List of Donnie Darko characters

Donnie Darko is a 2001 American psychological thriller film written and directed by Richard Kelly and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Patrick Swayze, Noah Wyle, Drew Barrymore and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Although Donnie Darko was not a major box office success (grossing just over $4.1 million against a budget of $4.5 million), it has since developed a large cult following and has received significant critical acclaim. The film won the award for "Best Screenplay" at the Catalonian International Film Festival and was also ranked at #9 on FilmFour's 50 Films to See Before You Die.

Note that this list does not include characters from S. Darko, the 2009 sequel to Donnie Darko (with the exception of Sam Darko, the only character to appear in both films).

Characters

Donnie Darko

Played by Jake Gyllenhaal. Donnie is the title and central character in the film. He is plagued by visions that depict the end of the world, through a strange and terrifying rabbit named Frank that only he can see. Donnie is very troubled and often wakes up miles away from his suburban home on places such as a mountain road and a golf course. On October 2, Frank appears to tell Donnie that the end of world will occur in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes and 12 seconds. At this time, a jet engine from a plane crashes through Donnie's bedroom window, but he is saved by Frank who has drawn him from the room. Donnie sees a psychiatrist, Dr. Thurman, on a regular basis and often discusses Frank and his sexual frustrations with the Doctor, but she has little luck decoding the meaning behind Donnie's disturbing behavior. Throughout the course of film, Donnie becomes friendly with Frank and also gets a girlfriend, he relishes in his new-found friendship with the two as well as his friendship with some of his teachers. Donnie is also a victim to some of his own acts, he vandalises his school while Frank is controlling him and burns a Motivational Speaker's house to the ground, both these acts get Donnie into serious trouble. In the early hours of the 28th day, Donnie forgets that the world is going to end and figures out a way to travel back through time (Time travel being a recurring theme in the film) by 28 days, and sits in his room where he awaits the plane's jet engine to crash through the window. Eventually it does, killing him.

Rose Darko

Played by Mary McDonnell. Rose Darko is the wife of Eddie Darko and mother to Elizabeth, Donnie and Sam Darko. Rose is a struggling mother who is trying to balance her own life while attempting to help Donnie. She is also involved in Sam's dance class, which is run by school teacher, Kitty Farmer. Rose is distraught over Donnie's death but considers it to be the best thing for him.

Eddie Darko

Played by Holmes Osborne. Eddie Darko is married to Rose Darko and is father to Elizabeth, Donnie and Sam Darko. Like his wife, his main concern is the health of his only son, Donnie. He visits Donnie's psychiatrist with Rose and becomes more concerned than ever when he hears about Donnie's new "friend" Frank.

Elizabeth Darko

Played by Maggie Gyllenhaal. Elizabeth is the eldest child in the Darko family and often argues with Donnie. She has a mysterious boyfriend named Frank.

Sam Darko

Played by Daveigh Chase. Sam is an innocent child and the youngest of the Darkos. She is a member of a dance group where she is the leader, she is very popular and is always surrounded by friends.

Gretchen Ross

Played by Jena Malone. Gretchen and her mother moved into Donnie's neighbourhood under police protection to get away from her deranged step-father who had previously kidnapped Gretchen's mother. She joins Donnie's class at his school and the two become close, Gretchen eventually becomes Donnie's girlfriend. Over the days that the two are together they are watched by a man in orange overalls and a hardhat, Donnie notices this at first but has no idea who he is. It is unknown who the man is, but some fans of the film believe it be Gretchen's step-father, others an undercover cop- either way, it is never explained. Gretchen and Donnie have sex at a party hosted by Donnie before he realises it's doomsday, they go to find answers at Grandma Death's house (see Grandma Death) but Gretchen is run over by a car and dies. Donnie is suicidal over Gretchen's death and realises he can go back in time and save her life, he does so. Now 28 days before Doomsday, After the jet engine crashes through Donnie's window and the Darko family mourn outside their home, Gretchen asks a boy to explain what happened, she then states that she never knew Donnie.

Dr. Lillian Thurman

Played by Katharine Ross. Thurman is Donnie Darko's psychiatrist. Donnie visits her on a regular basis, she listens to his troubles in school, at home and side effects of medication. After several visits, Dr. Thurman finds that she isn't making Donnie any better, so she tries hypnosis on him, this reveals Donnie's sexual frustrations and his thoughts on girls. Throughout the film, Dr. Thurman increases Donnie's medication. But this does not help him, it only makes him see Frank more. Toward the end of the film, Dr. Thurman decides Donnie is beyond her help.

Frank

Played by James Duval. Frank is the mysterious boyfriend of Elizabeth Darko. He seems to have an obsession with a horrific bunny outfit he owns, he draws pictures of it which he pins to his bedroom wall. He wears it to Elizabeth & Donnie's Halloween Party. The bunny outfit is seen in mysterious illusions Donnie has, and Donnie refers to it as "Frank", although he does not realise Frank is his own sister's boyfriend. Only Donnie can see Frank. Frank appears several times in his costume throughout the film in Donnie's visions, including: The Darko family's bathroom, a psychiatric session between Dr. Thurman and Donnie and in the cinema with Donnie and Gretchen. On 'Doomsday' morning, Donnie remembers it is the last day of Earth and, with Gretchen, make their way over to Grandma Death's house (see Grandma Death) after leaving Grandma Death's house, Gretchen is hit by a car which kills her. Out of the passenger seat, steps out a man dressed as a clown and out of the driver's seat, steps Frank. They are on their way to Donnie's halloween party. Frank is dressed in his bunny suit without the hood on. Donnie then proceeds to shoot and kill Frank with the gun he found in his father's wardrobe, he tells the clown to run. After Donnie goes back in time (see Donnie Darko for more details) Frank is seen alive, sitting in his room surrounded by drawings of his bunny costume.

