List of Pretty Little Liars characters explained

Pretty Little Liars is an American teen drama television series created by I. Marlene King for Freeform. It is based on Sara Shepard's novel series of the same name. Some of the characters appeared in the spin-off shows Pretty Dirty Secrets, Ravenswood, and Pretty Little Liars (2022). Below is a list consisting of the many characters who have appeared throughout the original series' seven-season run.

Overview - main series

The following table contains an overall look on the main, recurring and guest characters. The guest characters, marked in blue, have appeared in one or two episodes per season they are denoted. The recurring characters, marked in red, have appeared in three or more episodes in the season they are denoted. The main characters, marked in green, are those whose portrayer has had received ensemble cast billing in at least one episode in the season they are denoted.

CharacterPortrayed byAppearances
Season 1Season 2Season 3Season 4Season 5Season 6Season 7
Main characters
Spencer HastingsTroian Bellisariocolspan="7"
Alex Drakecolspan="6"
Hanna MarinAshley Bensoncolspan="7"
Ella MontgomeryHolly Marie Combscolspan="3" colspan="3"
Aria MontgomeryLucy Halecolspan="7"
Ezra FitzIan Hardingcolspan="7"
Maya St. GermainBianca Lawsoncolspan="2" colspan="4"
Ashley MarinLaura Leightoncolspan="7"
Byron MontgomeryChad Lowecolspan="3"
Emily FieldsShay Mitchellcolspan="7"
Pam FieldsNia Peeplescolspan="3"
Alison DiLaurentisSasha Pietersecolspan="7"
Caleb RiversTyler Blackburncolspan="2" colspan="5"
Mona VanderwaalJanel Parrishcolspan="2" colspan="5"
Jessica DiLaurentisAndrea Parkercolspan="2" colspan="3"
Mary Drakecolspan="3"
Recurring characters
"A"colspan="7"
Toby CavanaughKeegan Allencolspan="7"
Mike MontgomeryCody Allen Christiancolspan="2" colspan="2"
Melissa HastingsTorrey DeVittocolspan="5" colspan="2"
Darren WildenBryce Johnsoncolspan="3"
Ian ThomasRyan Merrimancolspan="2" colspan="3"
Wren KingstonJulian Morriscolspan="3" colspan="2"
Meredith SorensonAmanda Schullcolspan="4"
Jenna MarshallTammin Sursokcolspan="5"
Sean AckardChuck Hittingercolspan=6
Peter HastingsNolan Northcolspan="2" colspan="2" colspan="2"
Noel KahnBrant Daughertycolspan="3" colspan="2"
Veronica HastingsLesley Feracolspan="7"
Mrs. WelchJill Holdencolspan="5"
Alex SantiagoDiego Bonetacolspan=6
Lucas GottesmanBrendan Robinson colspan="3"
Barry MapleJim Tituscolspan="5"
Wayne FieldsEric Steinbergcolspan="2" colspan="3"
Paige McCullersLindsey Shawcolspan="3"
Garrett ReynoldsYani Gellmancolspan="3" colspan="4"
Tom MarinRoark Critchlowcolspan="2" colspan="2"
Kate RandallNatalie Hallcolspan="5"
Jason DiLaurentisDrew Van Ackercolspan="2" colspan="2"
Samara CookClaire Holtcolspan="5"
Jackie MolinaPaloma Guzmáncolspan="2" colspan="2"
Anne SullivanAnnabeth Gishcolspan="2"
Holden StraussShane Coffeycolspan="3"
CeCe DrakeVanessa Raycolspan="2" colspan="2" colspan="2"
Ted Wilsoncolspan="2" colspan="2"
Lyndon JamesSterling Suliemancolspan="2" colspan="4"
Wesley FitzgeraldGregg Sulkincolspan="2" colspan="4"
Malcolm CutlerTeo Brionescolspan="2" colspan="3"
Maggie CutlerLarisa Oleynikcolspan="2" colspan="2" colspan="3"
Shana FringAeriél Mirandacolspan="2" colspan="2" colspan="2"
Jamie DoyleBernard Currycolspan="2" colspan="4"
Arthur HackettJohn O'Briencolspan="2"
Gabriel HolbrookSean Fariscolspan="3" colspan="2" colspan="2"
Linda TannerRoma Maffiacolspan="3" colspan="3"
Carla GrunwaldMeg Fostercolspan="3"
Travis HobbsLuke Kleintankcolspan="3" colspan="2"
JakeRyan Guzmancolspan="3" colspan="3"
Kenneth DiLaurentisJim Abelecolspan="2" colspan="2"
Andrew CampbellBrandon Jonescolspan="2" colspan="2"
CindyMelanie Morenocolspan="4"
MindyMonica Morenocolspan="4"
Sydney DriscollChloe Bridgescolspan="4"
Cyrus PetrilloJake Wearycolspan="4" colspan="2"
Talia SandovalMiranda Rae Mayocolspan="4" colspan="2"
Jonny RaymondWill Bradleycolspan="4" colspan="2"
Rebecca MarcusLauren Tomcolspan="4" colspan="2"
Archer DunhillHuw Collinscolspan="5" colspan="2"
Yvonne PhillipsKara Roystercolspan="5" colspan="2"
Sara HarveyDre Daviscolspan="5"
Liam GreeneRoberto Aguirecolspan="5"
Jordan HobartDavid Coussinscolspan="5"
Nicole GordonRebecca Breedscolspan="5"
Lorenzo CalderonTravis Winfreycolspan="5"
SabrinaLulu Brudcolspan="5" colspan="2"
Clark WilkinsTitus Makin Jr.colspan="5"
Marco FureyNicholas Gonzalezcolspan="6"
Guest characters
Ben CooganSteven Kruegercolspan="2" colspan="5"
Isabel MarinHeather Mazurcolspan="2" colspan="5"
Mr. SheldrakeKeith Pillowcolspan="6"
Coach FultonPaula Newsomecolspan="4"
Logan ReedTilky Jonescolspan="2" colspan="5"
Regina MarinBetty Buckleycolspan="2" colspan="4"
Mr. TamborelliJohn Marshall Jonescolspan="5"
Duncan AlbertLachlan Buchanancolspan="5"
Harold CraneTravis Richleycolspan="2" colspan="4"
ZackSteve Talleycolspan="2" colspan="3" colspan="2"
Dianne FitzgeraldMary Page Kellercolspan="2" colspan="3"
Miles CorwinAndrew Elvis Millercolspan="2" colspan="4"
Eddie LambReggie Austincolspan="2" colspan="3" colspan="2"
May HorowitzCathy Ladmancolspan="2" colspan="3"
Nigel WrightWyatt Nashcolspan="3" colspan="3"
Hector LimeJed Reescolspan="3" colspan="3"
Robert VargasJoseph Zinsmancolspan="3" colspan="3"
Louis PalmerNick Tatecolspan="3" colspan="3"
Dean StavrosNathaniel Buzoliccolspan="3"
Big RhondaAmbrit Millhousecolspan="4" colspan="2"
James NeilanCharles Carpentercolspan="4" colspan="2"
Lesli StoneElizabeth McLaughlincolspan="4" colspan="2"
ColinOliver Kieran-Jonescolspan="4" colspan="2"
Douglas SirkChristopher Grovecolspan="4" colspan="2" ~
Addison Derringercolspan="4" colspan="2"
Ava Allancolspan="6"
Rhys MatthewsCaleb Lanecolspan="5"
Notes

