Where is the cast of “Prison Break ”now? See the stars more than 20 years later

Chris Snellgrove, James Mercadante, Kevin JacobsenSat, August 29, 2026 at 12:40 PM UTC

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The cast of ‘Prison Break’Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection

Prison Break exploded onto our TV screens in 2005, featuring an undeniable premise that kept viewers glued week after week. Following structural engineer Michael Scofield’s (Wentworth Miller) efforts to break his innocent brother, Lincoln (Dominic Purcell), out of prison, the series was an immediate hit due to its propulsive storytelling, which built to a crescendo in its first season. While subsequent seasons never quite recaptured that magic, it remained highly watchable as the writers forced their characters into new, impossible situations.

Purcell and Miller became breakout stars, with the latter earning a Golden Globe nomination for his performance. While they (and their costars) will always be associated with the show, many of them have gone on to further success in various endeavors since the original series’ conclusion in 2009 — some more surprising than others. Now, on the 21st anniversary of Prison Break’s series premiere on Fox, we’re breaking down what the cast has been up to since.

Dominic Purcell (Lincoln Burrows)

Dominic Purcell as Lincoln Burrows on ‘Prison Break’; Dominic Purcell poses for a portrait during day 2 of San Diego Comic-Con on July 19, 2019Credit: 20th Century Fox Film Corp./Courtesy: Everett Collection; Michael Buckner/TVLine/Penske Media via Getty

Prison Break is undoubtedly the show that made Dominic Purcell a major star as Lincoln Burrows, who is falsely accused of killing the vice president’s brother. And this character archetype — a man with a gruff exterior but a good heart — would become a through-line for his career.

Purcell likely didn’t know what a life-changing opportunity it would be to star on Prison Break, but he knew the series was telling an epic tale from the beginning. Looking back on his earliest time on the show, Purcell was effusive in his praise, telling EW in 2017 that “the first season of Prison Break, in my opinion, was just classic, beautiful storytelling.” He’s also sorry that the series had to come to an end, saying, “I’d do years of Prison Break. I love the show so much.”

Following Prison Break’s original conclusion, the actor went on to appear on high-profile shows like The Flash and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. He also starred in action films including Killer Elite (2011), Assault on Wall Street (2013), and Casino in Ischia (2024).

It was announced in 2024 that he would reunite with his former onscreen brother, Wentworth Miller, for Snatchback, a series in development at Universal Television that follows “a highly skilled privately contracted team of operatives as they recover hostages across the globe .” However, no significant updates on the project have been announced since.

Purcell was married to Rebecca Williamson from 1998 to 2008. They share four children. In 2023, the actor married Tish Cyrus, Miley Cyrus’ mother.

Wentworth Miller (Michael Scofield)

Wentworth Miller as Michael Scofield on ‘Prison Break’; Wentworth Miller attends the ‘Prison Break’ screening and conversation at the Paley Center for Media in L.A. on March 29, 2017Credit: 20th Century Fox Film Corp./Courtesy: Everett Collection; Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic

On Prison Break, Wentworth Miller plays Lincoln Burrows’ brother, and that only seemed appropriate. After all, Miller and Dominic Purcell had a similar trajectory as actors. Miller would go on to earn a Golden Globe nomination for his performance.

Though many fans could never imagine Prison Break without Miller, that was almost the case. In a 2006 interview with EW, Miller revealed that his would-be big breaks fizzled rather than sizzled. He hoped that starring as a younger version of Anthony Hopkins in The Human Stain (2003) would put him on the map, but it instead led to almost two years without job offers.

“It was like I stepped off the pavement and into the desert,” he said. “As rocky as that road was, I learned a lot about endurance and patience and discipline.” Fortunately, he landed a last-minute audition for Prison Break, and from there, a career was born.

After Prison Break’s original run ended in 2009, Miller wrote and coproduced Park Chan-wook’s acclaimed 2013 film Stoker. He also made a splash appearing on The Flash as an ice-themed villain, a role that he reprised for the spinoff series DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. Additionally, he played a prominent role in season 6 of Madam Secretary and made a few guest appearances, as different characters, on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Miller came out as gay in 2013 by declining an invitation to a Russian film festival. “As a gay man, I must decline,” he wrote in a statement. “I am deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government.”

