The Jets
· Riff: leader/co-founder of the Jets
· Tony: the co-founder of the Jets, falls in love with Maria
· Action: easily angered and excited
· A-Rab: Baby John's big brother figure
· Baby John: the youngest of the Jets, A-Rab's best friend
· Diesel: toughest of the gang, tall and muscular
· Ice: cool, calm, collected (film version only)
· Snowboy
· Big Deal
· Gee-Tar
· Tiger
· Mouthpiece
Jet Girls
· Velma: Riff's girlfriend in the play, Ice's girlfriend in the film
· Graziella: Diesel's girlfriend in the play, Riff's girlfriend in the film
· Anybodys: a tomboy who wishes to become a Jet
· Minnie: Baby John's girlfriend
· Clarice
· Pauline: A-Rab's girlfriend in the Australian production
The Sharks
· Bernardo: the leader of the Sharks
· Chino: young and shy, attracted to Maria
· Pepe: Bernardo's right hand man, Consuelo's boyfriend
· Indio: quiet, Rosalia's boyfriend
Others: Luis, Anxious, Toro, Nibbles, Moose and Juano
Shark Girls
· Maria: Bernardo's sister, falls in love with Tony
· Anita: Bernardo's girlfriend
· Consuelo: Shark girl with dyed blonde hair, Pepe's girlfriend
· Rosalia: who wants to return to Puerto Rico, Indio's girlfriend
· Francisca: a young, quirky girl who is not very bright, Luis' girlfriend, hangs out with Maria, Rosalia, and Consuelo
· Teresita (film version only)
· Estella
Margarita
The Adults
· Officer Krupke: a neighborhood police officer
· Doc: owner of the Drug Store
· Lt. Schrank: the precinct's nasty police lieutenant
· Glad Hand: social worker and chaperone at the dance
