Plumfield residents • Josephine "Jo" Bhaer (
Michelle Rene Thomas): One of the eponymous
Little Woman, Jo is now a young widow following the death of her husband Fritz. She vows to keep her husband's school open, though many feel that she should close it down. She has one son, Rob. Jo often reminisces about her childhood with her sisters, Meg, Amy, and the late Beth. She remains close to her living relatives who continue to support her. • Nicholas "Nick" Riley (Spencer Rochfort): A merchant marine who comes to work at Plumfield. After he is arrested for assaulting Emil's uncle, Jo arranges for him to serve his sentence at Plumfield. He later decides to stay on permanently as the school's caretaker. Nick had a rough childhood after his parents died in an influenza epidemic when he was twelve. He stayed with his uncle who was abusive towards his wife. At fifteen, he went on his first sea voyage. In "Philanthropy", Nick reveals that he cannot read and Jo begins teaching him. • Dan Maddison (
Corey Sevier): A sponsored student who was once homeless living on the streets of Boston. He survived by partnering with Jasper (Jason McSkimming) and later Nat. In "Tough Crimes", Jasper comes to Plumfield to take Dan to California. Dan soon learns that his friend is an irredeemable criminal and remains at school. • Nathaniel "Nat" Blake (
Trevor Blumas): Dan's best friend. Like Dan, he is a sponsored student. They were homeless together in Boston. Nat tends to be cautious and nervous, though he is capable of great acts of bravery in times of need. • Anthea "Nan" Harding (
Britt Irvin): Jo's first female student. After her mother's death, Nan was unhappy and often ran away from home, which lead her father to send her to Plumfield. A tomboy, she does not get along with the prim and proper Bess at first. They eventually become friends. • Elizabeth "Bess" Laurence (
Rachel Skarsten): Amy and Laurie's only child. Her mother has molded her into an elegant and refined young lady, but her father worries that she has no spirit from spending too much time indoors and not enjoying life. • Emil Hoffman (Alex Campbell): A student at Plumfield who hopes to be a sailor someday. His uncle pulls him out of Plumfield against Emil's wishes. He returns after his uncle beats him when he refuses to go to military school. • Asia (
Sandra Caldwell): The resident housekeeper of Plumfield who handles most of the cooking. She is firm but kind with the students. In return, they respect her advice and admonishments. • Franz Bhaer (
Robin Dunne): Jo and Fritz's nephew. He starts teaching at Plumfield after his uncle's death. Franz is accepted into Harvard, but delays his enrollment until Plumfield can obtain another teacher. In "Tough Crimes", he decides to remain the school's permanent teacher. • Thomas "Tommy" Bangs (Matt Robinson): A student at Plumfield. Tommy occasionally gets into minor scrapes such as in "Philanthropy". • Rob Bhaer (
Munro Chambers/Thomas Chambers): Jo's young son with her late husband. • Jack Ford (
Dov Tiefenbach)
Recurring • Margaret "Meg" Brooke (Jennifer Wigmore): Jo's sister who supports her emotionally after Fritz's death. She mourns the death of her own husband, John, who died some years previously. Meg is also the mother of twins. • Amy Laurence (
Amy Price-Francis: Jo's sister with whom she is sometimes at odds. In "Thanksgiving", Amy returns to America with her husband Laurie and daughter Bess. She sends Bess to Jo's school, though she is opposed to it at first. • Theodore "Laurie" Laurence (
Dan Chameroy): Amy's husband and father of Bess. He worries that Bess has no spirit and sends her to his sister-in-law's school in "Thanksgiving". Laurie is always there to help Jo and her school, including sending a library in "Philanthropy". • Isaac (Michael Oliphant): An African-American boy who used to be a slave in Georgia with his parents Ruth (Arlene Duncan) and Josiah (Desmond Campbell). Jo helps the family settle in Concord and takes Isaac on as a student. ==Episodes==