About

William H. Macy as Frank Gallagher, the patriarch of the Gallagher family and father to Fiona, Lip, Ian, Carl, Debbie and Liam. He is an alcoholic and chronically unemployed, instead making money through various scams. He is a narcissist and cares only about his next drink or drugs, often endangering or abandoning his children to fulfill his own needs. Despite being egocentric, Frank does love his children and at times proves himself a better parent.

Emmy Rossum as Fiona Gallagher, the feisty, street-smart eldest Gallagher sibling, who raises the children on her own due to Frank and Monica's neglect, and eventually becomes their legal guardian. She struggles with addiction, impulsive behavior and self-destructive tendencies. (seasons 1-9)

Jeremy Allen White as Philip "Lip" Gallagher, the oldest Gallagher son and the second oldest Gallagher child, who is highly intelligent, and he also takes care of the parental duties. Like his father, he suffers from alcohol addiction. In season 10, he becomes a father and is a motorcycle repairman.

Cameron Monaghan as Ian Gallagher, the second oldest brother. Strong-hearted, persistent, and goofy, he is gay and engages in an on-and- off relationship with Mickey, whom he later marries in season 10. Like his mother Monica, he struggles with bipolar disorder.

Emma Kenney as Debbie Gallagher, the strong-willed youngest Gallagher daughter, who becomes a mother at age 15. She later comes out as a lesbian and dates Sandy Milkovich, the cousin to Mandy and Mickey. She displays extreme abandonment issues due to her parents' treatment which causes her to be clingy and erratic with her romantic relationships. As an adult, she becomes a freelance welder.

Ethan Cutkosky as Carl Gallagher, the third Gallagher brother, who has a tendency for troublemaking as a child, and goes to juvenile prison as a teenager, but grows up to be a policeman after witnessing a murder and wanting to help the poor.

Christian Isaiah as Liam Gallagher, the mixed-race youngest Gallagher child whose true parentage is ambiguous. As the youngest child, his care is a key priority for his older siblings throughout the series. (seasons 9-11; recurring season 8)

Shanola Hampton as Veronica "V" Fisher, Fiona's best friend and neighbor, who lives with her husband Kevin and, later, their twin daughters. She and Kevin often help out the Gallaghers, being their only real adult role models.

Steve Howey as Kevin "Kev" Ball, Veronica's husband and the owner of the series' main and local bar The Alibi Room. He comes from a rough childhood as he was in the foster care system for the majority of his childhood life, but has an eccentric personality and is always goofy.

Noel Fisher as Mickey Milkovich, a violent and erratic member of the Milkovich family, who are neighbors of the Gallaghers. He is Ian's main love interest and later husband who eventually becomes estranged from his family due to their homophobic and white supremacist attitudes. He has an ex-wife, Svetlana, whom he was forced to marry by his homophobic father. They have a son.