Main characters

The following list features characters that are considered fundamental to the series' storylines, consisting of the central group deemed as "the Liars" and the main antagonist "A."

Spencer Hastings

See main article: Spencer Hastings. Considered the "de facto leader" of the group, Spencer Hastings, portrayed by Troian Bellisario, is intelligent, extremely ambitious, and strives for perfection in everything she does in an attempt to live up to the high expectations of her parents. Spencer's biggest rival is her older sister, Melissa, and the two are constantly fighting over something. Their relationship is often strained by the fact that Spencer has a habit of crushing on Melissa's boyfriends. In the first season, she begins a relationship with fellow student and strained Rosewood student Toby Cavanaugh. Throughout the series, Spencer is revealed to be the biological daughter of Mary Drake and the sister of Charlotte Drake.

Aria Montgomery

See main article: Aria Montgomery. Considered the "alternative" one of the group, Aria Montgomery, portrayed by Lucy Hale, is more outgoing in fashion and what she sees as acceptable behavior. She moves back to Rosewood with her family after living in Iceland for a year. Before Alison's death, she and Alison discovered that Aria's father was having an affair with one of his former students, Meredith, who became his coworker at Hollis College. Alison encourages Aria to tell her mother the truth, but instead, Aria reluctantly agrees to keep her father's secret. On top of that, she finds herself involved with her high school English teacher, Ezra Fitz, after making out with him in a pub bathroom and discovering he was her English teacher on the first day of school.

