Character guide

Elmer Gantry

major

Also known as Reverend Gantry, Dr. Gantry, Brother Gantry, Elmer

A charismatic and ambitious minister who rises through the ranks of American evangelism.

Frank Shallard

major

Also known as Frank, Reverend Shallard, Francis Asbury

A sincere and questioning minister who struggles with his faith and the hypocrisy around him.

Sharon Falconer

major

Also known as Miss Falconer, Sister Falconer

A famous and magnetic female evangelist who becomes Elmer's lover and partner.

Jim Lefferts

supporting

Also known as James Blaine Lefferts, Jimmy, Mr. Lefferts

Elmer's college friend and a skeptical journalist who often challenges his hypocrisy.

Eddie Fislinger

supporting

Also known as Edward Fislinger, Brother Fislinger

A zealous and narrow-minded fellow student at the seminary.

Lulu Bains

supporting

Also known as Lu, Lulu Bains Naylor

A young woman seduced and abandoned by Elmer, later seeking redemption.

Cleo Benham

supporting

Also known as Cleo

Elmer's devoted and long-suffering wife.

Bess Shallard

supporting

Also known as Bess

Frank Shallard's kind and supportive wife.

Philip McGarry

supporting

Also known as Dr. McGarry, Phil

A blunt and honest doctor who is a friend to Frank Shallard.

T. J. Rigg

supporting

Also known as Mr. Rigg, Rigg

A wealthy and influential businessman who backs Elmer's church.

Judson Roberts

minor

Also known as Jud, Old Jud

A rough, older man who becomes a convert at Elmer's revival.

Floyd Naylor

minor

Also known as Brother Floyd

A farmer and early follower of Elmer's ministry.

Dr. Howard Bancock Binch

minor

Also known as Dr. Binch, Binch

A pompous and self-important minister in Zenith.

Dr. Bruno Zechlin

minor

Also known as Professor Zechlin

A scholarly and liberal professor at the seminary.

Hettie Dowler

minor

Also known as Dowler

A gossipy and malicious woman who spreads rumors about Elmer.

Juanita Klauzel

minor

Also known as Juanita

A woman with whom Elmer has an affair during his early career.

William Dollinger Styles

minor

Also known as Mr. Styles, Deacon Styles

A prominent deacon in Elmer's church in Zenith.

Cecil Aylston

minor

Also known as Reverend Cecil Aylston

An Episcopal minister and friend to Frank Shallard.

Harry Zenz

minor

Also known as Hal

A slick and cynical traveling salesman friend of Elmer's.

Bishop Wesley R. Toomis

minor

Also known as Bishop Toomis, Toomis

A high-ranking bishop in the Methodist church.

Horace Carp

minor

Also known as Carp

A fellow student at the seminary, known for his affectations.

Mr. Pengilly

minor

Also known as Andrew Pengilly, Father Pengilly

An old, kind minister who mentors Elmer early on.

Mrs. Evans Riddle

minor

Also known as Mrs. Riddle

A wealthy parishioner in Elmer's first church.

Lily Anderson

minor

Also known as Lily

A young woman Elmer courts before his marriage.

Mrs. Gantry

minor

Elmer's mother, a pious and domineering woman.

Mannie Silverhorn

minor

Also known as Emmanuel Silverhorn, Mr. Silverhorn

A slick, dishonest revival promoter who works with Elmer.

Adelbert Shoop

minor

A fellow student at the seminary.

Dr. Willoughby Quarles

minor

Also known as President Quarles

The president of the small college Elmer attends.

Dr. Otto Hickenlooper

minor

Also known as Dr. Hickenlooper

A prominent minister in Zenith.

Art Nichols

minor

Also known as Nichols

A friend of Elmer's from his college days.

Dr. Mahlon Potts

minor

Also known as Dr. Potts

A fellow minister and rival of Elmer's.

Wallace Umstead

minor

A friend of Frank Shallard's.

Bill Kingdom

minor

Also known as Bill

A friend of Elmer's from his youth.

J. E. North

minor

Also known as Mr. North

A businessman and parishioner in Zenith.

Deacon Bains

minor

Also known as Mr. Bains, Pa Bains

Lulu Bains's father, a deacon in the church.

