John "Scottie" Ferguson (James Stewart)--a retired police detective who suffers from vertigo. Scottie agrees to shadow the wife of a college chum and falls in love with her.
	Madeleine Elster (Kim Novak)--the suicidal wife of Gavin Elster. She believes she is possessed by the spirit of her mad ancestor, Carlotta. Her husband hires Scottie to shadow her.
	Judy Barton (Kim Novak)--a shopgirl with an uncanny resemblance to Madeleine. After Madeleine dies, Scottie becomes obsessed with turning Judy into Madeleine.
	Midge (Barbara Bel Geddes)--a commercial artist and Scottie's former fiancee. She tries to help Scottie after he becomes afflicted with vertigo.
	Gavin Elster (Tom Helmore)--the college chum of Scottie. He hires Scottie to tail Madeleine.
	Carlotta--the beautiful but deranged ancestor of Madeleine. We only see her in a painting, but her presence hangs over the movie.