Michael Dawson (Lost)

Template:Infobox Lost character Michael Dawson is a fictional character on the ABC television series Lost played by Harold Perrineau.

Fictional character biography

Prior to the crash

Michael has been estranged from his son, Walt — named for Michael's father — for nearly all of Walt's life. Years earlier, Michael was very excited at the prospect of becoming a father and husband, but Walt's mother, Susan Lloyd, had other plans. Michael puts off his intentions to be an artist, in order to find steady construction work to support his family, while Susan goes to law school. When Susan is offered a plum job in international law, she takes their son with her to Amsterdam, leaving Michael alone in New York City. While abroad, she eventually marries Brian Porter, the man who hired her. When Susan calls to tell Michael about her marriage intentions, he becomes enraged, announces he is coming to Amsterdam to get his son back, and promptly runs off. As he crosses the street, he is hit by a car, which leaves him hospitalized for months and requires a year for rehabilitation. Two months after the accident, Susan tracks him down at the hospital and convinces him to give up his parental rights to Walt in return for completely covering his medical expenses, so that her new husband can adopt the boy.

Michael, however, refuses, and he and Susan are caught up in a custody battle. Michael is adamant not to let Susan take Walt away from him. He meets with Susan privately who, out of fear of losing the case, convinces him to reconsider his motives, asking him whether he is resisting for his own benefit or for Walt's best interest. Susan allows Michael to say goodbye to Walt. He gives him a toy polar bear as a parting gift.

Several years later, in an abrupt visit by Brian, Michael learns about Susan's death. Distraught at the loss of his ex-wife, and seemingly afraid of Walt, Brian requests that Michael fly to Sydney to take custody of Walt, which briefly enrages Michael when he believes Brian is "passing the buck". Before leaving on Flight 815 to the United States, Michael calls his mother and asks if she can take Walt, since Michael believes he is unfit to take care of him at the time. She refuses, and when Michael hangs up the phone, he sees Walt standing right beside him, although it is unclear how much of the conversation Walt has heard.

After the crash

Season 1

Michael crashes on the island with the fuselage survivors. The day after the crash, he finds Walt in the jungle holding a pair of discarded handcuffs. In an attempt to win over Walt's affection, Michael searches for Walt's dog, Vincent, but to no avail; it is later that Locke returns Vincent to Michael. Despite this gesture, Michael is skeptical about Locke, and forbids Walt from spending time with him. Also, Michael has a tendency to bump into Sun on numerous occasions; he is the first to learn of her ability to speak fluent English after he is attacked by her husband, Jin, over a gold watch. On one such occasion, Michael discovers Sun hiding her fake I.D., leading to a brief tender moment between the two. Michael and Walt soon migrate to the caves, where Michael takes control after Jack is trapped in a cave in, and also assesses the rest of the caves.

Michael uses his knowledge of construction to begin plans to create a showering facility, but is sidetracked by Hurley's golf course. When Walt attempts to sneak away with Locke on several occasions, Michael forbids him from seeing him. Michael also begins constructing a raft, in hope that he and Walt would escape the island; upon learning that Walt has disappeared, Michael and Locke track him down and save him from a polar bear. One morning, Michael intervenes in an argument between Sun and Jin. After witnessing his completed raft burned down, Michael initially blames Jin, forcing Sun to defend him in English. Michael and Jin begin work on a second raft, and offers a space on board for Sawyer. As the second raft nears completion, Michael suddenly falls ill, prompting him to reconsider Sawyer for Kate, but Michael ultimately denies her access after learning of her fugitive background. The day before leaving, Michael learns that Walt burned down the first raft.

The next day, Michael sets sail with Jin, Sawyer and Walt, saying goodbye to everyone beforehand. That night, the four of them encounter a small fishing boat. The occupants of the fishing boat inform Michael that they are taking Walt; Michael, Jin and Sawyer are thrown off the raft, which is promptly destroyed. Michael watches in despair as Walt is kidnapped and disappears into the night.

Season 2

Michael and Sawyer are stranded in the middle of the ocean, with Walt abducted and Jin missing. Michael blames Sawyer for the incident, but eventually takes the blame himself. After washing ashore, Michael and Sawyer discover Jin before being knocked unconscious by Mr. Eko. They are thrown in a pit, where they are soon introduced to Ana Lucia. After some negotiating, the three are released and taken back to the Arrow. Upon agreeing to help them migrate with the fuselage camp, Michael ditches them in search of the Others; he eventually agrees to rejoin the group. Upon witnessing the accidental death of Shannon, Michael enters the camp to inform Jack and retrieve supplies for Ana Lucia. Later, Michael offers to take over a shift with the hatch computer, where he begins receiving messages from who he thinks is Walt. After taking shooting lessons from Locke, he locks him and Jack in the armory and ventures off in search for Walt.

Moments after leaving the camp, Michael encounters Pickett and Tom, who kidnap him and hold him hostage. Michael is taken to a shabby living quarters, where he is constantly questioned by Bea Klugh, specifically about Walt's childhood. Unable to provide satisfactory answers, Michael is told to retrieve their kidnapped leader, held prisoner in the hatch. It is then that Michael is granted three minutes to speak with Walt, which is cut short when he mentions the tests he was made to do. Michael is also given a list of people he needs to bring to them to secure Walt's freedom and a sailing boat. He is released, where he is eventually found by Jack and Kate. Upon returning to the hatch, he learns from Ana Lucia about the man locked in the armory. Tricking her into wanting to kill him, Michael receives her gun, where he shoots and kills her. Startled by Libby's presence, he accidentally shoots her twice. Michael unlocks the armory, allowing the man to escape, and shoots himself in the shoulder.

Following the tragic events, Michael convinces Jack, Kate, Sawyer and Hurley to follow him to the Others' camp. Upon being approached by Sayid, Michael discourages him from joining the group; the five of them head off the next day. En route to the camp, Michael is forced to confess to his crimes after they are nearly ambushed. After the four of them are successfully captured, Michael and the others are taken to a pier, where he is given a boat and reunited with Walt. Michael receives coordinates on how to reach "rescue", but is reminded never to return to the island, should he not want to be exposed as a murderer. Michael and Walt sail away, leaving Jack, Kate, Sawyer and Hurley at the mercy of the Others.

Season 4

Michael did not appear throughout the duration of Season 3. However, it was confirmed at the ABC's 2007 TCA press conference, that Perrineau will reprise his role as Michael Dawson in season 4. It was then confirmed at Comic-Con 2007, that Perrineau will be returning as a series regular.

In the episode, Ji Yeon, Michael returns under the pseudonym of Kevin Johnson. He works as a janitor aboard the freighter.

Production notes

• Michael and Walt appear in the episode Exposé, although this was reused footage from the original Season 1 episode and does not constitute an appearance by either character.
• Michael appears in the Missing Pieces mobisodes: The Deal, Arzt and Crafts, Buried Secrets, Tropical Depression and Jin Has a Temper-Tantrum on the Golf Course.