List of Prison Break Minor Characters - Fox River Characters - Staff - Wardens

Wardens

• Henry Pope (played by Stacy Keach) is the dedicated warden of Fox River State Penitentiary. The character plays a major role throughout the first season, primarily playing the role of a father figure of sorts to the protagonist, Michael Scofield. Pope's character is portrayed as someone who believes in rehabilitation for the prisoners to make them productive members of society by organizing the prison industry (PI) and educational programs that allows inmates to receive their GED and even bachelor degrees. On the audio commentary for the pilot episode, creator Paul Scheuring talks about how most TV and movie wardens are portrayed as corrupt, and that the purpose of Pope was to create a warden that was actually one of the good guys. In the pilot, it is revealed that he has been married to Judith for 39 years. However, a later episode shows that, years earlier while in Toledo, Pope had an affair and fathered a child, Will Clayton, who later had run-ins with the law and died at 18. Pope confessed to his wife about the affair, but did not tell her about Will. For his 40th wedding anniversary, Pope wants to give his wife a replica of the Taj Mahal. However, he constructs it poorly and has enlisted the help of Michael to make sure the structure is stable. Michael uses this time to help further his escape plan. Pope plays a central role in the episode "English, Fitz or Percy", where Secret Service Agents Paul Kellerman and Daniel Hale attempt to use the information about Pope's illegitimate child to blackmail him into allowing Michael to be transferred to another prison. Pope initially gives in to their demands, but later changes his mind and refuses the transfer and goes home to tell his wife about Will. His wife does not re-appear, but she presumably forgives him as Michael continues working on the Taj Mahal replica.

Michael's affiliation with Pope soon angers Captain Brad Bellick. While Pope shown to be an honest man, Bellick is a definite villain in the first season of the series, shown to be known for both taking bribes and inmate abuse. Pope does not know the extent of Bellick's corruption and even intends him as his heir after he would retire. It is revealed in the episode "Riots, Drills and the Devil (Part 2)" that Bellick secretly looks down on Pope, viewing him as a softy who is not hard enough on the inmates. But after Pope catches Bellick bad-mouthing him to Governor Frank Tancredi later in the same episode, he harshly reprimands him, frightening Bellick. Pope is not featured as heavily in the middle parts of the season, where he is used mainly to deliver bad news to various characters. However, Pope returns to prominence in the plot in later episodes, and his relationship with Michael continues to be explored. Pope and Michael's respect and trust between each other increases as Michael regularly visits Pope to help him with his Taj Mahal project. Their relationship is temporarily strained when Michael refuses to name the guard that apparently assaulted him, but the conflict is later resolved. Pope trusts Michael, often leaving him unattended in his office, and once even going as far as saying he feels fortunate that the two have met. On the night of the escape, in the episodes "Tonight" and "Go", Warden Pope is forced to release Lincoln Burrows from solitary by Michael while holding a shank against him, after which Michael ties Pope to a chair and knocks him unconscious. Pope is shocked and feels betrayed by Michael. After he is found by the guards in the Season 1 finale "Flight", Pope immediately contacts the police and the governor upon the escape, and, along with Bellick, directs an extensive but ultimately fruitless manhunt against the fugitives.

In season 2, with the plot moving away from the prison, Pope is quickly written out of the show. He resigns in protest in the second episode, when the DOC decides to fire Bellick. After a 15-episode absence, Pope returns for a one-episode guest appearance in "Bad Blood", playing a vital role when Michael asks for his help to retrieve evidence that could exonerate Lincoln. Pope reluctantly agrees, but asks in return that Michael turns himself in. After he retrieves the evidence, though, he tells Michael he does not need to turn himself in. The two then part ways, on at least somewhat good terms. This is Pope's last appearance.

• Warden Ed Pavelka (played by Brandon Smith) took over as Warden at the prison after Pope quit after the Fox River Eight escaped. He was a much tougher Warden than Pope and refused to let Belick stay in Ad Seg even after he was attacked.