Frederick is an 82-year-old widower facing eviction and profound loneliness after the loss of his beloved wife, Dawn. When a bizarre accident results in him being mistakenly identified as a deceased nursing home resident named Bernard Greer, Frederick leans into the deception for survival and companionship. Kind-hearted and deeply empathetic, he uses his borrowed identity to secretly improve the lives of the staff and residents around him.

Denise is an overworked caretaker at the nursing home where the presumed Bernard resides. She struggles to balance the intense demands of her job with a chaotic home life, which includes a temperamental husband and a child requiring extra care for a sensory processing disorder. Her mounting anxiety leads her to self-medicate with alcohol, clouding her judgment while she simultaneously grows suspicious of her patient's suddenly improved memory.

Hannah is Bernard Greer's estranged adult daughter, currently working as a hairdresser and facing intense financial pressure due to an unexpected pregnancy. She harbors deep-seated anger toward her father for abandoning her family following the tragic illness of her sister, Sadie. Cautious and guarded, she finds herself reluctantly drawn to the newfound warmth and kindness the man she believes to be her father suddenly displays.

Bernard is an elderly nursing home resident with dementia who passes away quietly during an outing. He physically resembles Frederick Fife, leading to the mistaken identity that drives the narrative. Prior to his mental decline, Bernard struggled with profound grief and a severe gambling addiction, which caused him to abandon his family.

Albert is a nursing home resident experiencing advanced dementia. He genuinely believes that the newly arrived patient is actually his deceased brother, also named Fred. Despite his cognitive decline, Albert remains deeply devoted to his wife and provides Frederick with genuine friendship and a renewed sense of familial belonging.

Valerie is Albert's loving and dedicated wife, who visits him daily at the nursing home. She patiently handles her husband's dementia, playing along with his confusion out of deep affection. She quickly befriends Frederick, appreciating his gentle demeanor and the comfort he brings to Albert.

Kevin is a newly hired nurse at the nursing home who treats the residents with exceptional patience and care. He quickly forms a friendly bond with Frederick, who notices Kevin's quiet romantic crush on his coworker Linh and eagerly attempts to play matchmaker.

Linh is a diligent and compassionate caretaker at the nursing home who originally hails from Hanoi, Vietnam. She provides Frederick with excellent care, occasionally sneaking him special meals, and opens up to him about her own experiences with familial estrangement.

Dawn is Frederick's late wife, whose memory continuously shapes his actions and worldview. Decades earlier, she suffered a traumatic pregnancy loss, an event that deeply scarred both her and her husband. Frederick's enduring love for her serves as his moral compass.

Sadie is Hannah's late sister, whose childhood battle with leukemia devastated her family. Her illness and subsequent tragic passing caused irreparable rifts in her parents' marriage, profoundly shaping Hannah's adult life and Bernard's immense guilt.

Patricia is a lively and occasionally overly amorous resident at the nursing home. She enjoys special privileges, such as a motorized scooter, which Frederick occasionally borrows for his own covert missions.

Andrew Mora is Bernard Greer's lawyer, tasked with managing a trust account containing a substantial gambling windfall. He holds the key to the financial security Bernard intended to leave behind for his daughter.

Greg is Denise's temperamental husband. His suspected infidelity and frequent absences add immense stress to Denise's already difficult life, driving her toward unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Ruby is an elderly resident at the nursing home. She is a member of the facility's knitting group and unwittingly provides Frederick with the skills necessary to knit baby booties.

Sharon is the director of nursing at the facility. She oversees the staff and grants Denise a much-needed leave of absence when she finally admits she is struggling to cope.

Mike is Hannah Greer's former boyfriend. He is adamantly opposed to having children and immediately ends their relationship upon discovering Hannah is pregnant.

Hannah's mother is a hardworking woman who raises her children largely alone after her husband, Bernard, abandons the family. She struggles to pay the bills but provides a loving environment for Hannah.

Denise's young daughter requires extensive extra care due to an anxiety diagnosis and a sensory processing disorder. Her frequent tantrums place a severe emotional and financial strain on her mother.