This is a list of characters who appear in The Basketball Diaries by Jim Carroll. Eventually I hope to provide character descriptions–but for now I’m just listing their names, neighborhoods, and the pages on which they appear in the Penguin editions of The Basketball Diaries.
Family
Father 84, 139-40, 144-45
Mother 3, 18, 37, 77, 97, 145, 179
Brother 96-97, 114
Characters from the Lower East Side
Biddy League (Madison Square Boys’ Club)
Coach Lefty 3, 8-9, 15-16, 36
Tony Milliano (See X“People Who Died”) 3, 4-5, 30, 120
Kevin Dolan (Jim’s cousin) 3, 17, 77-78
Carson (also member of “Diaper Bandits”) 8, 15
Yogi 4-5, 7, 77-78, 155-57
Herbie Hemslie (See X“People Who Died”) 10, 11, 13, 27, 177-78, 192, 207
Bobo Hemslie 177-78
Pedro 10, 11, 128
Buddy 13-14
Chris 18
Fat Eddie (See X“People Who Died”) 19, 51, 57-61, 152
XBobby Sachs (died of Leukenia, age 16; (See X“People Who Died”) 67-68
Pudgy 30
Ronnie Jackson 30-32, 160, 193
Freddy C. 30-32
Joey (West side; may be “Joey L.” below) 107-8
Mike McIntosh (West side) 112-14
Peter (West side) 112
Kenny/Kevin (seems to change names in middle of diary) 110-12
Sharron and Lou-Lou (pre-teen drag queens) 110-12
Buddy 13-14
Mrs. McNulty 5-6
Bill (old man at the caves in Inwood’s park) 42
Steve Malone (little league coach) 70
Buddy (Apartment building superintendant) 110-11
Sister Mary Grace (teacher at St. Agnes Grade School) 3
Girlfriends
Joan (lower east side) 3
Deborah Duckster (Inwood) 20, 107-8, 126, 133
Blinkie (Long Island) 58-61
Melody (blind date arranged by Bunty Gargen) 72-73
Lisa Cornbly (Professional Children’s School; probably Linda Cambi) 129-30
Hedi Hunter (Sutton Place) 138-39
(Harry, Hedi’s butler 139)
Bunny Begalot (NYU) 166-67
Characters from Inwood and Vicinity
Kevin (cousin) 117, 77-78
Chris 18
Johnny 48-50
Danny 48-51, 55
Sam McGiggle 48
Sean 51
Leapy Louie Salvado (basketball rival from the Bronx) 52
Ronny 55
Donny 56
Barry 117
Butch 117
Bobby Blake (the kleptomaniac) 94-97, 114
Al Dolan 195-96
Sal (park attendant) 51
Sal Salvado (barber) 52
Rudy (foreman at Yankee Stadium) 53
Catholic School, 8th Grade
Brother Wally Wale (geography teacher) 28
Brother Kenneth (good teacher) 28
Brother G. (enjoys the “M.O. routine”) 35
Billy “Dong” Burlap (epileptic) 28
Carlo Puzo 29
Mikey Benavisti 35
Vinnie Benavisti (Mikey’s older brother) 36
Summer and Winter Basketball Leagues
Benny Greenbaum (queer scout) 54, 153-59
Joe Slapstick (coach) 153-55
Willie Coll 18, 42, 43, 54, 55-56, 128-29
Tom McNulty (center) 54
Tom Miggrello 55
Lewie Alcinder 115
Vaughn Harper 115
Earl Manigault 115
Sammy Fulton 155
Art Baylor 154-55
Ben Davis 155
Bobby Bellum 153-54
Bax Porter 153-54
Yogi 4-5, 7, 77-78, 155-57
Corky 155-57
Long Island Characters
Celia Sisters 58-61
Fat Eddie (parents’ summer home) 57-61
Winkie and Blinkie 58-61
Rye Character
Willie Goodbody 118
Trinity School Characters
See XTrinity Yearbook Page
Mr. Brothers (Latin teacher) 65, 96
Mr. Belt (Headmaster) 65
Mr. Bluster (Principal)
Dudley Doolittle (Coach) 69, 80, 87-89, 130, 165
Eggie Blaumgarden 65, 66
Larry Labratory 66
Bunty Gargen 72, 84
Marc Clutcher 79, 86-89, 98-99, 107-8, 133-34, 196-97, 163-65
Anton Neutron 79-80, 86-89, 98-99, 133-34, 163-65
David Lang 85, 86-89, 98-99, 134-38
Ravi Curry 86
Denizens of Headquarters
Jimmy Mancole 112-14, 122, 130-32, 143-44, 183, 169-70, 173-74, 192-93, 198, 199, 202, 206-9,
Brian Browning (See X“People Who Died”) 80-83, 103, 112-14, 117, 171, 192, 210
John Browning 80
Sloppy Eddie 80
Willie Appleears 80, 169, 175
Jimmy Dantone 82, 210
Henry 112-14, 150, 191-93, 198
Black Earl 163
Shlink 130-32
Willie 142
Billie 142
G-Burger 150
Moochie 150
Frankie Pinewater 202-4
Misc. Addicts and Dope Pals
Johnny Murry 81
Joey L. (See “Joey” above)112-14
Fudgy 141
Genie Walsh 172
Lucy 173
Willie Bender 174-75
Marty 175
Desmond 175
Kooky 175
Diane Moody 184-85
Ju-Ju Johnson 204-6
Johnny Gator 204
Ray 161
Misc. Dealers
Ron Hemslie 7, 14, 192
Bunky 42
Lefty (Puerto Rican pusher) 98-99
Popo 98-99
Cal (superintendent) 118
Fat Victor 141
Kookie 186
Diamond 186
John Tom 208