Hamid Khan
Encyclopedia
Hamid Khan, played by Ernie Hudson Jr., is a fictional character in the HBO series Oz
.
He is imprisoned for nearly killing a white man whom he saw raping
a black woman. Khan is a man who takes his religion seriously. He is one of the most physically built Muslims on Oz, and represents them in the boxing tournament. He does fairly well in the tournament until Cyril O'Reily
knocks him out, inflicting permanent brain damage
. Khan is left on life support
, until his wife allows prison doctors to take him off the ventilator.
and the Muslims. Khan fits in perfectly at first, but as time goes by, he challenges leadership from Said. Khan was not happy when he finds out that the inmates' lawyer for the class action suit against the state and the prison is a Jew. Khan further questions Said's leadership once it is rumored that he is attracted to a white woman. Later it is revealed that Said does in fact have feelings for this woman, thanks to Poet who at lunch time got on stage and wrote a poem about him witnessing Said's lust for Scott Ross
' half-sister Tricia. Khan, publicly embarrassed, takes over the leadership of the Muslims. He then threatens to harm the woman if she goes near Said, to which Said threatens revenge for anyone who harms her.
Khan represents the Muslims in the prison boxing tournament created by CO Sean Murphy
. As Khan is over six feet tall and over 200 pounds of solid muscle, he is one of the most built fighters in the ring. In the first fight, he wins easily over Kenny Wangler
, who is much smaller and suffers from withdrawal
. In the second match, he must fight Jason Cramer
, a homosexual inmate. Inmates Zahir Arif
and Simon Adebisi
urge him to kill Cramer, playing on his homophobia
and racism
. Neither fighter is knocked out, and Khan wins by vote. Khan then fights the championship match against Cyril O'Reily
, an Irish-American inmate who is winning because his brother, Ryan
, is drugging his opponents' water. Murphy prevents Ryan O'Reily from drugging Khan's water, however, and so Cyril is left at a disadvantage; he is significantly smaller, as well as brain-damaged. Determined to win, Ryan whips his brother into a frenzy by reminding him of the abuse they both suffered at their father's hands; Cyril beats Khan so badly that he sustains permanent brain damage.
, who plays Warden Leo Glynn
on the show.
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...
.
Character overview
Prisoner #99K515. Convicted March 6, 1999 - Aggravated assault. Sentence: 10 years, eligible for parole in five.He is imprisoned for nearly killing a white man whom he saw raping
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
a black woman. Khan is a man who takes his religion seriously. He is one of the most physically built Muslims on Oz, and represents them in the boxing tournament. He does fairly well in the tournament until Cyril O'Reily
Cyril O'Reily
Cyril O'Reily is a fictional character, played by American actor Scott William Winters, on the HBO drama Oz. He is also mentioned in the companion book , p. 58.-Character overview:...
knocks him out, inflicting permanent brain damage
Brain damage
"Brain damage" or "brain injury" is the destruction or degeneration of brain cells. Brain injuries occur due to a wide range of internal and external factors...
. Khan is left on life support
Life support
Life support, in medicine is a broad term that applies to any therapy used to sustain a patient's life while they are critically ill or injured. There are many therapies and techniques that may be used by clinicians to achieve the goal of sustaining life...
, until his wife allows prison doctors to take him off the ventilator.
Season 3
Khan arrives in Em City and is immediately accepted by Kareem SaidKareem Said
Kareem Saïd is a character played by British actor Eamonn Walker on the American television show Oz.-Character overview:Prisoner #97S444. Convicted June 6, 1997 - Arson in the second degree. Sentence: 18 years, eligible for parole in five...
and the Muslims. Khan fits in perfectly at first, but as time goes by, he challenges leadership from Said. Khan was not happy when he finds out that the inmates' lawyer for the class action suit against the state and the prison is a Jew. Khan further questions Said's leadership once it is rumored that he is attracted to a white woman. Later it is revealed that Said does in fact have feelings for this woman, thanks to Poet who at lunch time got on stage and wrote a poem about him witnessing Said's lust for Scott Ross
Scott Ross (Oz)
Scott Ross, played by Stephen Gevedon, is a fictional character on the HBO drama Oz.right|thumb|Stephen Gevedon as Scott Ross.-Character overview:...
