Austin Powers Random Task Actor Now Suspected in Prison Killing

After his conviction on torture, Austin Powers thesp may have to answer to a murder charge

By Josh Grossberg Oct 11, 2011 8:18 PMTags
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Joseph Hyungmin Sonwho played Dr. Evil's Oddjob-inspired henchman Random Task in the first Austin Powers movie before he was sentenced to life in prison for torturing a womanis now under investigation in the death of his cellmate.

Here's what we know.

Officials at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed that authorities are investigating the possibility that Son murdered the 50-year-old man, whose identity was being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The inmate, who was found dead in his cell at Wasco State Prison in Central California at 5:50 p.m. on Monday, was serving a two-year sentence for failing to register as a sex offender.

Son was convicted in August of torture in Santa Ana, Calif., for his role in a 1990 Christmas Eve gang rape of a woman who was out walking her dog.

According to the Kern County District Attorney's Office, the inmate's death is being treated as a homicide and the former actor is the prime suspect.

Son, 40, began serving his term on Sept. 16.

As part of his life sentence, the judge afforded the former actor the possibility of parole for torture, but if he's found guilty of murdering his cell mate, we're pretty sure he can kiss that goodbye.