Nina is a 25-year-old professional surfer and the eldest of the Riva siblings. After her mother's death, she dropped out of high school to become her siblings' legal guardian and take over the family restaurant, Riva's Seafood. She feels a heavy burden of responsibility for her family and struggles with the public attention resulting from her modeling career and her recent separation from her husband.

Jay is a highly successful, championship-winning professional surfer who relies heavily on his physical abilities and public image. Recently diagnosed with a heart condition that threatens his career, he hides this information from his family while seeking comfort elsewhere. He enjoys the fame that comes with his sport but harbors deep insecurities about his future without surfing.

Kit is the youngest Riva sibling and a college student. She is a talented surfer who feels overshadowed by her older siblings' fame and physical beauty. She longs for recognition and struggles with her self-image, approaching the annual summer party with hopes of experiencing her first kiss.

Hud is a professional surf photographer who built his career taking pictures of his brother Jay. Generally considered the gentlest and smartest of the siblings, he harbors anxiety about his parentage and fears repeating his biological parents' mistakes. He is deeply loyal to Jay but finds himself hiding a complicated situation regarding his brother's ex-girlfriend.

June is the mother of the Riva siblings who originally dreams of escaping her family's restaurant business for a more glamorous life. She falls completely in love with Mick Riva and remains devoted to him despite his repeated infidelities and absences. Her overwhelming love for her children anchors the family through difficult times, though she struggles deeply with the realities of her broken marriage and eventually turns to alcohol.

Mick is a wildly famous rock star whose celebrity casts a long shadow over his children's lives. Driven by a desire for wealth and attention that he lacked in childhood, he repeatedly prioritizes his career and personal impulses over his family. His charm makes him a magnet for attention, but his constant absences force his children to raise themselves in Malibu.

Casey is a young woman from Rancho Cucamonga who recently lost her adoptive parents in a tragic car crash. Searching for a sense of belonging and a new family, she attends the Riva party based on a note on her birth certificate suggesting a direct connection to the famous host's family.

Brandon is a famous professional tennis player who married Nina in 1982. Known publicly as "the Sweetheart" for his good sportsmanship, his private behavior is far less honorable. He struggles with professional failures on the court and relies heavily on the women in his life to manage his emotional well-being.

Ashley is Jay's ex-girlfriend who is now secretly involved with his brother, Hud. She worries about the complications her presence at the annual party will cause, particularly regarding how the brothers' close relationship might be affected by her choices.

Lara is a waitress who recently spent time with Jay. Her pragmatic, calm response to his health diagnosis provides him with a sense of comfort, leading him to invite her to the party and project his hopes for the future onto her.

Ricky is a young man who went to school with Jay and Hud. He attends the annual summer party, where he catches Kit's attention as a potential romantic prospect for her first kiss.

Carrie is a fellow professional tennis player who becomes romantically involved with Brandon. Unlike Nina's quiet acceptance, Carrie is fiercely determined, demanding, and unafraid to express her anger publicly when provoked.

Tarine is a working model and a friend to Nina. Aging in an industry focused heavily on youth, she provides blunt, unsentimental advice to Nina about self-respect and standing up to Brandon's mistreatment.

Theo is June's father and the original owner of Pacific Fish. He views the family restaurant as a way to build a stable life and serve the community, agreeing to Mick's marriage to his daughter only if Mick takes over the business.

Christina is June's mother, who runs Pacific Fish alongside her husband. She worries about her daughter's lofty ambitions and tries to instill the value of hard work and community care in her before she leaves the nest.

Ramon is the dedicated manager of Riva's Seafood, having been promoted by Nina to run the daily operations in 1979. He works closely with her to ensure the restaurant remains financially viable during off-seasons.

Carol is a young actress who had a brief affair with Mick while he was on tour. She arrives at the Riva household to permanently leave her infant son in June's care before disappearing.

Vanessa is Kit's best friend. She attends the annual summer party harboring a long-standing romantic crush on Hud and provides moral support for Kit's social endeavors throughout the night.