' half-sister Tricia. Khan, publicly embarrassed, takes over the leadership of the Muslims. He then threatens to harm the woman if she goes near Said, to which Said threatens revenge for anyone who harms her.
Khan represents the Muslims in the prison boxing tournament created by CO Sean Murphy
Sean Murphy (Oz)
Sean Murphy is an Irish American Correctional Officer on the HBO drama Oz, played by Robert Clohessy. A fair and honest officer, Murphy is handpicked by Tim McManus to act as the head CO of Emerald City as he and McManus are lifelong friends...
. As Khan is over six feet tall and over 200 pounds of solid muscle, he is one of the most built fighters in the ring. In the first fight, he wins easily over Kenny Wangler
Kenny Wangler
Kenny "Bricks" Wangler is a fictional character in the HBO drama Oz, played by actor J.D. Williams.-Character overview:Prisoner #97W566. Convicted July 6, 1997 - murder in the first degree . Sentence: 20 years, eligible for parole in six.He was sent to prison for murdering a student he was...
, who is much smaller and suffers from withdrawal
Withdrawal
Withdrawal can refer to any sort of separation, but is most commonly used to describe the group of symptoms that occurs upon the abrupt discontinuation/separation or a decrease in dosage of the intake of medications, recreational drugs, and alcohol...
. In the second match, he must fight Jason Cramer
Jason Cramer
Jason Cramer is a fictional character on the HBO drama Oz played by Robert Bogue.-Character overview:Prisoner #98C931. Convicted September 6, 1998 - Murder in the first degree, Kidnapping, Assault with a dangerous instrument. Sentence: Life imprisonment without parole...
, a homosexual inmate. Inmates Zahir Arif
Zahir Arif
Zahir Arif aka Jerome Van Dyke is a fictional character on the HBO series Oz, played by Granville Adams.-Character overview:Arif is a former drug addict in prison apparently for possession of stolen goods. In prison, he undergoes a spiritual transformation into one of the most well-behaved and...
and 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...
urge him to kill Cramer, playing on his homophobia
Homophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
and racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
. Neither fighter is knocked out, and Khan wins by vote. Khan then fights the championship match against Cyril O'Reily
Cyril O'Reily
Cyril O'Reily is a fictional character, played by American actor Scott William Winters, on the HBO drama Oz. He is also mentioned in the companion book , p. 58.-Character overview:...
, an Irish-American inmate who is winning because his brother, Ryan
Ryan O'Reily
Ryan O'Reily is a main character in the television series Oz. He was portrayed by Dean Winters from 1997 to 2003.-Character overview:Prisoner #97P904. Convicted July 12, 1997 - Two counts of vehicular manslaughter, five counts of reckless endangerment, possession of a controlled substance,...
, is drugging his opponents' water. Murphy prevents Ryan O'Reily from drugging Khan's water, however, and so Cyril is left at a disadvantage; he is significantly smaller, as well as brain-damaged. Determined to win, Ryan whips his brother into a frenzy by reminding him of the abuse they both suffered at their father's hands; Cyril beats Khan so badly that he sustains permanent brain damage.
Season 4, Part I
Khan is put on life support. His wife cannot stand to see him in that condition, and sues the prison to have him taken off his ventilator. She wins the ruling and Khan dies, with Kareem Said offering one final prayer at his side. Shortly after his death, he appears in Cyril's dreams saying that his two murder victims, Preston Nathan and Khan himself, are going to haunt him the rest of his life.Casting
Ernie Hudson Jr., is the real life son of Ernie HudsonErnie Hudson
Ernest Lee "Ernie" Hudson is an American actor known for his roles as Winston Zeddemore in the Ghostbusters film series, Sergeant Albrecht in The Crow, and Warden Leo Glynn on HBO's Oz.-Early life:...
, who plays Warden Leo Glynn
Warden Leo Glynn
Leo Glynn is a fictional character on the HBO drama Oz. He is the warden of the Oswald state correctional facility-Character overview:...
on the show.