Gustav is a highly respected, aging German author who maintains a rigidly disciplined schedule to produce his renowned literary works. A widower whose only daughter has grown and moved away, he lives an isolated, respectable middle-class life in Munich. Feeling restless and artistically stagnant, he yields to a sudden urge to travel to Venice, seeking a change of scenery to revive his inspiration.

Tadzio is a pale, golden-haired Polish boy in his early teens vacationing in Venice with his family. He possesses an exceptional physical beauty that immediately captivates Aschenbach. Although he frequently plays on the beach with other children, he maintains a delicate, somewhat coddled presence under the watchful eyes of his female relatives.

Jaschu is a young boy vacationing in Venice and forms part of the social group on the Lido beach. He is Tadzio's closest companion during their daily activities by the sea. Their dynamic includes playful camaraderie that sometimes escalates into physical roughhousing.

Tadzio's Mother is the matriarch of a wealthy Polish family vacationing at the Venetian resort. She oversees her three modestly dressed teenage daughters and her son, employing a governess to assist with their care. She pays close attention to her son's surroundings and subtly manages his proximity to strangers.

The Barber is a local service worker employed at the seaside resort where Aschenbach stays. He provides grooming services to the guests and keeps track of the shifting tourist population. He carefully balances his professional duties with the municipal government's desire to maintain a positive public image of the city.

The Travel Agent is a British expatriate managing tourism logistics in Venice. Unlike the local officials and shopkeepers, he operates outside the Venetian government's strict public relations protocols. He speaks plainly to foreign visitors regarding the realities of the local environment.

The Guitar Player is the insolent, red-haired leader of a local musical troupe that entertains tourists at the resort. He performs comedic pantomimes that grow increasingly bold as the audience responds. He carries a distinct scent of strong disinfectant, hinting at the changing conditions in the city.

The Stranger is an unusual-looking man with a pale, red-haired complexion, dressed in a yellow wool suit and a white straw hat. He displays a savage, confrontational grimace when he notices Aschenbach observing him. His brief, striking appearance in Munich acts as a catalyst for Aschenbach's sudden desire to travel.

The Gondolier is a brutal, insolent local boatman who takes charge of Aschenbach's transport into the city. He blatantly ignores his passenger's requested destination, insisting on his own route to the Lido. He operates without official credentials and avoids the local authorities.

The Old Clerk is an elderly man attempting to blend in with a group of boisterous young men on the voyage to Italy. He wears flamboyant clothing, a wig, and heavily applied makeup to conceal his advanced age. His desperate attempts to participate in the youths' drunken revelry deeply unsettle onlookers.