In 2021, Miller revealed that he had been diagnosed with autism the year before.

Robin Tunney (Veronica Donovan)

Robin Tunney as Veronica Donovan on ‘Prison Break’; Robin Tunney attends the L.A. premiere for ‘Dear Edward’ on Jan. 31, 2023Credit: 20th Century Fox Film Corp./Courtesy: Everett Collection; Araya Doheny/FilmMagic

Robin Tunney brought Veronica Donovan, Lincoln’s childhood friend and current lawyer, to vivid life.

It may have been Tunney’s early career heights that helped her recognize how special the series was. In a 2006 interview with IGN, she explained, “It’s a pleasure to go to work and I feel really blessed about that.... It’s not derivative. You can make the comparison to 24, but it’s not derivative of anything else.” She took this as a point of pride, especially because Hollywood is so often guilty of not giving “anything original” the time of day.

Though Tunney only appeared throughout the first season of Prison Break and in the season 2 premiere, the series proved she could hold her own on a big-budget ensemble show. She soon starred as Teresa Lisbon in all seven seasons of The Mentalist. Later, she had prominent roles in a handful of movies as well as television series like The Fix and Dear Edward.

Tunney married film producer Bob Gosse in 1997, but they divorced in 2006. Later, she got engaged to interior designer Nicky Marmet, and they have two children together.

Amaury Nolasco (Fernando Sucre)

Amaury Nolasco as Fernando Sucre on ‘Prison Break’; Amaury Nolasco attends Darren Dzienciol and Richie Akiva’s annual Oscar pre-party in Bel Air, Calif., on March 10, 2023Credit: 20th Century Fox Film Corp./Courtesy: Everett Collection; Paul Archuleta/Getty

On Prison Break, Amaury Nolasco plays Fernando Sucre, a close friend of Michael’s who fervently dreams of leaving Fox River Penitentiary and reuniting with his fiancée.

While filming Prison Break, he appeared in the first of Michael Bay’s Transformers films, followed by Street Kings in 2008 and A Good Day to Die Hard in 2013.

In a 2006 interview with PEOPLE ahead of Prison Break’s second season, Nalasco talked about how fun it was to film in Texas. “I’m riding horses. It’s Texas! You need to do those things.”

However, some aspects were harder to adapt to than others. Originally, he shrugged off warnings about the Texas heat under the assumption that his upbringing in Puerto Rico adequately prepared him. Sadly, it did not. “Honey, it’s something I’ve never experienced before. 115 (degrees)? 112? What is this?” he said. “It’s unbearable. And the humidity?”

After Prison Break initially ended in 2009, he went on to land roles on shows like Rizzoli & Isles, Deception, and Hightown. He continued playing Fernando Sucre in the 2009 TV movie Prison Break: The Final Break and later reprised the role in the 2017 revival season. His more recent onscreen credits include The Valet (2022), Lights Out (2024), Land of Women, and BFFs (2025).

Marshall Allman (L.J. Burrows)

Marshall Allman as L.J. Burrows on ‘Prison Break’; Marshall Allman attends the L.A. premiere of ‘I Am the Night’ on Jan. 24, 2019Credit: 20th Century Fox Film Corp./Courtesy: Everett Collection; Gregg DeGuire/Getty

Prison Break provided Marshall Allman with a breakout (so to speak) role as Lincoln Burrows’ son, L.J. Burrows, and this became the kind of acting opportunity he wouldn’t soon forget.

With a bit of self-deprecating humor, Allman told Starry Constellation Magazine in 2014 why he took the role on Prison Break: “It is the only project that I got hired for.” The young actor also saw this as a great learning opportunity, saying, “I’m getting to do real acting with other actors who want to act and be real strong.... I’m just enjoying the ride because it’s honestly so cool.”

He went on to star in Blue Like Jazz (2012) and guest-starred on shows including Justified, Longmire, Bates Motel, Chicago Med, and NCIS: Origins. Outside of Prison Break, he’s best known for playing Tommy Mickens on True Blood.

Allman married actress Jamie Anne Brown in 2006, and they have three children together.

