Character Relationship Map: On the Beach

Characters

• Dwight Towers (played by Gregory Peck) — protagonist

  Dwight Towers is the American commander of the USS Sawfish, placed under Australian naval command after the Northern Hemisphere is destroyed. He leads the investigation of the mysterious Morse signal,...

• Moira Davidson (played by Ava Gardner) — supporting

  Moira Davidson is a lonely alcoholic in Melbourne who falls deeply in love with Dwight Towers. She helps him enjoy the final days by arranging an early trout season and joining him in the countryside,...

• Julian Osborn (played by Fred Astaire) — supporting

  Julian Osborn is a depressive nuclear scientist who helped build the weapons that caused the apocalypse. He travels with Dwight Towers and Peter Holmes on the mission to investigate the Morse signal,...

• Lt. Peter Holmes (played by Anthony Perkins) — supporting

  Lt. Peter Holmes is a young Australian naval officer assigned as Dwight Towers's liaison. He brings Dwight into his home life with Mary Holmes, serves aboard the USS Sawfish during the failed investig...

• Lt. Cmdr. Farrel (played by Guy Doleman) — supporting
• Mary Holmes (played by Donna Anderson) — supporting

  Mary Holmes is Peter Holmes's wife and the mother of their infant child. Her family life briefly contrasts with the approaching radiation disaster, while her religious faith leads her to ask God for f...

• Ralph Swain (played by John Meillon) — supporting
• Lt. Sunderstrom (played by Harp McGuire) — supporting
• Lt. Benson (played by Ken Wayne) — supporting
• Lt. Hosgood (played by Lola Brooks) — supporting
• Ackerman (played by Joe McCormick) — supporting
• Dr. King (played by Kevin Brennan) — minor
• Bill Davidson (played by Lou Vernon) — minor

  Bill Davidson is identified through the family setting as Moira Davidson's father. His country farm becomes the place where Moira reunites with Dwight Towers after the submarine's investigation, allow...

• Adm. Bridie (played by John Tate) — minor