Darry stands six feet two inches tall, with a broad, muscular build. He has dark-brown hair and pale blue-green eyes that look like cold ice. He serves as the unofficial leader and protector of the Greasers street gang. He acts harsh and demanding toward Ponyboy, but his tough attitude comes from deep worry and a desire for Ponyboy to succeed. He gave up a college football scholarship to work two jobs and support his younger brothers after their parents died. Darry’s younger brothers are Sodapop Curtis and Ponyboy Curtis.

He has a "movie-star kind of handsome" look with a sensitive, tough, and fine-drawn face. He has dark-gold hair that he combs back. He has dark brown eyes that are lively and dancing. He is fun-loving, understanding, and charming, and he attracts people effortlessly. He acts as the emotional heart of the Curtis family, trying to stop the arguments between his oldest brother Darry and youngest brother Ponyboy.

He has light-brown, almost red hair, and greenish-gray eyes. He is small, slim, and wiry for his age, but he has a good athletic build and runs track. He wears typical Greaser clothes like blue jeans, t-shirts, leather jackets, and sneakers or boots. He does very well in school and likes to read and watch movies, though he sometimes lacks common sense. He is quiet, gentle, and dreamy, and he loves watching sunsets.

He is smaller and younger than the other boys in the gang. He has big, black eyes, a dark, tanned face, and jet-black hair that falls shaggily over his forehead. He suffers severe physical abuse and emotional neglect from his parents, making the gang his true family. He is extremely nervous and timid after being viciously beaten by a rival group of wealthy teens called the Socs, leading him to carry a switchblade for protection. Despite his harsh life, he retains a deep innocence, sensitivity, and fierce loyalty to his close friend Ponyboy Curtis.

oldest member of the gang besides Darry, aged eighteen and a half. His real name is Keith. Stocky, about six feet tall, with gray eyes and long rusty sideburns. The cheerful, wisecracking joker of the group who loves making witty remarks, shoplifting, and carrying his black-handled switchblade. He earned the name "Two-Bit" because he always has to get his two cents in during every conversation.

He has a slim, athletic build. He carries himself with a proud, confident smirk. He takes great pride in styling his thick hair into complex, greasy swirls. He knows everything about automobiles and works at a local gas station. He is protective of his friends, especially his best friend since childhood, Sodapop Curtis.

He has dark brown hair and brown eyes. He embodies the classic 1960s greaser look with slicked-back hair, a leather jacket, tight t-shirts, and an intense, brooding facial expression. Dally grew up in the harsh poverty and street gangs of New York City before moving to Oklahoma. He was first arrested at age 10 and spent years in and out of jail, which hardened his character. he is fiercely street-smart, engaging in shoplifting, illegal fights, and constant defiance of the law. Despite his cold exterior, Dally deeply cares for the younger, gentle Johnny Cade, acting as a protective older brother.