Vernon Schillinger is a fictional character played by American actor J. K. Simmons on the HBO series Oz. TV Guide included him in their 2013 list of The 60 Nastiest Villains of All Time. Schillinger is one of the most powerful and feared inmates in Oz. As leader of The Aryan Brotherhood in Oz, Schillinger controls most white inmates and has a reputation for ruthless brutality and rape. He is shown to be a high-ranking member of the Aryan Brotherhood outside of prison, thus giving him power outside of Oz through a vast network of allies. This is shown when Karl Metzger and other prison guards are seen receiving orders from and showing deference to Schillinger and his friendship with Mayor Wilson Loewen.