Dean Trosper

minor

Also known as Trosper, Jacob Trosper

The dean of the seminary Elmer attends.

Oscar Hochlauf

minor

Also known as Mr. Oscar Hochlauf

A parishioner in Elmer's church.

Brother Karkis

minor

A fellow minister and associate of Elmer's.

Ad Locust

minor

Also known as Mr. Ad Locust

A friend of Elmer's from his early days.

Hank McVittle

minor

Also known as Hank

A friend of Elmer's from his youth.

Don Pickens

minor

Also known as Don

A friend of Elmer's from his college days.

Nellie Benton

minor

Also known as Nell

A young woman Elmer dates in college.

Lem Staples

minor

Also known as Doc Staples

A local doctor in the town where Elmer first preaches.

Oscar Dowler

minor

Also known as Mr. Oscar Dowler

Hettie Dowler's husband.

J. F. Whittlesey

minor

Also known as Whittlesey

An old friend of the Gantry family.

Mrs. Toomis

minor

Bishop Toomis's wife.

Dr. Ingle

minor

Also known as Rev. Dr. Ingle

A prominent minister in the region.

Clyde Tippey

minor

Also known as Reverend Clyde Tippey

A fellow minister and associate of Elmer's.

Sister Coey

minor

Also known as Miss Coey

A devout woman in Elmer's congregation.

Nathaniel Benham

minor

Also known as Nat, Mr. Benham

Cleo Benham's father.

Dr. G. Prosper Edwards

minor

Also known as Dr. Edwards

A minister in Zenith.

Pete Reese

minor

Also known as Mr. Peter Reese

A friend of Elmer's from his youth.

Brother Buttle

minor

A fellow minister.

Dr. Dodd

minor

Also known as Loren Larimer Dodd

A minister who debates Frank Shallard.

Amy Dove

minor

Also known as Amy

A young woman in Elmer's congregation.

Miss Bundle

minor

A spinster in Elmer's first parish.

Mr. Hudkins

minor

Also known as Reverend Mr. Hudkins

A minister in a nearby town.

Ernest Apfelmus

minor

Also known as Mr. Apfelmus

A fellow student at the seminary.

Willis Fortune Tate

minor

Also known as Dr. Tate

A doctor and friend of Frank Shallard.

Father Matthew Smeesby

minor

Also known as Father Smeesby

A Catholic priest who befriends Frank Shallard.

Deacon Eversley

minor

Also known as Eversley

A deacon in Elmer's church.

Ishuah Rogers

minor

Also known as Old Ishuah

An old farmer and early convert.

Henry Wink

minor

Also known as Mr. Wink

A parishioner in Elmer's church.

Mrs. Besom

minor

An elderly woman in Elmer's first parish.

Dr. Jessup

minor

Also known as Hosea Jessup

A minister who hosts a revival meeting.

Dr. Zahn

minor

A doctor in the town of Elmer's first church.

Dr. Wilkie Bannister

minor

Also known as Dr. Bannister

A minister in Zenith.

Charley Watley

minor

Also known as Chuck

A friend of Elmer's from his youth.

Katie Jonas

minor

Also known as Little Katie Jonas

A young girl in Elmer's first parish.

Brother Fritscher

minor

A fellow minister.

Nick Spoletti

minor

Also known as Nick

A friend of Elmer's from his youth.

Henry Semp

minor

Also known as Henry

A friend of Elmer's from his youth.

Cousin Adeline Baldwin

minor

Also known as Cousin Adeline

A cousin of Elmer's.

Brother Dinger

minor

A fellow minister.

Sister Bains

minor

Lulu Bains's mother.

Miss Baldwin

minor

A woman in Elmer's congregation.

Widow Clark

minor

Also known as Jane Clark

A widow in Elmer's first parish.

Ben T. Evers

minor

Also known as Ben

A friend of Elmer's from his youth.

Emmanuel Navitsky

minor

Also known as Emmanuel

A Jewish friend of Frank Shallard's.

Brother Tusker

minor

A fellow minister.

Barney Bains

minor

Also known as Barney

Lulu Bains's brother.

Chester Brown

minor

A friend of Elmer's from his youth.