Hanna Marin

See main article: Hanna Marin. Pretty and fierce, Hanna Marin, portrayed by Ashley Benson, is the diva and "it girl" of the group, having taken Alison's place as the most popular girl at Rosewood High. Prior to Alison's death, Hanna suffered from bulimia, which Alison frequently teased her over. Since her parents divorced, Hanna permanently lives with her mother. She feels betrayed by her father, who has remarried, and she does not get along well with his new wife and daughter. When Hanna's mother falls upon financial hardship, she steals thousands of dollars from the bank she worked at, which Hanna is forced to keep a secret.

Emily Fields

The "jock" of the group, Emily Fields, portrayed by Shay Mitchell, is a highly competitive swimmer, considered the star of Rosewood's swimming team. She is shown as a sweet and shy girl. For a short time, Emily lives with Hanna, after her mother moves to Texas to live with Emily's father, who is stationed in Fort Hood. She begins to question her sexuality because of her feelings for Alison, but later accepts the fact that she is a lesbian and starts to date girls. She eventually begins a relationship with Sara Harvey, until she discovers that she is an ally of the antagonist.

Alison DiLaurentis

See main article: Alison DiLaurentis. The former "queen bee" of her clique, Alison DiLaurentis, portrayed by Sasha Pieterse, used to be the most popular girl in school before her disappearance and alleged death. Although she cared for her friends, she enjoyed using their deepest secrets against them to keep them in line. Charming and manipulative, Alison was skilled at finding ways to blackmail everyone, and many people hated her. She knew everybody's secrets, but since she's been gone her friends are beginning to realize how little they really knew about her. She is revealed to be alive and on the run from "A."

Mona Vanderwaal

See main article: Mona Vanderwaal. A former "unpopular" girl at Rosewood, Mona Vanderwaal, portrayed by Janel Parrish, longed to be accepted into Alison's group and was continuously mocked by her. After Alison's disappearance, Mona befriended Hanna and they underwent an "extreme makeover" together; as a result, they both became popular students. When "A" appears, Mona becomes jealous of Hanna rekindling her friendships with the other Liars. She dislikes Caleb and makes attempts to break Hanna and Caleb up, though to no avail. She becomes romantically involved with Noel, much to Hanna's disapproval, but is later dumped by him for Jenna. When "A" begins sending Mona threatening notes, she grows closer to the Liars. In the second-season finale, she is in fact revealed to actually be "A" when she and Spencer travel to the Lost Woods Resort to uncover "A"'s lair. She is committed to a mental institution, Radley, after being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.

"A"

See main article: A (Pretty Little Liars). The main antagonist, "A" is stalking and torturing the Liars in relentless and creative ways and also threatens their friends and family. In the second-season finale, it is revealed that Mona is "A". She is also the one who stalked Alison before her disappearance. However, when she is sent to Radley sanitarium, she is visited by CeCe Drake, who offers her a partnership and takes over the team of "A"s, known as the A-Team. The team consists of Mona, Toby, Spencer, Sara, Lucas, Melissa, Wilden, Jenna, Noel, and Wren. Five years later, Alex Drake takes over and becomes Uber A, known as "A.D.", and forms the A.D. Team, consisting of Jenna, Sydney, Aria, Wren, Mona, and Mary.

Acquaintances of Aria Montgomery

The following characters are all family members and acquaintances of Aria Montgomery, one of the protagonists of the series.

Family

Friends

Relationships

Other

Acquaintances of Spencer Hastings

The following characters are all family members and acquaintances of Spencer Hastings, one of the protagonists of the series.

Family

Friends

Relationships

Other

Acquaintances of Hanna Marin

The following characters are all family members and acquaintances of Hanna Marin, one of the protagonists of the series.

Family

Friends

Relationships

Other

Acquaintances of Emily Fields

The following characters are all family members and acquaintances of Emily Fields, one of the protagonists of the series.

Family

Relationships

Friends

Other

Acquaintances of Alison DiLaurentis

The following characters are all family members and acquaintances of Alison DiLaurentis, one of the protagonists of the series.

Family

Relationships

Friends

Other

Other characters

See also

Notes and References

  1. Biedenharn. Isabella. Pretty Little Liars series finale recap: 'Til DeAth Do Us PArt'. Entertainment Weekly. Entertainment Weekly. 11 October 2017.
  2. Web site: PLL Season 2 Episode 14 Recap Baby We Are BACK. Word Press. 4 January 2012 . Word Press. 11 October 2017.