The Last of Us is one of the best video game series ever made. Not only does it have thrilling gameplay and beautiful graphics, but it also has an iconic story with several likable characters who are easy to get attached to. Each character has handled the Infected-plagued cordyceps outbreak in many different ways, and those actions have endeared them to fans over the past ten years.
While the main protagonists of both the original game and The Last of Us Part II are obviously the most popular, there are many supporting characters in both games that fans also enjoyed seeing, too. Additionally, HBO's The Last of Us has breathed new life into some of these classic characters through their actor's portrayals. However The Last of Us is enjoyed, its characters are sure to make a lasting impact.
Updated on January 28, 2023, by Michael Colwander: The Last of Us has been at the forefront of people's minds between HBO's hit adaptation and Naughty Dog's marvelous remake in The Last of Us: Part I, which is nearing its PC release date. This means fans will be reintroduced to these beloved characters while others meet them for the first time.
This article contains mentions of suicide.
10 Sam Was A Child Who Became Infected
Sam was a child Joel and Ellie temporarily teamed up with — along with his brother, Henry — in the original game. Sam quickly became friends with Ellie after she stole a toy robot for him that Henry said he couldn't have. Unfortunately, as the four of them traveled, Sam became infected and didn't let Henry, Ellie, or Joel know what was going on.
After the three of them had gone to sleep that night, Sam succumbed to his infection. They discovered him the following morning and Henry was left with no choice but to kill him. In HBO's The Last of Us, Sam is portrayed by Keivonn Woodard. Woodard is deaf, which will carry over into his role as Sam and potentially make the character's story more heartbreaking.
9 Jesse Would Do Anything For His Friends
Jesse was a character introduced in The Last of Us Part II. He lived in Jackson and got along with most of the people there. Despite dating Dina shortly before she got together with Ellie, he was close friends with both of them throughout Part II.
Jesse also looked up to Joel and was among the Jackson residents who pursued Abby in Seattle. Many players liked Jesse and were devastated when Abby killed him. Jesse left a lasting impact on both Dina and Ellie, as he's the father of Dina's baby. Dina named her son JJ, likely in honor of both Jesse and Joel.
8 Henry Loved His Brother More Than Anything
As Sam's older brother, Henry took care of him long before they met Ellie and Joel. In Pittsburgh, Henry and Sam stayed in a building to hide from raiders. They planned to meet up with members of their group and a rendezvous point. When Joel entered the building, Henry attacked Joel, believing him to be a threat.
Once the two of them understood they didn't want to hurt each other, Henry and Joel agreed to team up and protect the children together. However, after Sam became infected, Henry was devastated and killed him. He then turned his gun on himself, blaming Joel for what had happened with his final breath. In HBO's The Last of Us, Henry is portrayed by Lamar Johnson, known for roles in The Hate U Give and The Next Step.
7 Riley Was Ellie's Friend And Love Interest
Riley was a friend and love interest of Ellie's, who died before the original game took place. Riley starred in the Left Behind DLC and the prequel American Dreams comics. Riley had become a Firefly at a young age, making it difficult to make contact with Ellie. However, when she was about to be assigned to a different location far away, Riley found Ellie one last time and took her to the mall.
Though Ellie and Riley had fun at first, things got a lot worse when a group of runners bit them. Riley died shortly after. Meanwhile, Ellie discovered she was immune. In HBO's The Last of Us, Riley is portrayed by Storm Reid, who is known for roles in Euphoria and When They See Us.
6 Lev Is One Of The Kindest Characters Despite Losing Everything He Had
Introduced in The Last of Us Part II, Lev was a Seraphite born as "Lily." After revealing that he was a boy, Lev's mother disowned him and the Seraphites targeted him, as well as his older sister, Yara. As the siblings fought against their former people, they encountered Abby, who was on the verge of being executed by the Seraphites.
Lev, Yara, and Abby worked together to escape. Abby felt indebted to Lev and Yara and sought to save Yara from her injuries and help the siblings escape from Seattle. However, Yara was later killed. Lev aided Abby throughout Part II as the two formed a bond similar to Joel and Ellie's. In turn, Lev convinced Abby to become a better person.
