Kate Keller (often referred to as "Mother"): Joe’s wife and the mother of Chris and Larry Keller. Kate is emotionally fragile and clings to the belief that her son Larry, missing in action for three years, is still alive. Her denial stems from her knowledge of Joe’s guilt—if Larry is dead, she fears it connects to Joe’s actions. She’s protective and superstitious, often trying to maintain the family’s fragile stability, but her refusal to face reality isolates her.

Chris Keller: Joe and Kate’s surviving son, a World War II veteran in his early 30s. Chris is morally upright, empathetic, and idealistic, shaped by his wartime experiences. He works in his father’s business but struggles with its tainted profits. He’s in love with Ann Deever, his late brother’s former fiancée, and wants to marry her, which puts him at odds with Kate’s delusions. His discovery of Joe’s guilt shatters his admiration for his father, leading to a painful confrontation.

Ann Deever: The daughter of Steve Deever, Joe’s former business partner, and Larry’s ex-fiancée. Ann, now in her mid-20s, is intelligent, independent, and compassionate. She’s moved on from Larry and loves Chris, but her arrival at the Keller home with a secret—Larry’s suicide letter—triggers the unraveling of the family’s lies. She’s a catalyst for truth, rejecting her imprisoned father and seeking a future with Chris.

George Deever: Ann’s older brother and Steve’s son. A lawyer and World War II veteran, George is bitter and resentful. Initially, he believed Joe was innocent and his father guilty, but after visiting Steve in prison, he learns the truth and comes to confront the Kellers. He tries to stop Ann from marrying Chris, seeing it as a betrayal tied to Joe’s crime. His anger reflects both personal and broader moral outrage.

Steve Deever: Ann and George’s father and Joe’s former business partner. Steve never appears on stage but is central to the story. He was convicted and imprisoned for shipping the faulty parts, taking the fall for Joe’s decision. Described as weaker and less assertive than Joe, Steve’s plight underscores the play’s themes of responsibility and betrayal.

Larry Keller: Joe and Kate’s eldest son, a pilot who went missing during the war. Though he doesn’t appear, his presence looms large. It’s revealed through his suicide letter that he killed himself after learning of Joe’s guilt, unable to bear the shame. His death ties directly to the title—all the pilots, including Larry, were like Joe’s sons in their shared sacrifice.

Dr. Jim Bayliss: A neighbor of the Kellers, Jim is a doctor in his 40s who longs to pursue medical research but feels trapped by societal pressures and his wife’s expectations. He’s sympathetic and aware of Joe’s guilt but stays on the sidelines, representing the community’s quiet complicity.

Sue Bayliss: Jim’s wife, a practical and status-conscious woman. She resents Chris’s idealism and pressures Jim to focus on earning money. She hints that the neighborhood suspects Joe’s guilt, showing how the truth simmers beneath the surface.

Frank Lubey: Another neighbor, in his early 30s. Frank avoided the draft and is now married with children. Kate asks him to make a horoscope to prove Larry’s disappearance was on a “favorable day,” reflecting her desperation. He’s cheerful but peripheral to the main drama.

Lydia Lubey: Frank’s wife, 27, a happy and simple woman with a past connection to George. Her contented life contrasts with the Kellers’ turmoil.

Bert: A neighborhood boy, about eight years old, who plays a game with Joe where he pretends to be a policeman. His innocence highlights Joe’s false persona as a respectable figure hiding a dark past.