Dino Ortolani
| Dino Ortolani | |
|---|---|
| Oz character | |
 |
|
| First appearance | "The Routine" (episode 1.01) |
| Last appearance | "A Day in the Death..." (episode 6.06) |
| Created by | Tom Fontana |
| Portrayed by | Jon Seda |
| Information | |
| Family |
Nino Schibetta (uncle) Peter Schibetta (cousin) |
Dino Ortolani, played by Jon Seda, is a fictional character who appeared in three episodes of the HBO series Oz. Although he dies in the first episode of the series, which is more or less centered on his character, his death has a strong impact on the rest of season 1.
Prisoner #96C382. Convicted December 12, 1996 - One count of murder in the first degree, assault with a deadly weapon. Sentence: Life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
The epitome of a macho Italian gangster, Ortolani is bitter, homophobic and hotheaded. He is also the nephew of Nino Schibetta and the cousin of Peter Schibetta. He is in prison for shooting and nearly killing Ryan O'Reily as well as murdering another Irish gangster in the process.
Ortolani runs the kitchen for Italian mafioso Nino Schibetta. He dislikes the black inmates, unconcerned with the fact that they constitute the majority of the kitchen staff. He is disliked and feared by most of the staff and inmates, although because of his toughness and undisguised racism he is somewhat admired by Aryan Brotherhood leader Vernon Schillinger (the feeling is not mutual). When Ortolani learns that Ryan O'Reily is alive and coming to Oz, he schemes to have his old enemy killed (and later almost succeeds in drowning O'Reily in one of the bathroom toilets before his conscience gets the better of him).
Ortolani nearly cripples a gay inmate, Billie Keane, who flirted with him in the shower. This enrages Billie's brother, Jefferson Keane, the leader of the Homeboys gang, who plots to kill Ortolani in retaliation.
Tim McManus lets Ortolani know that every prisoner and guard in Oz hates him or is scared of him (or both), something he does not seem to mind. So, as punishment for beating up Billie he sends him to work in the AIDS ward, hoping to teach him a lesson in tolerance. While he serves time in the AIDS ward, Ortolani develops an infatuation for Dr. Gloria Nathan. Although Ortolani is initially appalled by the AIDS patients, he begins to like one of them, Emilio Sanchez. Sanchez eventually asks Ortolani to help him die and end his suffering. Ortolani doesn't agree immediately, but returns later to do as Sanchez asked him. He disconnects Sanchez from his life support and smothers him.
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Wikipedia