Character guide

Basil Duke Lee

major

Also known as Basil D. Lee, Basil, Basil Lee, young Basil, young Lee

A young boy navigating adolescence and social ambitions in early 20th-century America.

Luella Hemple

major

Also known as Luella

A beautiful and sought-after young woman involved in romantic entanglements.

Roger Halsey

major

Also known as Roger, Roger Halsey's

A wealthy and charming young man, often at the center of social drama.

Anson Hunter

major

Also known as young Anson Hunter, Anson

A charismatic and privileged young man from a prominent family.

Dexter Green

major

Also known as Dexter, whither Dexter

A determined young man from a modest background who pursues wealth and love.

Benjamin Button

major

Also known as Mr. Button, Benjamin, Mr. Benjamin Button, Button, little Benjamin

A man who ages backwards, experiencing life in reverse order.

Perry Parkhurst

major

Also known as Mr. Perry Parkhurst, Perry, One Lump Perry, Mr. Parkhurst, Mistah Perry Pa'khurst

A young man caught in a complicated romantic and social predicament.

Jacob Booth

major

Also known as Jacob, Jake, Dear Jacob, Dear Jake, Jacob C. K. Booth

A young man from a small town who experiences a transformative journey.

Merlin Grainger

major

Also known as Merlin, The fascinated Merlin, old Merlin

A bookish young man who becomes obsessed with a glamorous woman.

Ardita Farnam

major

Also known as Ardita, Farnam

A spirited and independent young woman who defies social conventions.

John T. Unger

major

Also known as John, young John T. Unger, John Unger, Unger

A young man from a wealthy family who encounters a mysterious world.

Horace Tarbox

major

Also known as Horace

A brilliant but naive young scholar whose life is upended by love.

Jim Powell

major

Also known as Jim, Powell, Mr. Powell, Mr. Jim Powell of Tarleton, Georgia, Mr. James Powell, James Powell

A lazy but charming young man from a small Southern town.

Edith Bradin

major

Also known as Edith, Grownup Edith

A beautiful and ambitious young woman from a prominent family.

Dolly Harlan

major

Also known as Harlan, Dolly, Dolores, Dora

A vivacious and flirtatious young woman who enjoys social games.

Samuel Meredith

major

Also known as Sammy, Samuel, young Samuel

A young man from a wealthy family struggling with his own identity.

Gordon Sterrett

major

Also known as Gordy, Gordon

A talented but struggling artist facing personal and financial ruin.

Curtis Carlyle

major

Also known as Carlyle, Dear Mr. Curtis Carlyle

A mysterious and charismatic bandleader with a hidden past.

Sally Carrol Happer

major

Also known as Sally Carrol, Sally Carroll, Sally

A spirited Southern belle who dreams of a more exciting life.

Bernice

major

Also known as Cousin Bernice

A shy young woman who transforms herself to gain social popularity.

Harry Bellamy

supporting

Also known as Harry, the Bellamy, Harry Cromwell

A young man from a wealthy family, involved in social circles.

Hubert Blair

supporting

Also known as Robert, Hubert, Lambert

A handsome and popular young man, often a romantic rival.

Jenny Prince

supporting

Also known as Miss Jenny Prince, Jenny, Dear little Jenny, Miss Prince

A sweet and innocent young woman from a small town.

Rags Martin-Jones

supporting

Also known as Martin-Jones, Rags

A glamorous and mysterious woman who tests a man's devotion.

George O'Kelly

supporting

Also known as George, O'Kelly

A determined young man pursuing success and a woman's love.

Judy Jones

supporting

Also known as Judy O'Grady, Judy, Jones

A beautiful and capricious young woman who toys with men's affections.

Philip Dean

supporting

Also known as Mr. Philip Dean, Mr. Dean, Phil, Dean, Still Dean

A wealthy and sophisticated friend of the protagonist.

Ellen Baker

supporting

Also known as Ellen, Miss Ellen

A kind and perceptive young woman who offers guidance.

Bryan Dalyrimple

supporting

Also known as Bryan, Dalyrimple, To Dalyrimple

A young man who turns to crime after feeling disillusioned with society.

Paula Legendre

supporting

Also known as Paula, Deliberately Paula, Hagerty, Paula Legendre Hagerty

A beautiful and ambitious woman who marries for status.

Imogene Bissel

supporting

Also known as Imogene, the beautiful Imogene Bissel

A beautiful and popular young woman from a wealthy family.

Julie Marvis

supporting

Also known as Julie, young Julie, little Julie

A young woman who becomes the object of a man's obsession.

Marcia Meadow

supporting

Also known as Marcia, Meadow, Marvellous Marcia

A vivacious and unconventional young actress.

Kismine

supporting

A beautiful and mysterious young woman from a secluded world.

Peter Himmel

supporting

Also known as Peter, Pete

A young man who gets caught up in a wild night of adventure.

Roger Button

supporting

Also known as Mr. Roger Button, Mr. Button, Button, the newborn Button, old Roger Button

The father of Benjamin Button, who struggles with his son's condition.

Charley Moore

supporting

Also known as Charley, Charles, Charles Impatiently

A friend and confidant of the main character.

Clark Darrow

supporting

Also known as Clark, Clark Darrow—he, Nevertheless Clark

A friend and rival in the social scene of a Southern town.

