Ivan is a Russian law professional who prioritizes social mobility, outward propriety, and career advancement above all else. He moves through his education and career checking off socially prescribed expectations, eventually becoming a judge. To cope with a deteriorating marriage and household tension, he emotionally distances himself from his family, preferring the distraction of his official duties and card games. A sudden fall while hanging curtains triggers a mysterious, worsening illness that forces him to confront his mortality.

Praskovya is considered an attractive and brilliant woman in her social circle before her marriage to Ivan. After suffering the profound tragedy of losing three children, she grows increasingly resentful toward her husband. Left without emotional support, she focuses heavily on financial security, social standing, and her surviving daughter's courtship prospects.

Peter is a law professional who has known Ivan Ilyich since childhood, progressing from a schoolmate to a colleague. He shares Ivan's priorities, finding more interest in evening bridge games and career promotions than in deep personal connections. His interactions are driven strictly by social propriety and a desire for personal comfort.

Gerasim is a young, cheerful peasant who works as a butler's assistant in the Golovin household. He possesses physical strength and a grounded, selfless nature that contrasts sharply with the aristocratic circles his employers inhabit. He approaches his duties with a clear sense of purpose and genuine compassion, undisturbed by the unpleasantness of illness.

Lisa is the adolescent daughter of Ivan and Praskovya. Raised in a household heavily focused on social propriety, she shares her mother's interest in maintaining a normal, lively social calendar despite the gloomy atmosphere at home. Her primary focus is on her upcoming courtship and engagement.

Vasya is the youngest surviving child of the Golovin family. A high school student, he grows up in a tense home environment shaped by his parents' fractured marriage and his father's physical and emotional absence. He quietly watches his father's physical deterioration.

Schwartz is a law colleague of Ivan Ilyich. Like the other men in their professional circle, he treats the funeral service as a tiresome social requirement. He focuses on avoiding gloom to maintain his own comfort and entertainment, finding the solemnity of death to be an inconvenience.

Fedor is an agreeable but unremarkable gentleman who courts the Golovins' daughter. He represents the kind of proper, socially acceptable match that aligns perfectly with the family's upper-class values and expectations.