The Bishop
The Bishop is concerned with Merrick's religious education and offers him spiritual guidance. He sincerely believes in fulfilling his Christian responsibilities, but often overlooks Merrick's other needs.

Conductor
The Conductor thinks Merrick is intellectually disabled. Upon arriving in London, he seeks assistance from a policeman to ensure Merrick's safety.

Countess
The Countess is among the visitors who come to see Merrick.

Duchess
The Duchess is another visitor who brings Merrick Christmas presents.

Carr Gomm
Gomm is the administrator at the London Hospital where Merrick resides. His care for Merrick often seems self-serving. After Merrick's death, Gomm writes his final epitaph and decides to donate the funds for Merrick's care to the hospital.

Walsham How
See The Bishop

Lord John
Lord John is involved in dubious financial activities. When a substantial amount of money is lost, it is suggested that he will leave town hastily.

Mrs. Kendal
Mrs. Kendal, an actress, visits Merrick to provide him with some normal social interaction. She is not repelled by Merrick’s appearance and finds him charming and intelligent. She decides to introduce him to society, visiting him often and becoming a significant part of his life.

When Merrick confides that he has never seen a naked woman, she undresses in front of him. Treves enters and, outraged, expels Mrs. Kendal from the room and Merrick's life.

John Merrick
Merrick suffers from Proteus Syndrome, which causes large, bulbous growths on his skull. He explains his nickname, ‘‘The Elephant Man,’’ by telling Treves that his beautiful mother was kicked by an elephant while pregnant.

Placed in a workhouse at the age of three, he later became part of a freak show. He earns significant money for his handler, Ross, who also steals from him. Merrick experiences profound loneliness.

After being found by Treves, Merrick is taken to the London Hospital where he is studied and provided shelter. During his time there, Merrick begins to draw and read, eventually constructing a model of St. Phillip’s Church.

Merrick is intelligent and humorous, with a normal interest in women. When he tells Mrs. Kendal that he has never seen a normal woman’s body, she responds by undressing. After she is banished, Merrick misses her deeply.

Pinheads
These are three women with pointed heads who briefly appear in Brussels as part of a freak show and reappear in Merrick's dream as he dies.

Ross
Ross is the manager of ‘‘The Elephant Man’’ freak show. He steals from Merrick and sends him back to London. Later, after reading about Merrick's rise to fame, Ross visits him and proposes going back into business together.

Miss Sandwich
Miss Sandwich is the nurse who is so horrified by Merrick’s appearance that she flees from the room.

Snork
Snork, a porter, is responsible for delivering Merrick's meals. He is the one who discovers Merrick’s body after his death.

Fredrick Treves
Fredrick Treves, a surgeon and educator, brings Merrick to the hospital for examination. He also rescues Merrick after Ross abandons him. Though Treves appears to genuinely care for Merrick, he also seeks to gain recognition from their association. Treves is a strict and inflexible Victorian gentleman, taken aback when Mrs. Kendal reveals her body to Merrick. Ultimately, Treves becomes disillusioned with his profession and family life. However, by the play’s conclusion, he seems to realize that his life has been profoundly impacted by Merrick.