Death Be Not Proud: Character List

Johnny

Johnny is the subject of Death Be Not Proud. He is a sensitive, intelligent, selfless, courageous teenager who battles a brain tumor. His parents are John Gunther and Frances.

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John Gunther

Gunther is Johnny's father and is divorced from Frances. He is the author of Death Be Not Proud. His works as a journalist, and over the course of the memoir, he writes a book.
Frances

Frances is Johnny's mother and the divorced wife of Gunther. Gunther says that Johnny inherits his intellectual and emotional maturity from her. She is more intimate with him than Gunther.

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Dr. Traeger

Traeger is the family physician who advises the Gunthers on Johnny's condition.
Dr. Max Gerson

Gerson is a doctor whose unorthodox methods of treating illnesses are based on a controversial diet.
Dr. Tracy Putnam

Putnam is a specialist in tumors. He is a sensitive man who comes to love Johnny.
Dr. Lester Mount

Putnam's assistant. Mount helps Johnny throughout his illness.
Dr. Wilder Penfield

A renowned brain surgeon who operates on Johnny.
Dr. Harvey Cushing

Preeminent brain surgeon who was the first to open the skull to remove tumors.
Dr. Hahn

A neurologist who identifies Johnny's tumor at Deerfield.
Dr. Johnson

The Deerfield doctor who takes Johnny into the infirmary because of his stiff neck and suspects something worse.
Mr. Boydon

The kindly headmaster of Deerfield.
Mr. Weaver

An older neighbor in the country and chemistry teacher at Andover who helps Johnny with his ammonia experiment.