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Main Cast
Brian Kinney
Portrayed by: Gale Harold
- Attention Whore: A minor example.
- Exaggerated when he becomes jealous of Justin and Michael's partnership over their comic book series and proceeds to rip apart the artwork Justin had created for the comic and urinate on the pages.
- Closer to Earth: Oh, that crude, simple wisdom of his, which almost always saves the day.
- Corrupt the Cutie: Can be said to have done this to Justin.
- Gaydar : a rather good one at that, as shown when he seduces a presumably closeted colleague in episode 2 of the first season
- Guilt Complex: Gets a slight one in season 2 after Justin's gay-bashing.
- Informed Attribute: Brian is often described as a "genius" at advertising and yet almost all of his ads amount to the same formula: a hot Mr. Fanservice holding the product in a suggestive manner.
- Love Triangle: With him, Michael and Justin. There is some obvious, early tension between Michael and Justin because of this.
- Odd Friendship: While it may seem that he and Michael have this at first. Brian being an unemotional proudly selfish playboy and Michael a wide-eyed idealist nerd who loves comic books and wants to find "true love". In fact there friendship goes way back to when they were kids and Michael (and to an extent his mother Debbie) were the only people who truly cared about Brian and offered him a "home" setting to escape his abusive parents and even more selfish sister.
- The Beautiful Elite: Beautiful, rich, charismatic, narcissistic, informedly perfect (even if his emotional life is a mess).
Michael Novotny
Portrayed by: Hal Sparks
- Berserk Button: Anything to do with Justin in the early seasons has him acting like a rabid dog.
- Dating What Daddy Hates: In a very surprising turn his mother Debbie, who has always championed both gay rights and specifically those affected by AIDS, is (at first) VERY against the idea of Michael dating HIV positive Ben. Her motivation for this being that she's seen what the disease has done first hand and while she supports those who have it she doesn't want her son anywhere near it. She gets over it eventually and begins treating Ben like family.
- Love Triangle: With him, Brian and Justin. There is some obvious, early tension between Michael and Justin because of this.
- Manchild: The comics, being a mom's boy, called adorable several times...
- Took a Level in Jerkass: When he lets David's money go to his head.
- Also when he tried to force Justin out of everybody's lives after Justin's first breakup with Brian.
- Odd Friendship: With Brian.
- The Storyteller: Sometimes he narrates.
Emmett Honeycutt
Portrayed by: Peter Paige
- May–December Romance: Has a relationship with much older man.
- The Prima Donna: When he becomes a star in Ted's movies.
Theodore (Ted) Schmidt
Portrayed by: Scott Lowell
- Ascended Extra: He was initially supposed to be a counterpart of Phil Delaney from the UK version, but went on a different direction.
- Informed Flaw: The not too unattractive Ted is treated like he was absolutely hideous.
- In an interesting case, he is actually shown to be quite attractive to straight women, just not by most gay men. Alas poor Ted.
- Justified in an interview with the actor where he stated that Ted would be considered above average but insists on only pursues men who outclass him in looks. It's a character flaw.
- The Internet Is for Porn: Ted was frequently shown, and eventually got fired for, browsing porn sites while at work. Immediately prior to him getting fired it was shown that several of his co-workers were also viewing (straight) porn on the internet while they were supposed to be working. Keep in mind Ted was an accountant. He later started his own porn website, JerkAtWork.net.
- Shrinking Violet: Poor self-deprecating dear.
- Spared by the Adaptation: Ted's UK counterpart dies from a drug overdose. In the US version, he also has a drug overdose, but only winds up in a coma.
Justin Taylor
Portrayed by: Randy Harrison
- Age Lift: Justin is 17 years old, but he was only 15 years old in the original UK version. He's also slightly more mature.
- Dogged Nice Guy: Brian isn't abusing him, he is just keeping him at arm's length.
- Guile Hero: Don't let the cute looks fool you. When the gloves come off, Justin is as, if not more cunning than Brian.
Lindsay Peterson
Portrayed by: Thea Gill
Melanie Marcus
Portrayed by: Michelle Clunie
Debbie Novotny
Portrayed by: Sharon Gless
Ben Bruckner
Portrayed by: Robert Gant
- Hot Teacher: A professor who is also frequently the Mr. Fanservice and is flirted with by many of his (thankfully legal age) students.
- Iconic Sequel Character: Doesn't show up till the latter half of season two but becomes the driving force of Michael's storyline for the rest of the show.
- Official Couple: Unlike most of the romances on the show, once he and Michael get together they stay together.
- Sixth Ranger: Is treated like this by Brian but even he eventually bonds with Ben and before long it's like he's always been a member of the gang.
Supporting Characters
Jennifer Taylor
Portrayed by: Sherry Miller
Daphne Chanders
Portrayed by: Makyla Smith
David Cameron
Portrayed by: Chris Potter
- Control Freak: Regarding Michael as an adult costs them a thorough quarrel on every occasion.
Blake Wyzecki
Portrayed by: Dean Armstrong
- Dirty Coward: When he leaves Ted to die after a bad reaction to the drugs he gave him
