Ponyboy Curtis is a fourteen-year old greaser who lives with his two older brothers, Sodapop and Darry. His parents were killed in an automobile accident. Ponyboy is under Darry's legal custody and must stay out of trouble in order to remain with him. He gets good grades in school and is a superb track athlete.

Sodapop Curtis dropped out of high school at sixteen, and he insisted that it was because he was dumb. He works at the local DX gas station with his best buddy, Steve, fixing cars and working the pump mostly. Soda is very attractive and girls - both Socs and Greasers - will get gas there just to stare at him.

Darry Curtis, at twenty, is a mother and father for his younger brothers. he is stern and protective of them. However, this is only because he doesn't want to lose them to a boy's home.

Johnny Cade, sixteen, is very quiet, not getting in the way of the gang very often. This is a result of constantly being neglected and verbally abused by his mother and beaten by his alcoholic father.

Dally Winston, seventeen, is a tough, charismatic and loyal guy who hangs out with Johnny and Ponyboy. Dallas was treated poorly by his father which contributed to his toughness.

Two-Bit Matthews, eighteen, is a wise-cracking, fun-loving, kind of crazy guy. He gets drunk often, but it's kind of hard to tell when he is from when he's sober. Two-Bit enjoys watching Mickey Mouse and he wears shirts with Mickey Mouse on the front

Steve Randle's specialty is cars. He works at the DX gas station with Sodapop. Steve also considers Pony "a tag along." Although Steve acts rude and cocky at times, he cares for all his friends/gang members. Steve is seventeen.