5 Tess Sacrificed Herself For Ellie And Joel
After Sarah died, Joel closed himself off from most people. However, he had a good friendship with Tess, who was a main character in the beginning of The Last of Us. While Joel originally wanted nothing to do with Ellie, Tess agreed to bring her to the Fireflies. During their journey, Tess became infected, and her final wish was for Joel to help Ellie get to the Fireflies. While Joel and Ellie didn't want to leave Tess behind, she convinced them to go and sacrificed herself to give them time to escape the soldiers chasing after them.
If not for Tess' kindness, Joel wouldn't have gotten close to Ellie, and he wouldn't have become a better man for it. In HBO's The Last of Us, Tess is portrayed by Anna Torv who is known for roles in Fringe and Mindhunter. Tess received a little more depth in the HBO adaptation, and viewers got to experience her last stand in action. Although, in the show version, it was Infected and not soldiers Tess had to worry about.
4 Tommy Helped Everyone He Could
Joel's brother Tommy is featured heavily in both The Last of Us games. Tommy was a member of the Fireflies before moving to Jackson and building the settlement that would flourish. Tommy and Joel were once on bad terms, however, the two bother reconciled. After Joel's death, Tommy left his home and wife, Maria, behind in order to avenge his brother.
Ellie, Dina, and Jesse followed Tommy, and the four of them fought WLF. However, after Abby and Lev severely injured him, Tommy couldn't physically fight back anymore, despite wanting to get his revenge more than anything. In HBO's The Last of Us, Tommy is portrayed by Gabriel Luna who is known for roles in Terminator: Dark Fate and as Ghost Rider in Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
3 Dina Was An Incredibly Supportive Girlfriend
Even though she'd broken up with Jesse days before the beginning of The Last of Us Part II, Dina was Ellie's girlfriend throughout most of the game. Dina was incredibly supportive of Ellie, wanting to help her girlfriend get her revenge, despite being pregnant and having to leave her home. They were able to kill most of the WLF members, but they weren't able to kill Abby.
Dina hoped that Ellie would be able to move on with her life as they raised JJ together. When Ellie couldn't let go of the past, the two of them went their separate ways. While some fans think they broke up completely, others theorized they rekindled their relationship by the end of Part II. Hopefully, fans get confirmation of what Dina is up to in a potential third installment or in a later season of HBO's The Last of Us.
2 Ellie Is A Great Main Character
Ellie is at the center of The Last of Us. Despite growing up in a cruel world, Ellie tried to look at things in a positive way as a child, causing many to like her. She hoped the Fireflies could come up with a cure through her and was disappointed when Joel took her away from them, not knowing the reason why. Over the years, Ellie suspected he was hiding the truth from her, and once she found out that he had stopped the Fireflies from coming up with a cure, she was outraged.
However, once Joel was murdered, Ellie embarked on a dark path, doing everything she could to avenge the man who was like a father to her. From the happy child in the first game to the angry fighter in the second, Ellie remains one of the most popular characters in The Last of Us. In HBO's The Last of Us, Ellie is portrayed by Bella Ramsey, who is known for their role as Lady Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones. Ramsey's portrayal of Ellie has received high praise from critics and fans alike.
1 Joel Was A Great Father And Many Fans Were Devastated By His Death
Joel was the main character of the original The Last of Us and played a key role in Part II. After losing his daughter, Sarah, Joel mostly kept to himself for years. Joel later learned to love again throughout his travels with Ellie. While he was instructed to give her over to the Fireflies so they could find a cure for the infection, he wouldn't let them have her because he knew Ellie would die if he did.
Joel lied to Ellie for years, saying that she wouldn't be able to help them find a cure. Once she found out the truth, she wanted nothing to do with him, ending their beloved partnership. However, Joel and Ellie committed to moving forward and reconciling the night before Joel's devastating death. In HBO's The Last of Us, Joel is portrayed by Pedro Pascal, who is known for roles in Game of Thrones and The Mandalorian. Pascal's Joel has already left a positive impression on viewers through his performance during Sarah's tragic death and his interactions with Ramsey's Ellie.