Sarah Wayne Callies (Sara Tancredi)

Sarah Wayne Callies as Sara Tancredi on ‘Prison Break’; Sarah Wayne Callies poses for a photo session during the Paris Peace Forum on Nov. 11, 2023Credit: 20th Century Fox Film Corp./Courtesy: Everett Collection; Joel Saget/AFP via Getty

Sarah Wayne Callies’ role as Sara, a sympathetic doctor who aids the escape, led to plenty of other opportunities.

“Prison Break was my first real job,” Callies told EW in 2016. “I had only been in the business a couple of years.” As for returning for the show’s 2017 revival, she was motivated by a desire to once again work with Prison Break creator Paul Scheuring. “A huge part of wanting to come back was that Paul was the brain behind it, and this was always Paul’s baby.”

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After Prison Break’soriginal run ended, Callies began getting beefier roles on more prominent shows — including The Walking Dead, where she played Lori Grimes, wife to the brooding sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln). She also had major stints on series like Colony, Council of Dads, The Company You Keep, and more. In 2014, she starred in Into the Storm alongside Richard Armitage and Matt Walsh. Her latest film is the 2026 heist thriller Atlas King.

Callies has two children with her husband, Josh Winterhalt, whom she married in 2002.

Rockmond Dunbar (Benjamin Miles Franklin)

Rockmond Dunbar as Benjamin Miles Franklin on ‘Prison Break’; Rockmond Dunbar attends the 16th Headies Awards in Atlanta on Sept. 3, 2023Credit: Joe Viles/Fox/Courtesy: Everett Collection; Paras Griffin/Getty

Like his costars, Rockmond Dunbar’s career got a major boost from his time on Prison Break.

In a 2017 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he spoke about appreciating the complexities of the show. “You always have those twists and turns in Prison Break. How are they going to get out of this? How are they going to get out of that?” he recalled. “You turn the corner, and it’s a sunny and beautiful day — and then it’s absolute hell. How are they going to get out of this hell?”

Since the series began, “hell” is the last word we’d use to describe Dunbar’s career. One of his most prominent roles since then was Sheriff Eli Roosevelt on Sons of Anarchy, and he has also appeared extensively on The Mentalist,The Game, and 9-1-1. Film-wise, Dunbar directed and acted in Pastor Brown (2009) and notably appeared in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), The Family That Preys (2008), and Straw (2025).

Dunbar married Ivy Holmes in 2003; they got divorced three years later. In 2013, he married actress Maya Gilbert, and the two are now raising four children together.

Robert Knepper (Theodore Bagwell)

Robert Knepper as Theodore Bagwell on ‘Prison Break’; Robert Knepper visits ‘Hollywood Today Live’ on April 3, 2017Credit: 20th Century Fox Film Corp./Courtesy: Everett Collection; David Livingston/Getty

Robert Knepper’s Hollywood career stretches back to the ‘80s. On Prison Break, he played Theodore “T-Bag” Bagwell, the kind of menacing inmate who always threatens to undermine the protagonists.

To hear Knepper tell it, this is the kind of character he was born to play. In a 2005 interview with EW, he mentioned how he was surprised that fans didn’t just outright hate Bagwell. “People looove to hate me,” he said. “I never play him like a stereotypical racist or redneck. He’s actually quite cunning and smart.”

After Prison Break, Knepper got bigger parts in increasingly ambitious projects. He appeared in the final season of Heroes and on iZombie. He also popped up on the Twin Peaks revival and in action films like Hitman (2007), Transporter 3 (2008), The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1 (2014) and Part 2 (2015), and Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016). His latest credits include the 2025 film The Lost Princess, a fantastical story set in a haunted castle, and the 2026 series The Gray House, about four women who transform an Underground Railroad operation into an espionage network working for the Union.

Wade Williams (Brad Bellick)

Wade Williams as Brad Bellick on ‘Prison Break’; Wade Williams attends the ‘Cowboy Bebop’ premiere in L.A. on Nov. 11, 2021Credit: 20th Century Fox Film Corp./Courtesy: Everett Collection; Phillip Faraone/Getty

Speaking of Prison Break characters that fans love to hate, Wade Williams was Brad Bellick, a corrupt captain of the correctional officers at Fox River Penitentiary.

Williams has mastered the art of keeping his head down and getting the job done. In a 2006 interview with the Chicago Tribune before season 2, he was asked about the challenges of moving the shooting location from Chicago to Texas. While he said he would miss the Windy City, the actor was unfazed: “My mantra is, it’s nice to have a gig.”

