Andy Dufresne

Andy Dufresne is a banker who is wrongly convicted of killing his wife, Linda Dufresne, and her lover, Glenn Quentin. A series of coincidences make him look like the likely killer, and Andy's calm, collected banker attitude does not win over the jury. He is sent to Shawshank Prison, where he befriends Red. He is a geology buff who has Red obtain several things for him while in jail, including a rock hammer and a poster of Rita Hayworth. Red and Andy get to be friends over the years. Andy shows the guards and the warden he is a financial wizard and helps them with financial advice and eventually with laundering money. He is always collected until Tommy Williams reveals he knows who killed Dufresne's wife. The warden, Sam Norton, won't help Andy clear his name, sending Andy into a depression. Andy eventually escapes using his hammer...