Lenny Burrano
Encyclopedia
Lenny Burrano is a fictional character on the HBO drama Oz
, played by Skipp Sudduth
.
. He appears to be connected to the Mafia, and works hand in hand with whoever leads the Italian group in Oz (Nino Schibetta
at first, then his son Peter
, Antonio Nappa
and ultimately Pancamo
) and passes back and forth news between them and the mob family. However, Burrano keeps this connection secret to the rest of the staff as he does not want them to realize that he is assisting the inmates. When CO Lawrence Smith
dies, Burrano condones the brutality at which the inmates randomly receive at the hands of the angered Officers. This causes disagreement with Tim McManus
among others who push for the brutal COs to be reprimanded. When Smith's killer Donald Groves
is executed by firing squad, Burrano with his experience working in Utah prisons, instructed the COs' how to properly kill Groves.
dies due to internal hemorrhaging and Burrano suspects but does not have proof that Black inmate Simon Adebisi
is responsible for it. Nino's son Peter arrives in Oz where Burrano passes him information and orders from the "family." When Peter goes to the hospital for rat poisoning, Burrano explains to him that Nino was fed ground glass over a series of months by someone who was aware that Nino was careful to watch their every move. He then tells Peter that the family is disappointed in his leadership and will revoke him of it if he does not kill Adebisi who poisoned him and most likely killed his father. Peter then with Chucky Pancamo
tries to kill Adebisi who beats Pancamo unconscious and rapes Schibetta putting Peter into a mentally unstable state. Burrano is then asked by new leader Antonio Nappa
what Adebisi values most that Burrano points out as heroin and then asks him to have Warden Glynn conduct a "random" drug test to take Adebisi's heroin away from him. This works driving Adebisi crazy to the point that the other Blacks and Italians can successfully frame him for murder sending him to the psych ward. This is the last time Burrano is seen in the series.
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 Skipp Sudduth
Skipp Sudduth
Robert Lee Sudduth IV , generally known by his stage name Skipp Sudduth, is an American theater, film, and TV actor. Sudduth is perhaps best known for his role in the movie Ronin and his lead in the TV drama Third Watch....
.
Character overview
Burrano is an Italian-American lead investigator who previously served as a correctional officer.Season 1
Burrano first appears in the second episode of the first season when he is appointed lead investigator in the murder of Dino OrtolaniDino 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 appears to be connected to the Mafia, and works hand in hand with whoever leads the Italian group in Oz (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...
at first, then his son Peter
Peter Schibetta
Peter Schibetta is a fictional character on the HBO series Oz, portrayed by Eddie Malavarca.-Character overview:Prisoner #98S112. Convicted May 19, 1998 - Five counts of extortion: money laundering. Sentence: 35 years, eligible for parole in 20....
, Antonio Nappa
Antonio Nappa
Antonio Nappa is a fictional character played by Mark Margolis on the HBO dramatic series Oz.-Character overview:Prisoner #98N744. Convicted June 4, 1998 - Murder in the second degree. Sentence: 80 years, eligible for parole in 50...
and ultimately Pancamo
Chucky Pancamo
Charles "Chucky The Enforcer" Pancamo is a fictional character, played by Chuck Zito, on the HBO series Oz.-Character overview:Prisoner #97P468. Convicted June 4, 1997 - Second degree murder. Sentence: 35 years, eligible for parole in 15....
) and passes back and forth news between them and the mob family. However, Burrano keeps this connection secret to the rest of the staff as he does not want them to realize that he is assisting the inmates. When CO Lawrence Smith
Lawrence Smith (Oz)
Lawrence Smith is an African American correctional officer on the HBO drama Oz, played by Curtis McClarin.-Character overview:He appears in only one episode in season 1 where he dies defending Warden Leo Glynn from inmate Donald Groves. Groves attempted to kill Glynn as he wanted to appease Muslim...
dies, Burrano condones the brutality at which the inmates randomly receive at the hands of the angered Officers. This causes disagreement with 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...
among others who push for the brutal COs to be reprimanded. When Smith's killer Donald Groves
Donald Groves
Donald Groves is a fictional character on the HBO prison drama Oz, played by Sean Whitesell.-Character overview:Prisoner 97G414. Convicted July 3, 1997 - Two counts of Murder in the first degree. Sentence: Life imprisonment without parole. Convicted later August 21, 1997 - One count of Murder in...
is executed by firing squad, Burrano with his experience working in Utah prisons, instructed the COs' how to properly kill Groves.
Season 2
Nino SchibettaNino 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...
dies due to internal hemorrhaging and Burrano suspects but does not have proof that Black inmate 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...
is responsible for it. Nino's son Peter arrives in Oz where Burrano passes him information and orders from the "family." When Peter goes to the hospital for rat poisoning, Burrano explains to him that Nino was fed ground glass over a series of months by someone who was aware that Nino was careful to watch their every move. He then tells Peter that the family is disappointed in his leadership and will revoke him of it if he does not kill Adebisi who poisoned him and most likely killed his father. Peter then with Chucky Pancamo
Chucky Pancamo
Charles "Chucky The Enforcer" Pancamo is a fictional character, played by Chuck Zito, on the HBO series Oz.-Character overview:Prisoner #97P468. Convicted June 4, 1997 - Second degree murder. Sentence: 35 years, eligible for parole in 15....
tries to kill Adebisi who beats Pancamo unconscious and rapes Schibetta putting Peter into a mentally unstable state. Burrano is then asked by new leader Antonio Nappa
Antonio Nappa
Antonio Nappa is a fictional character played by Mark Margolis on the HBO dramatic series Oz.-Character overview:Prisoner #98N744. Convicted June 4, 1998 - Murder in the second degree. Sentence: 80 years, eligible for parole in 50...
what Adebisi values most that Burrano points out as heroin and then asks him to have Warden Glynn conduct a "random" drug test to take Adebisi's heroin away from him. This works driving Adebisi crazy to the point that the other Blacks and Italians can successfully frame him for murder sending him to the psych ward. This is the last time Burrano is seen in the series.