Arrow follows former playboy millionaire Oliver Queen, as he returns home after his suspected death five years earlier. Now he begins fighting injustice on the streets of Starling City (renamed Star City as of Season Four) as the masked vigilante The Arrow. The show centers on both his crime fighting life and his personal life, and it mainly features his closest associates ("Team Arrow") and other allies, as well as the criminal elements and lethal villains he faces off with.
This article lists every character to have appeared in at least two episodes, as well as every main character relative to have appeared on the show. Characters shaded in red are indicated as deceased.
The list is updated and complete as of "Green Arrow", the 70th episode, and Season Four premiere.
The main characters and their families
Oliver Queen's family
1 Including one episode where Oliver also appears as a child, played by Jacob Hoppenbrouwer.
Laurel Lance's family
1 Including one episode where Sara is played by Jacqueline MacInnes Wood.
Malcolm Merlyn's family
1 Including one episode where Tommy only appears as a child, played by Arien Boey.
John Diggle's family
Felicity Smoak's family
Roy Harper's family
Slade Wilson's family
Recurring criminals and antagonists
The List
During the first season, Oliver primarily went head-to-head with ruthless businessmen and other criminals whose names appeared on the list he had recieved from his dad.
The Church of Blood
During the second season, the main antagonists were the members of the Church of Blood, secretly acting out the plans of Slade Wilson.
1 Additionally, actor Douglas Chapman also appeared as an unrelated, unnamed, soldier in one episode.
The League of Assassins
During the third season, Oliver finds himself at odds with the deadly League of Assassins, as led by the legendary Ra's al Ghul.
1 Including one episode where Nyssa only appears as a child, played by Taylor Dianne Robinson.
The Suicide Squad
Officially named Task Force X, the Suicide Squad is a secret band of incarcerated criminals, who are given the chance to participate in high-risk missions for A.R.G.U.S., in exchange for reduced jail sentences.
1 The death of Ben Turner was not shown on the TV series, but instead told in the digital comics realeased as a companion to the series, entitled "Arrow: Season 2.5".
The Solntsevskaya Bratva
The Solntsevskaya Bratva is a powerful Russian mafia organization in which Oliver became a Captain, during the years he was believed dead.
The Triad
The Triad is a Chinese mafia organization.
Assorted villains
Recurring Arrow allies
Main characters of spin-off series The Flash.
A.R.G.U.S.
The Advanced Research Group United Support is a top secret division withing the US government, tasked with bringing down the world's most dangerous criminals.
Assorted allies
Additional Star City citizens
Star City Police
Judiciary
Politicians
Medical practice
News media
Assorted characters
Flashback exclusive characters
In addition to the show's main storylines, Oliver's life during his five years as presumed dead is shown in flashbacks. While some of the acquaintances made during this period returns to his life after his comeback to Starling City/Star City, others do not, and thus appear as flashback exclusive characters.
On Lian Yu
Introduced in Season One.
1 Additionally, actor Jeffrey Robinson also appeared as an unrelated, unnamed, soldier in one episode.
Aboard The Amazo
Introduced in Season Two.
In Hong Kong
Introduced in Season Three.
Actors appearing as multiple minor characters
Additionally, several actors, mostly stunt performers, have been credited for multiple, non recurring roles:
- Dexter Bell as a gangbanger, and a released criminal.
- Dalias Blake as a SWAT leader, and a bank guard.
- Tommy Europe as a security guard, and a prison guard.
- Kevin Haaland as a man, and Skel.
- Michael Kopsa as a prisoner, and a silhouetted man.
- Paul Lazenby as Mr. Robbins, a thug, and an inmate.
- Jaeson Lee as Cavanaugh, and a mercenary.
- Shaker Paleja as a technician, a middle eastern man, and an assassin.
- Darryl Quon as a tattooed man, and Shimosawa.
- Chad Riley as an ESU Officer, and a Los Halcones gang member.
- Patrick Sabongui as a street dealer, and a soldier.
- Jeff Sanca as a truck driver, and a thug.
- Wade Sun as a bodyguard and a waiter.
- John Wardlow as a middle aged man, and Adam Castwidth.
- Rhys Williams as a landmine soldier, a thug, and a security guard.
