Last Exit to Brooklyn

A shop steward who relishes his new role as strike secretary, finding it more lucrative and a refuge from his wife who doesn’t know he is gay. He becomes a key figure in the strike, falls for Regina, is injured during a riot, and is later fired for misusing expenses. He is ultimately beaten by Vinnie and his associates, underscoring the personal costs of the conflict.

A prostitute who lures sailors to an empty lot to be robbed by Vinnie. She experiences a period of romantic hope with a kindly sailor, but when he goes to war, she descends into depression and descends into drunken, public acts that lead to a gang rape. She ends up catatonic, illustrating the brutal consequences of poverty and exploitation.

A young transgender woman who harbors a crush on Vinnie. Her presence intersects with the strike, violence, and personal betrayals, illustrating the precarious position of gender nonconformity in this era.

An ex-convict and pimp who profits from manipulation and violence. He tries to pull Georgette into his schemes and exacerbates the conflicts surrounding the strike, contributing to the film’s brutal arc of power and exploitation.

One of the striking workers and a father figure who confronts Tommy over his daughter’s pregnancy. His rough exterior masks a capacity for defense and reconciliation, especially as family ties clash with labor struggles.

A factory worker known for riding a motorcycle, he becomes the man his girlfriend Mary Black’s father, Big Joe, worries about. He agrees to marry Joe’s daughter, but the couple’s plans are overshadowed by the strike’s turmoil and the pregnancy.

Big Joe’s daughter, pregnant by Tommy. Her situation places a personal stake in the strike’s outcome and the decisions of those around her, reflecting the film’s theme of family and responsibility amid hardship.

The union leader who negotiates between the factory and union reps. His authority wavers as Vinnie’s influence grows; he ultimately risks the respect of his peers when he sides with the strikers before being caught up in the conflict.

A transgender woman who enters a relationship with Harry. Her presence complicates the union’s politics and adds emotional depth to Harry’s personal life as he navigates love and loyalty.