Since he started portraying Brad on Prison Break, things have been quite “nice” for Williams due to an abundance of jobs. He has since made appearances on the shows Criminal Minds, Bones, and Longmire, and he had a more extensive part on Mercy Street. He played another prison warden character in The Dark Knight Rises (2012) and has lent his voice to numerous DC animated productions, including movies like Superman: Unbound and Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012).

Williams was also in the 2013 crime-action film Gangster Squad alongside Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, and Emma Stone, and in the 2022 Western The Last Manhunt with Jason Momoa and Lily Gladstone.

Paul Adelstein (Paul Kellerman)

Paul Adelstein as Paul Kellerman on ‘Prison Break’ Paul Adelstein attends the NYC premiere of ‘The Menu’ on Nov. 14, 2022Credit: 20th Century Fox Film Corp./Courtesy: Everett Collection; Michael Loccisano/WireImage

Paul Adelstein already had a growing body of diverse roles going into Prison Break, but the series certainly helped give his career a major boost.

This is somewhat ironic because, as Adelstein told The New York Times in 2007, his initial audition went poorly, mostly because he was auditioning for the role of Lincoln Burrows. After giving an overly mournful line delivery for that character, Adelstein ended up reading for Kellerman because he’s “more of a character guy.” The vulnerability that felt out of place for Lincoln was perfect for Paul Kellerman, and he ended up getting the part.

After Prison Break became a hit, Adelstein nabbed a long-running role as Cooper Freedman on Private Practice, the show for which he is arguably best known. In 2009, he voiced an astronaut in the Will Ferrell film Land of the Lost. He would later appear on shows like Scandal, Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce, Chicago P.D., and Agatha All Along, as well as the acclaimed thriller The Menu (2022).

Adelstein married actress Liza Weil in 2006. They had one child together before divorcing in 2017.

William Fichtner (Alexander Mahone)

William Fichtner as Alexander Mahone on ‘Prison Break’; William Fitchner attends the 76th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 26, 2023Credit: 20th Century Fox Film Corp./Courtesy: Everett Collection; Kristy Sparow/Getty

On Prison Break, the steely-eyed William Fichtner played relentless FBI agent Alexander Mahone, who is tasked with hunting the main characters down.

Fichtner later told EW in 2007 while looking back on his performance in the show, “I love playing characters like this — everybody is afraid of me!”

He also felt that his character was a large part of the alchemy that helped the show become a success. “That’s what makes Prison Break work — the dysfunctional, twisted folk are so real with their own problems,” he said. “That’s certainly what attracted me to it.”

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Since his time on Prison Break, Fichtner has had major parts on Entourage, Crossing Lines, and Mom, as well as in films such as The Dark Knight (2008), Drive Angry (2011), Elysium (2013), and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014). Most recently, Fichtner appeared on the second season of Netflix’s Emmy-winning series Beef and the Apple TV miniseries Lucky.

Fichtner has been married to actress Kymberly Kalil since 1998, and they have one child together. He also has another child from a previous marriage.

Peter Stormare (John Abruzzi)

Peter Stormare as John Abruzzi on ‘Prison Break’; Peter Stormare attends the L.A. premiere of ‘1923’ on Dec. 2, 2022Credit: 20th Century Fox Film Corp./Courtesy: Everett Collection; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

When Peter Stormare joined the Prison Break cast as John Abruzzi — a Chicago mob boss — he had already shocked audiences by feeding Steve Buscemi into a woodchipper in Fargo (1996). Still, his time on Prison Break helped him win over a new generation of fans.

Stormare offered a rather dry assessment of his experience on the show during a Reddit AMA in 2018. When a fan asked what his favorite Prison Break filming memory was, Stormare responded, “The final day, when I was shot and killed.”

Stormare went on to appear on shows like The Blacklist, Black Widows, Longmire, and American Gods, while also appearing in films such as John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017). He also became a prolific voice actor, lending his talents to series such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Castlevania as well as to video games like Until Dawn and Destiny 2: The Witch Queen.

Stormare married actress Karen Sillas in 1989, and they divorced in 2006. He married Toshimi Murakami in 2008.

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