OZ – THE COMPLETE SERIES (HBO 1997-2003) Christopher Meloni, J.K. Simmons, Lee Tergesen, Rita Moreno, Ernie Hudson, Edie Falco, BD Wong, Terry Kinney, Harold Perrineau, Eamonn Walker
The Groundbreaking Prison Drama That Redefined Television
Step inside Oswald State Penitentiary, a maximum-security facility known as "Oz," where danger and moral ambiguity lurk behind every corner. In this unflinching and gritty drama series from HBO, the inmates of Emerald City, a unit designed to experiment with rehabilitation, face a brutal world ruled by gangs, power struggles, and survival at any cost.
Created by Tom Fontana, OZ offers a raw, unfiltered look at life behind bars. It tackles complex themes of justice, identity, violence, and redemption, providing an intense exploration of the human condition.
Throughout its six-season run, OZ featured an impressive roster of actors, including:
- J.K. Simmons (Spider-Man: No Way Home) as Vern Schillinger, the ruthless leader of the Aryan Brotherhood.
- Lee Tergesen (Desperate Housewives) as Tobias Beecher, a former lawyer convicted of killing a child while driving under the influence.
- BD Wong (Jurassic Park) as Father Ray Mukada, Prison Chaplain.
- Edie Falco (The Sopranos) as Officer Diane Whittlesey, a conflicted prison guard.
- Eamonn Walker (Chicago Fire) as Kareem Saïd, a Muslim leader and activist.
- Christopher Meloni (Law & Order: SVU) as Chris Keller, a manipulative and charismatic inmate.
- Harold Perrineau (Lost) as narrator Augustus Hill, offering insight into the prison's dark world.
- Rita Moreno (West Side Story) as Sister Peter Marie, a nun who works as a counselor.
- Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters) as Warden Leo Glynn, tasked with keeping the chaos under control.
- Terry Kinney (Billions) as Tim McManus, the idealistic manager of Emerald City.
With its intense performances, unflinching storylines, and brutal realism, OZ set the stage for future prestige television, forever changing the landscape of dramatic series.
NOTE: The series carries no rating, but the drug use, nudity, sex scenes and brutal violence might offend some. Oz pulled no punches in its portrayal of real prison life.