Billy Pilgrim - The main character of the novel. A weak soldier in World War II, Billy learns how to time travel, to the past and future, although has no control of when or where these travels will occur or take him. Throughout the novel, Billy talks of the bombing of Dresden, which he lived through as a prisoner of war. After the war, he settles down in his hometown of Ilium, New York, as an optometrist, with his wife and has 2 children. He is later taken by aliens, Trafalmadorians, and transported to a zoo on their home planet. .
Vonnegut - In the first and last chapters, Vonnegut explains why he wrote this novel. Also, throughout some war scenes, he describes himself as being a character, most likely trying to show that the character of Billy Pilgrim is almost autobiographical. .
Bernard V. O'Hare - A prisoner of war who was also a private and infantry scout as Billy Pilgrim was. He was locked up with Billy, and it's shown that they became war buddies after the war. They visit Dresden together after the war.
Mary O'Hare - Bernard's wife. She is a strong willed woman, totally against war. She believes that books and movies about war only promotes the glorification of war. She understands that the majority of the soldiers are only children, from her point of view. She inspires Billy to name his book The Children's Crusade.
Gernard Muller - The friendly cab driver who brought Bernard and Billy to the slaughterhouse in which they were held prisoner in. .
Paul Lazzaro - An American Soldier, also a prisoner, who befriends Roland Weary. He promises Roland that he will avenge his death, who claims Billy is of fault. He eventually keeps his promise and hires a man to kill Billy.
Edgar Derby - The oldest of the American war prisoners at Dresden, forty-four years old. From his maturity, he assumes leadership of the prisoners and helps to take care of Billy when he is hospitalized at the first prisoner camp.
