The 14-year-old eldest Baudelaire sibling. She possesses a mechanical mind and builds inventions from everyday objects, like taking apart a toy train to find an alternate way to heat food. As the oldest, she honors her promise to her parents to protect her younger brother and sister. She evaluates her surroundings pragmatically and searches for practical solutions to the endless problems adults create for them.

The 12-year-old middle Baudelaire child. He reads voraciously and retains vast amounts of information from the books he consumes. He applies his research skills to uncover clues and decode messages that adults routinely miss. He speaks up quickly when he recognizes danger, even when the adults ignore his logical warnings.

The infant Baudelaire sibling. She communicates in sharp shrieks and babbles that only her brother and sister fully understand. Her primary interest involves biting hard objects with her four exceptionally sharp teeth. Despite her small size, she actively participates in her family's survival efforts and openly bares her teeth at threats.

A distant relative of the Baudelaires living in a rickety house perched on a cliff above Lake Lachrymose. Following the loss of her husband, she developed an exhausting list of phobias, including fears of exploding radiators, electrocuting telephones, and realtors. She obsesses over proper grammar and constantly corrects the children's speech. Her cowardice prevents her from providing a genuinely safe home.

A greedy, theatrical man determined to steal the Baudelaire fortune. He adopts clumsy disguises to trick the gullible adults caring for the children. Currently posing as a peg-legged sailor named Captain Julio Sham, he hands out fake business cards and uses superficial flattery to charm Aunt Josephine, entirely ignoring the children's protests.

The intrusive narrator chronicling the Baudelaires' miserable lives. He presents a formal, pessimistic persona and frequently halts the story to offer highly specific definitions or share dark personal anecdotes. Having experienced his own tragic losses, he expresses deep sympathy for the orphans' plight and regularly advises the reader to put the book down.

A banker charged with overseeing the Baudelaire estate. He suffers from a chronic hacking cough and prioritizes his banking schedule over the orphans' well-being. His self-absorption and stubborn refusal to believe the children constantly leave them exposed to danger.

Aunt Josephine's deceased husband. He died in Lake Lachrymose after failing to wait long enough after eating before entering the water, making him a victim of the carnivorous Lachrymose Leeches. His tragic death fundamentally altered his wife's personality, leaving her terrified of the world.

The Baudelaires' previous guardian, a herpetologist whose recent murder at the hands of Count Olaf forced the children to relocate to Lake Lachrymose. His loss weighs heavily on the siblings as they experience their new, colder environment.

One of Count Olaf's loyal minions who assists in his villainous plots. They guard the boat rental business on the dock, holding the keys to the gate while they sleep. Their intimidating physical presence creates a serious obstacle for the children.