Karen Pameroy

Played by Drew Barrymore. Karen Pameroy is one of Donnie Darko's teachers, she teaches English. She is responsible for setting the relationship between Donnie and Gretchen by letting Gretchen choose who she would like to sit next to, she chooses Donnie. Karen is also one of only two teachers that Donnie feels he can have a conversation with, the other being Kenneth Monnitoff, who Karen is also dating. She is very disliked by Kitty Farmer, a teacher and leader of the school's dance group 'Sparkle Motion' (in which Samantha Darko is a member) and argues with her regularly, they both have different views on what should be taught at the school. She is fired from her job at the school later in the film, probably due to complaints from Kitty Farmer.

Kenneth Monnitoff

Played by Noah Wyle. Dr. Kenneth Monnitoff is Donnie Darko's science teacher. Like Karen Pameroy (Donnie's English teacher), he is one of the only teachers who Donnie can make conversation with. He is dating Karen Pameroy. Donnie stays behind in Monnitoff's class on a regular basis after he becomes interested in time travel, Monnitoff gives Donnie a book about time travel by Roberta Sparrow.

Grandma Death

Played by Patience Cleveland. The mysterious Grandma Death is often the centre of discussion between Donnie and his friends. Everyday, she walks back and forth to her mailbox and opens it, when she sees there is no mail inside, she walks away only to return moments later. It is believed that Grandma Death suffered from illusions like Donnie, she wrote a book about time travel, which is given to Donnie by his science teacher Kenneth Monnitoff. Donnie figures that it can't be a coincidence that Frank talked to him about time travel and now he's reading a book about it. The book said the Author was Roberta Sparrow, the same name on the side of Grandma Death's mailbox. On 'Doomsday', Donnie, Gretchen and his two friends rush to Grandma Death's house to ask for her help. After they enter her gloomy, dark house, Donnie and Gretchen are attacked by Seth and Ricky (two bullies at Donnie's school). The two are there to rob Grandma Death. They drag Donnie and Gretchen outside and Ricky throws Gretchen to the ground, knocking her momentarily unconscious. As a car speeds round the corner with Frank in the driver's seat (see Frank for more information) the car swerves to avoid Grandma Death who is still walking back and forth to her mailbox, and runs over Gretchin- killing her.

Jim Cunningham

Played by Patrick Swayze. Jim Cunningham is a motivational speaker. He has a lot of supporters including Kitty Farmer, who incorporates Jim's words in to her lessons at school. Donnie is one of the only people who considers Jim to be a fake and in a session at school, where kids ask Jim for advice, Donnie stood up and insulted him and his profession. Frank tells Donnie to burn Jim Cunningham's house to the ground, he does so, only for emergency services to later find a hidden room. The room turns out to be a child pornography "dungeon". Cunningham has charges brought against him. Kitty Farmer starts a local group called the 'Jim Cunningham Defense Programme' but at the expense of missing her daughter perform with the 'Sparkle Motion' dance group in Los Angeles. She asks Rose Darko to go with the group instead. It is unrevealed if Cunningham was charged.

Kitty Farmer

Played by Beth Grant. Kitty Farmer is one of Donnie Darko's teachers. She is a big supporter of Jim Cunningham and incorporates his video's into her lessons, much to Donnie's dislike. In one lesson, Kitty and Donnie argue resulting with Donnie's exclusion from all after school activities.

Cherita Chen

Played by Jolene Purdy. Cherita Chen is one of Donnie's classmates. She is often a victim of bullying because of her weight and oriental background. She is also very shy, and is revealed to have to love Donnie Darko- she has a book labelled 'DONNIE DARKO'.

Ronald Fisher

Played by Stuart Stone. Ronald Fisher is one of Donnie's only friends to meet up with him outside of school. He was present at Gretchen's death and is rarely seen without bestfriend, Sean Smith.

Sean Smith

Played by Gary Lundy. Sean Smith is one of Donnie's only friends to meet up with him outside of school. He was present at Gretchen's death and is rarely seen without his bestfriend, Ronald Fisher.

Seth Devlin

Played by Alex Greenwald. Seth Devlin is one of the biggest bullies at Donnie's school. He tries to rob Grandma Death's house with his friend Ricky, but fails due to an interruption from Donnie and Gretchen. Once Seth had Donnie pinned to the floor outside Grandma Death's house, he was going to kill him with a knife but doesn't because he sees a car in the distance and believes it be the police. The car is actually being driven by Frank. He and Ricky escape.

Ricky Danforth

Played by Seth Rogen. Ricky Danforth is a bully at Donnie's school and is best friends with Seth Devlin. He and Seth try to rob Grandma Death's house but are stopped by Donnie and Gretchen (for more information, see Grandma Death). Ricky throws Gretchen in the road outside Grandma Death's house, were she is run over and killed. Both Ricky and Seth escape.

Principal Cole

Played by David St. James. Principal Cole is the principal of Donnie's school and is responsible for the firing of Karen Pomeroy (see Karen Pomeroy for more information).

Man in the Red Jogging Suit

Played by Tom Tangen. A very mysterious man who does not correspond with the main storyline. He appears only twice, when Gretchen and Donnie first go to kiss and outside Donnie's house. It is unknown who the man is but fans believe he is either Gretchen's disturbed step-father or an undercover police officer sent to spy on Donnie.