Frank Tancredi
From Prison Break Wiki
Frank Tancredi
Current Status: Deceased
First appearance: 1x6
Last appearance: 2x11
Portrayed by: John Heard
Frank Tancredi was the governor of the state of Illinois and the father of Sara Tancredi. His strict policies on crime earned him the nickname "Frontier Justice Frank". He strongly supported the notation of being tough and strict on crime. Hence a reason why he looked to back the electric-chair penalty given to Lincoln Burrows. He strictly disapproved of his daughter's decision to work at Fox River State Penitentiary because of the obvious dangers and his secret worry that Sara would return to her old drug habits. He eventually was promoted to Vice-President of the US after Caroline Reynolds proceeded to president.
Due to dodgy links and alliances; he made himself a target for people to go after, and eventually, was found dead. A suicidal look on things as he was hanged on his tie. Despite suspicion by Sara and Michael Scofield etc. of foul-play by 'The Company'.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Season 1
He travelled to Fox River when his daughter's life was threatened during a prison riot. After the crisis had passed, Tancredi seemed more interested in reminding her how unsafe work in a prison could be than expressing relief at her safety. This incident further strained their relationship.
When Sara asked him to review Lincoln Burrows' (Dominic Purcell) case on the scheduled day of his execution, he ultimately decided not to grant clemency, apparently at the request of the Vice President. Tancredi later revealed to his daughter that he did not review the information she gave him from Lincoln Burrows' attorneys. His reason for his refusal to grant clemency was linked to Vice President Caroline Reynolds (Patricia Wettig). Tancredi has since been suggested by several press sources as a potential Vice Presidential candidate when Vice President Reynolds ran for the Presidency.
Soon after, Reynolds was sworn in as the President after the sudden death of President Mills.
[edit] Season 2
After paying for his daughter's bail for release, Tancredi reveals her that he would soon be sworn in as the next Vice President of the United States. Later, Tancredi is encouraged by a political strategist to distance himself from his daughter, which he refuses to do. He visits her at her apartment, and she apologizes for the problems she has caused for him, but also reasserts her belief that Lincoln Burrows is innocent. This prompts Tancredi to take a second look at the Burrows case, and he is shocked to learn of the deaths of Nick Savrinn and Veronica Donovan. The political strategist suggests he let it go.
In a later episode, while discussing his forthcoming Senate confirmation hearing with the strategist, Tancredi sees Agent Kellerman (Paul Adelstein), who he recognizes from Sara's apartment. This encounter convinces him that Sara may be right about the conspiracy after all, and calls Sara to warn her that her new "friend" is not to be trusted. Soon after, President Reynolds abruptly withdraws the nomination, despite sufficient support in the Senate for his confirmation. Sara found Frank dead shortly afterward in the governor's residence. Although Agent Kim's men made it look like he had hanged himself, Sara refuses to believe that her father could have committed suicide. According to Agent Kim, he had become a liability to the Conspiracy by getting too close to Kellerman's secret, and thus could not be left alive. Fortunately in the seasons finale, Sara shot and killed Kim to save Michael and Linc.
Aldo Burrows (Anthony Denison) later tells Lincoln that Frank Tancredi acquired an important telephone recording between Caroline Reynolds and Terrence Steadman that took place two weeks after Steadman's reported death.
[edit] Appearances
Frank Tancredi is a main recurring character that made selected appearances throughout the series. He was introduced as the Governor of Illinois in the episode, "Riots, Drills and the Devil". After the character was killed off in episode, "Buried", he appeared again in the episode, "Bolshoi Booze" via a flashback sequence.
[edit] Trivia
- John Heard previously played the Vice President and President in the film My Fellow Americans.
