Mickey is an aging, arthritic former puppeteer living in Madamaska Falls, Massachusetts. His theatrical career ended abruptly following a public scandal with a college student, leaving him professionally disgraced and socially alienated. He relies on sexual pursuit to maintain his sense of vitality, using lust as a primary defense against his profound fears of aging and death.

Drenka is a passionate Croatian immigrant who manages a local inn with her husband. She possesses a fierce appetite for life and shares Sabbath's commitment to sexual exploration. Upon receiving a severe cancer diagnosis, she seeks a deeper commitment from Sabbath to anchor her during her illness.

Roseanna is an art teacher and Sabbath's second wife. She is actively recovering from alcohol addiction and structures her life around AA meetings and therapy sessions. She harbors intense resentment toward Sabbath, whom she views as a reflection of her abusive parents and a primary source of her trauma.

Norman is a successful theatrical producer living in New York City and a longtime friend of Sabbath. He enjoys the stability of a conventional marriage and family life, contrasting sharply with Sabbath's chaotic existence. He offers Sabbath shelter and support during a period of intense mental distress.

Nikki is Sabbath's first wife and a former actress who studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. She struggled with severe anxiety and emotional instability, particularly after the death of her mother. Her unresolved disappearance years ago remains a defining mystery in Sabbath's life, prompting his obsessive searches.

Morty is Sabbath's older brother who died fighting in World War II. He serves as a guiding memory from their shared childhood on the Jersey Shore, where he taught Sabbath to fish and shielded him from fears. His death devastated their mother and fundamentally altered the family dynamic.

Kathy is a young college student who engaged in a sexual relationship with Sabbath while he was teaching. An audio recording of their phone sex was accidentally left in the university library, triggering a massive scandal. Despite the ruinous professional consequences for Sabbath, she maintains a complicated attachment to him.

Michelle is Norman's wife and a periodontist who lives a comfortable life in New York City. She initially humors Sabbath's eccentricities and inappropriate flirtations while he stays at their home. Grappling with her own anxieties about aging, she briefly entertains Sabbath's chaotic advances before setting boundaries.

Matija is Drenka's husband, a Croatian immigrant who manages a local inn. He struggles to connect with his wife and is deeply frustrated by his son's refusal to take over the family business. He grieves Drenka heavily and relies on the inn as his primary focus.

Matthew is the son of Drenka and Matija, working as a local police officer. He maintains a stoic exterior and refuses to follow his father's expectations regarding the family business. He is fiercely protective of his mother's memory and uses his authority to police the behavior of the men connected to her.

Lincoln is Norman's producing partner and a key figure from Sabbath's early theatrical days in New York City. He struggled with long-term depression associated with aging, ultimately ending his own life. His death serves as the catalyst that draws Sabbath back to New York.

Christa is a German immigrant and quilt-maker who struggles financially in Massachusetts. She enters into a transactional, highly intimate relationship with Sabbath and Drenka. Following changes in their dynamic, she distances herself from Sabbath and seeks out new connections.

Rosa is Norman and Michelle's cleaning lady. She is a pregnant, hardworking woman who speaks limited English. She experiences severe fear when she encounters the erratic Sabbath in her employers' home, mistaking him for an armed burglar before recognizing his emotional distress.

Fish is Sabbath's 100-year-old cousin who still lives in their family's original hometown on the Jersey Shore. He is a former vegetable salesman who used to take Sabbath and Morty fishing during their childhood. He serves as a living link to Sabbath's past and the guardian of family heirlooms.