Jeffrey Curtain

supporting

Also known as Jeff, Jeffrey Curtains, Mr. Jeffrey Curtain, Jeffrey, The Jeffrey Curtains, Mr. Curtain

A wealthy and eccentric man with a troubled marriage.

Riply Buckner

supporting

Also known as Riply Buckner, Jr., Riply, Buckner

A young man from a prominent family, known for his charm.

Warren McIntyre

supporting

Also known as Warren, McIntyre

A young man in love with a woman who does not return his feelings.

George Tompkins

supporting

Also known as Tompkins, George Tompkins's

A young man from a wealthy family, involved in a love triangle.

John Andros

supporting

Also known as John

A successful businessman reflecting on his past and lost love.

Evelyn Beebe

supporting

Also known as Evelyn, Evie

A beautiful and sophisticated woman, the center of social attention.

Rudolph Miller

supporting

Also known as Rudolph

A young boy who creates a fantasy world to escape his strict father.

Dolly Karger

supporting

Also known as Dolly

A flirtatious and modern young woman who enjoys playing games.

Wessel Caxter

minor

Also known as Wessel, Caxter

An old sailor who becomes a reader and storyteller.

Katherine Davis

minor

Also known as Kay, Katherine

A young woman who is the object of a man's affection.

Billy Markey

minor

Also known as Billy, Markey

A young man from a wealthy family, known for his wild behavior.

Betty Medill

minor

Also known as Elizabeth, Betty, Miss Betty, Miss Betty Medill

A beautiful young woman who is the prize in a romantic competition.

Marcia Tarbox

minor

Also known as Hume, Marcia, Marcia Hume Tarbox, the Hume, young Marcia

A vivacious young woman who marries a brilliant but naive man.

Ede Karr

minor

Also known as little Ede, Ede, Little Ede

A young girl who is the daughter of a wealthy family.

Gus Rose

minor

Also known as Rose, August

A young man from a poor background, involved in a crime.

Vienna Thorne

minor

Also known as Miss Thorne, Vienna, Miss Vienna Thorne

A beautiful and sophisticated woman from a wealthy family.

Joe Gorman

minor

Also known as Joe, Gorman

A friend and accomplice of the protagonist.

George Key

minor

Also known as George, the indignant George, Key

A young man who becomes involved in a scandal.

Jack Devlin

minor

Also known as Jack, this Jack, Devlin

A charming and mysterious man who enters a woman's life.

Braddock Washington

minor

Also known as the present Mr. Washington, Mr. Braddock Washington, Mr. Washington, Washington

A fabulously wealthy and eccentric man living in isolation.

Olive Masters

minor

Also known as Olive, the recalcitrant Olive

A young woman who works as a secretary and attracts attention.

Margaret Donovan

minor

Also known as Miss Donovan, Donovan, Margaret, Miss Margaret Donovan

A young woman who is a friend of the main character.

Harold Piper

minor

Also known as the beautiful Mrs. Harold Piper, Mrs. Piper, Harold, Piper, Harry

A young man whose wife is the center of social attention.

Margaret Torrence

minor

Also known as Margaret

A friend and confidante of the main female character.

Jim Mather

minor

Also known as Jim, Mather, Mrs. James Mather, James Mather

A young man from a wealthy family, involved in social circles.

Carl Miller

minor

Also known as Miller, Carl

A young man who is a friend of the protagonist.

Percy Washington

minor

Also known as Percy, Mr. Percy

A young man from the immensely wealthy Washington family.

Father Schwartz

minor

Also known as The boy—Father Schwartz, Father

A priest who struggles with his faith and worldly temptations.

Joe Jelke

minor

Also known as Joe

A young man from a wealthy family, known for his partying.

Freddy Gedney

minor

Also known as Mr. Freddy Gedney, Fred, Gedney, this Gedney

A young man who is a friend and rival of the protagonist.

Kitty Carr

minor

Also known as Catherine of Russia, Kitty, Kitty Carr—Kitty Carr with, Catherine, Kay

A beautiful and flirtatious young woman.

Henry Bradin

minor

Also known as Henry

The brother of Edith Bradin, a young man with a secret.

Gilly Hood

minor

Also known as Gilly, Hood

A young man from a wealthy family, known for his charm.

Jonquil Cary

minor

Also known as Jonquil, II Jonquil Cary

A beautiful and gentle young woman who is the object of affection.

Elwood Leaming

minor

Also known as El, Elwood

A young man who is a friend of the protagonist.

Mr. Icky

minor

Also known as Mr. Icky Sighing, Mr. Icky Tut, Mr. Icky Come

A comical and eccentric character in a fantastical story.

Charles Hemple

minor

Also known as young Mrs. Charles Hemple, Mrs. Hemple, Charles, Chuck, Charley, young Chuck, Mrs. Charles Hemple

A young man who marries Luella Hemple.

Nancy Lamar

minor

Also known as Nancy, Lamar, Nana

A beautiful and wild young woman from a prominent family.

Bill Kampf

minor

Also known as Bill

A young man who is a friend of the protagonist.

Roscoe Button

minor

Also known as Roscoe, young Roscoe

The son of Benjamin Button, who ages normally.

Helen Avery

minor

Also known as Helen

A young woman who is a friend of the main character.