Darrel/Darry Curtis is a 20 year old broad-shouldered, muscular six-foot-two young man with dark-brown hair and cold, pale blue-green eyes. Because he must raise his younger brothers alone, he is fiercely protective, serious, and mature beyond his years. Though his heavy responsibilities often make him appear stern, hard-working, and stressed, he is a deeply loyal and intelligent leader who possesses a hidden capacity for deep love and emotional warmth.

Sodapop Curtis is 16, movie-star handsome with a slim build, finely dark-gold hair, and lively, dark brown eyes that express a reckless laugh. He is an energetic, high-spirited, and deeply empathetic young man who is uniquely happy and understood by everyone. As the ultimate peacekeeper, he uses his warm, goofy humor and unconditional love to bridge the constant tension between his brothers Darry and Ponyboy.

Ponyboy Curtis is 14, has light-brown, almost-red hair and greenish-gray eyes, though he wishes they were more gray. He is a highly intelligent, sensitive, and observant teenager who prefers reading books and watching sunsets over fighting. Despite his quiet, artistic nature and occasional lack of street-smart judgment, he is a resilient and fiercely loyal brother who struggles to find his own identity within the tough Greaser world.

Johnny Cade is 16, the smallest, and slightest of the Greasers, recognizable by his jet-black hair heavily greased and swept to the side, his dark skin, and big, black eyes that always look wide and suspicious. He has a nervous, sensitive, and deeply traumatized personality resulting from severe parental abuse and a brutal beating by a rival gang. Despite his fearful and quiet nature, he is the fiercely loyal "pet" of the gang who possesses an inner bravery and a gentle, poetic soul that appreciates beauty and innocence.

Steve Randle is 17 and a tall, lean young man with thick, greasy hair that he keeps combed back in complicated swirls. He is a cocky, sharp-witted, and highly intelligent mechanic who is uniquely talented with cars but possesses a hot-tempered and tough attitude. While he is fiercely loyal to his best friend Sodapop, he is often mean, impatient, and deeply annoyed by the younger Ponyboy, whom he views as a tagging-along kid.

Dallas/Dally Winston has an elfish face, sharp cheekbones, a pointed chin, and long, ice-blue eyes filled with hatred for the world. Unlike the other Greasers, his white-blond hair is naturally wispy, and he avoids using hair grease entirely. He is a tough, cynical, and hardened juvenile delinquent who spent years on the streets of New York, making him wild, dangerous, and completely lawless. Despite his cold and bitter exterior, he possesses a protective instinct and a fierce, unconditional loyalty specifically toward Johnny Cade. He lives with Buck Marrel who is constantly throwing parties.

Keith/Two-Bit Mathews is 18 year old, stocky, six-foot-tall young man with long, rust-colored sideburns and gray eyes that are always wide with amusement. True to his nickname, he is a cocky, fun-loving wisecrack who cannot stop making jokes, ripping into people, or offering his "two bits" on everything. He is famous for his prized switchblade, shoplifting habits, and endless love for school, which he attends purely for the social life. Underneath his constant goofing and drinking, he remains a fiercely loyal, street-smart friend who stands up instantly for his fellow Greasers.