Willy is a 63-year-old traveling salesman who covers the New England territory. He suffers from deep mental exhaustion and frequently slips into vivid daydreams, conversing with figures from his past. Deeply committed to an idealized American Dream, he insists that charisma and being "well-liked" are the only true paths to success. This rigid belief system shapes his high expectations for his family and fuels his mounting anxiety over their ordinary financial status.

Biff is Willy and Linda's older son, a former high school football star who has spent his adulthood wandering between various manual labor jobs out West. He strongly prefers working outdoors on ranches to the confines of the corporate business world. This preference deeply disappoints his father, creating intense friction between them as Biff tries to reconcile his true desires with his family's expectations.

Happy is the younger Loman son, currently working as an assistant to an assistant buyer in a department store. He constantly seeks his father's attention and approval, often by exaggerating his corporate position or adopting Willy's grandiose mindset. Though he has achieved basic material stability with an apartment and a car, he remains profoundly dissatisfied and frequently pursues women to distract himself.

Linda is Willy's fiercely devoted wife, managing the household finances and serving as the practical anchor for the family. She continuously protects Willy from the harsh realities of his failing career and deteriorating mental state. Recognizing the severe fragility of her husband's mind, she demands that her sons treat him with respect and shield him from further disappointment.

Charley is the Lomans' next-door neighbor and a successful businessman. Despite Willy's constant insults regarding his lack of manual skills and personality, Charley quietly supports the Loman family by lending Willy money to cover basic bills. He represents a practical, unglamorous approach to business that directly contrasts with Willy's obsession with charisma.

Bernard is Charley's son, depicted in the past as an academically focused teenager who idolizes Biff but worries about his failing grades. In adulthood, he transforms into a highly successful lawyer. His trajectory demonstrates that diligence yields better professional results than simply relying on athletic glory or a charming personality.

Ben is Willy's older brother who left home at a young age and made a fortune discovering diamond mines in the African jungle. He exists in the play entirely through Willy's idealized memories and hallucinations. Ben serves as an intimidating symbol of ruthless success and rugged individualism.

Howard is Willy's current boss, having inherited the company from his father. He belongs to a younger, more modern generation of businessmen who value immediate financial returns over long-term loyalty. His fascination with modern gadgets contrasts sharply with Willy's desperate reliance on their past history.

The Woman is a receptionist whom Willy engages with during his business trips to Boston. She appears almost entirely in Willy's reveries, representing his deep-seated guilt. Her presence in his memory surfaces whenever he feels insecure about his ability to provide for Linda or when he reflects on his failures as a father.

Bill Oliver is Biff's former employer in the sporting goods industry. Though he does not physically appear in the primary scenes, he looms large in the Lomans' plans. Biff plans to secure a substantial loan from Oliver, despite having stolen a football from him in high school.

Dave Singleman is an 84-year-old traveling salesman from Willy's past who made his living exclusively through phone calls from his hotel room. To Willy, Singleman is a legendary figure who died a noble death with hundreds of buyers attending his funeral, cementing Willy's belief in the power of personality.

Stanley is a waiter at the restaurant where the Lomans plan to have a celebratory dinner. He facilitates Happy's attempts to impress women and later shows compassion to Willy when he becomes confused and disoriented.

Miss Forsythe is a call girl whom Happy flirts with at the restaurant. She becomes a distraction that pulls Happy and Biff away from their father during a critical and emotionally charged dinner.

Jenny is Charley's secretary. She finds Willy's erratic behavior unnerving and relies on Bernard and Charley to handle him when he arrives at the office in a confused state.