Big Angel is the terminally ill patriarch of the de la Cruz family. He worked for decades as a network manager at a gas company, driven by a need to prove his worth in American society. He acts as the central authority figure for his large, chaotic family. Facing his final days, he spends his time organizing his own birthday party and reflecting on his journey from Mexico to California.

Perla is Big Angel's wife, originally from La Paz. She views her husband as a savior who rescued her from deep poverty after her first husband drowned. She serves as a grounding force for her children and quietly manages the household despite the chaos of the incoming extended family. She focuses heavily on caring for her dying husband.

Little Angel is Big Angel’s half-brother. He works as a college literature professor in Seattle and goes by Gabriel in his professional life. Born to a white mother and a Mexican father, he feels alienated from his extended family while questioning his dual heritage. He carries emotional scars from his childhood but desires a deeper connection with his older brother during the final days of Big Angel's life.

Minnie is Big Angel and Perla’s daughter and the primary caregiver for her terminally ill father. She balances the extreme stress of her parents' needs with raising her own three children. She feels overlooked by her father, who favors her brothers, yet she naturally steps into a leadership role within the family.

Don Segundo is the former patriarch of the family and a former motorcycle policeman from La Paz. He eventually abandoned his Mexican family to marry a white woman in San Diego. He represents an authoritarian, emotionally distant approach to fatherhood that leaves lasting trauma on his children.

Lalo is Big Angel’s youngest son, an ex-military man currently living in his parents' garage. He struggles with drug use related to a leg injury sustained in Iraq and carries guilt from his past involvement in gang life. Despite his rough exterior and tentative sobriety, he actively wishes to avoid bringing further trouble to his family.

Yndio is Perla’s eldest son from her first marriage. He identifies as non-binary and lives in self-imposed exile from the family due to the strict gender expectations he experienced growing up. After ten years away, he hovers on the edges of the family gatherings, uncertain of his place but bearing a prodigal son tattoo.

MaryLú is Big Angel’s sister. She lives alone in Mamá América’s old house and served as one of her mother's primary caretakers during her final days. She is a welcoming presence to Little Angel but holds a deep-seated grudge against her sister-in-law, Paz.

La Gloriosa is Perla’s beautiful younger sister. While she initially appears focused primarily on her physical appearance, she carries hidden grief over the loss of her son. She commands the attention of many men in the family but focuses her romantic interest exclusively on Little Angel.

César, also known as Pato due to his distinctive voice, is Big Angel’s younger brother. Unlike his own father, César is a gentle and accepting parent who refuses to shame his eccentric son. He carries painful memories of childhood poverty but chooses to break the cycle of harsh parenting.

Ookie is the mentally disabled neighbor of Big Angel and Perla. He forms a strong bond with Big Angel, and together they spend years secretly constructing a massive, rainbow-colored Lego model of San Diego in the backyard shed.

Marco Antonio is César’s eccentric teenage son. He represents the next generation of the de la Cruz family, freely expressing his unique interests without fear of judgment from his gentle father.

Mamá América is the mother of Big Angel, MaryLú, and César. She divorced Don Segundo after he was unfaithful and struggled to keep her family afloat. She is remembered for her strong will, including a memorable attempt to smuggle a parrot across the border.

Dave is a Jesuit priest and a close confidant to Big Angel. He provides spiritual comfort and perspective to the dying patriarch, reminding him that death is a universal experience rather than a personal failing.

Braulio is Perla’s second-eldest son, who was shot and killed by a gang member years prior. His death casts a long shadow over the family, particularly affecting his mother and his younger brother.

Giovanni is Lalo’s son, who pulls his father back into a dangerous situation by organizing a violent mission to avenge his uncle's death.

Paz is César’s wife. She frequently clashes with her sister-in-law MaryLú, contributing to the typical chaotic family dynamics present at their large gatherings.

Lily is a blind woman and DACA recipient who attends Big Angel's birthday party. She quickly forms a connection with Marco Antonio, enjoying his company and straightforward nature.

Chentebent is Big Angel’s cruel, alcoholic uncle. He takes Big Angel in during his youth but subjects the boy to severe abuse and starvation aboard his fishing boat.