Jude St. Francis
Jude is the protagonist of the novel. He spends his adult life as a successful New York City lawyer surrounded by close friends, but he is tormented by the psychological trauma and physical disability which resulted from the abuse he suffered as a child and adolescent.
Willem
Willem grows up in rural Wyoming, but he ends up becoming a world-famous movie star before tragically dying in a car accident. Willem is always Jude's closest friend; eventually, his feelings for Jude become romantic. They have a sexual relationship for a time, but they end up living together as companions.
Malcolm Irvine
Malcolm is an architect and a college friend of Jude and Willem. He comes from a wealthy family. He eventually marries, and he designs Jude and Willem's home. He and his wife are in the car with Willem during the accident, and they are also killed.
JB (Jean-Baptiste) Marion
JB is a Haitian artist living in New York City, and a college friend of Jude, Willem, and Malcolm. JB struggles with drug addiction, and eventually alienates his former friends, especially Jude. JB is the only one of the friend group who is still alive at the end of the novel.
Andy Contractor
Andy is a physician who becomes Jude's doctor and confidante. Andy and Jude have a very close relationship because Andy is the only person with whom Jude is truly honest. Andy loves Jude and always tries to help him, but he is often conflicted about whether he is enabling Jude by keeping his secrets.
Harold Stein
Harold is a law professor who first meets Jude when he is a student. He comes to care about Jude very deeply and treats him like his own son. Harold is particularly drawn to Jude because he lost his own infant son many years ago.
Julia
Julia is Harold's wife. She is a scientist and professor, and she also comes to love Jude very dearly.
Ana
Ana is a social worker who meets Jude when he is hospitalized after being run over by a car. She is the first person to show true kindness to Jude and she encourages him to go to college. She dies of cancer the summer before Jude begins college.
Brother Luke
Brother Luke is a priest at the monastery where Jude grows up. He is a pedophile who creates a special relationship with Jude and then lures him away. After they run away, he arranges for other men to have sex with Jude in exchange for money. When police track them down, Brother Luke commits suicide in order to avoid being arrested.
Dr. Traylor
Dr. Traylor is a sadistic man who claims to be a psychiatrist; he abducts Jude when Jude is a teenager and holds him captive while abusing him and raping him repeatedly. After Jude tries to escape, Dr. Traylor runs him over with a car, causing Jude injuries which torment him for the rest of his life. The narrative does not explicate what happens to Dr. Traylor after this incident.
Sophie
Malcolm's wife. She is killed in the car accident along with Willem and Malcolm.
Richard
Jude's close and longtime friend. Richard owns the building where Jude first rents and then buys an apartment.
Lucien Voight
A partner at the law firm where Jude works for most of his career. He mentors Jude and has a close and loving relationship with him.
