Will is a retired FBI profiler who suffers lasting psychological and physical trauma from his encounters with serial killers, notably Hannibal Lecter and Garrett Jacob Hobbs. He works as a boat mechanic to maintain a peaceful, domestic life away from violence. His unique psychological makeup allows him to perfectly empathize with violent minds, making him an exceptional investigator but causing him severe personal distress.

Francis is a 42-year-old production chief who struggles with a severe speech impediment and extreme self-consciousness stemming from a childhood cleft palate. He harbors a violent alternate personality he calls the "Red Dragon," driven by an obsession with a William Blake painting. He murders families to satisfy brutal urges, attempting to undergo a physical and spiritual transformation fueled by his traumatic, abusive upbringing.

A brilliant psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer currently incarcerated under heavy supervision. He possesses immense intellect and a chilling lack of empathy, analyzing the professionals who study him as mere playthings. He harbors a twisted fascination with Will Graham, taking pleasure in reminding Graham of the darkness they supposedly share.

The pragmatic, politically savvy head of the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit. He balances immense pressure from law enforcement agencies, the media, and his own superiors to catch active serial killers before they strike again. He is willing to manipulate people, including his friend Will Graham, if it serves the greater good of saving lives.

Will Graham's wife, a woman who values the quiet, safe life she shares with her family in Florida. She is deeply protective of her son Willy and wary of the violent world her husband left behind. She accepts Graham's need to stop the killer but worries constantly about the toll it takes on his psyche.

Molly's 11-year-old son and Will Graham's stepson. He is curious about Graham's past with the FBI and the violent details of his old cases, representing the innocence Graham desperately tries to protect.

A relentless, opportunistic reporter for the tabloid The National Tattler. He abandoned traditional journalistic integrity for money, thriving on sensationalizing violent crimes. He views the "Tooth Fairy" case purely as a lucrative opportunity for a bestselling book and a path to wealth.

A visually impaired woman who works alongside Francis Dolarhyde at the Gateway film laboratory. Having navigated the world without sight for years, she has a healthy mistrust of others but appreciates people who treat her without condescension or pity, making her uniquely perceptive to Dolarhyde's quiet nature.

The chief of staff at the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. He is an arrogant administrator who views his infamous patients as subjects to be managed and resents his inability to psychologically dissect them.

A highly respected forensic scientist and psychologist who consults for the FBI. He helps build behavioral models of suspects but recognizes that his clinical knowledge cannot entirely match Graham's instinctual empathy.

A meticulous FBI laboratory technician who works under Brian Zeller to analyze trace evidence collected from correspondence and crime scenes.

The Scientific Analysis Section Chief at the FBI. He oversees the technical breakdown of evidence, from paper fragments to bodily fluids, coordinating the lab's findings to assist Graham and Crawford.

An FBI document examiner and cryptographer who specializes in breaking codes and interpreting hidden meaning in written correspondence.

A woman who owns a topless bar and shares a romantic and business relationship with Freddy Lounds, dreaming of wealth alongside him.

Francis Dolarhyde's deeply abusive grandmother. She ran a nursing home and subjected young Francis to severe physical and psychological cruelty, heavily influencing his disturbed worldview and creating a cycle of trauma.

Francis Dolarhyde's mother, who rejected him at birth due to his physical deformities. She abandoned him to start a new life, ultimately becoming a pawn in her own mother's abusive power struggles.

A deceased serial killer whom Will Graham caught prior to his retirement. The violent confrontation with him—and Graham's decision to kill him to save a hostage—remains a source of severe lingering trauma for Graham.

The Atlanta Chief of Detectives coordinating the local law enforcement efforts alongside the FBI, managing a frustrated team that has made little progress on the case.

A specialized fingerprint analyst brought in by Jack Crawford to assist local law enforcement in gathering evidence from the crime scenes.