, he is thrown in solitary without medical attention, which worries Dr. Nathan because of his previous head injury. It is assumed he was then killed by the COs in solitary (the last shot of him was being beaten by the COs), led by Robinson
on the suggestion of O'Reily. His death was never confirmed, but Jia was never seen or mentioned again, and CO Robinson wasn't punished.
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 Michael Delmare
Michael Delmare
Michael Gregory Gong , also known as Michael Gregory or Michael Delmare, is a Chinese actor and dancer.He is mostly known in the world of tv-series by participing in the HBO tv drama OZ, playing the role of the Chinese Triad crime boss Jia Kenmin, accredited by Michael Delmare, between season 4 and...
.
Character overview
Prisoner 01J813. Convicted February 2, 2001 - Possession and distribution of a controlled substance. Sentence: 15 years, up for parole in five.Imprisoned on drug charges, he also is tried in federal court for arranging a horrid ship ride that brought over some undocumented Chinese citizens. Upon his arrival, the refugees and he are separated from each other as the staff does not want any murder attempts made at Kenmin. One of the refugees then states to Kenmin that he can regain his honor in their eyes by killing 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....
, for killing one of their own. From there, Kenmin wars with the Latino and Irish inmates in Oz, a move that eventually results in his death.
Season 4 Part II
Kenmin arrives and is immediately isolated from some Asian refugees being held in Oz. He arranged a ship to take them over from China where they lived in horrid conditions paying an extorted amount of money to take the ride to America. In the meantime, one of the refugees Bian Yixhue is killed by the Latinos who are looking to set up the Homeboy's leader Burr ReddingBurr Redding
Burr Redding is one of Oz's oldest inmates.-Character overview:Prisoner #01R289. Convicted January 11, 2001 - Murder in the first degree, seven counts of attempted murder...
. One of the older refugees then asks to see Kenmin briefly before the deportation back to China where he states that Kenmin has been deceitful but can regain his honor avenging the death of Yixhue by killing Latino leader Enrique Morales. Kenmin then assists Redding in a plot to eliminate the Italians and Latinos going into the gymnasium with the Homeboys ready to murder off their enemies. The S.O.R.T. team breaks it up though but Kenmin does let the Latinos know he is after them as Oz is locked down. After the Lockdown is ended, Kenmin is placed in the cage for fighting with Morales and Guerra upon his release. Kenmin then later provokes the O'Reily brothers into a fight, a move that has Cyril O'Reily
Cyril O'Reily
Cyril O'Reily is a fictional character, played by American actor Scott William Winters, on the HBO drama Oz. He is also mentioned in the companion book , p. 58.-Character overview:...
put Kenmin into a coma. Kenmin then is in the hospital for the duration of the season.
Season 5
As Kenmin is released from the hospital, he spends his time angering the Latinos and plotting for revenge against O'Reily. With new inmate Li ChenLi Chen
Prisoner 02L333, Li Chen. Convicted January 4, 2002 for four counts of attempted murder. Sentence of 32 years, up for parole in 20.Li Chen, played by Nelson Lee was a character in the HBO series Oz...
, he makes it look like he has offered the O'Reily brothers peace as a means of setting them up. Kenmin then pays Glen Shupe
Glen Shupe
Glen Shupe is a character at HBO drama Oz played by Joel West.-Character Overview:Prisoner 99S917,. Convicted on April 22, 1999 for manslaughter. Sentence of 15 years, up for parole in eight....
to lie to 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,...
about the two of them planning to rape Suzanne Fitzgerald, Ryan's mother and an assistant at Oz. O'Reily then starts a fight with the two that ends with Chen being stabbed to death by Cyril. 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...
then has Cyril charged with murder and Ryan then realizes that Kenmin made him believe the rape threat as a means of legally eliminating the O'Reily brothers. Ryan then plots for revenge and sees the hate that Enrique Morales has for Jia. The Irish then make a deal with the Latinos, Jia Kenmin will die without the traceback coming to Morales while Glen Shupe will be horribly injured without the traceback coming to O'Reily. Shupe's arm is then severed and O'Reily fills his end of the bargain by provoking a fight against Kenmin. In the fight, Kenmin with his martial arts skills is clearly winning but as the COs have trouble restraining Kenmin, O'Reily picks up a baton that has fallen on the floor and strikes Kenmin in the back of the head. Because Kenmin assaulted a CO, he is thrown in solitary without medical attention, which worries Dr. Nathan because of his previous head injury. It is assumed he was then killed by the COs in solitary (the last shot of him was being beaten by the COs), led by Robinson
Tom Robinson (Oz)
Tom Robinson is a fictional character in the HBO drama Oz, played by Jon Korkes.-Character overview:A corrections officer in the titular prison, he is primarily assigned to the cafeteria and to desk duties after Roger Brese is fired. For the most part he plays a minor role, but he is involved in an...
on the suggestion of O'Reily. His death was never confirmed, but Jia was never seen or mentioned again, and CO Robinson wasn't punished.