Tripping Over You

Cast

This page may contain spoilers!

Click a character’s name for a list of strips they appear in.



MILO DUNSTAN

Milo is outgoing and chatty, which makes him great with people— as long as he thinks before he speaks. Since he tends to have no filter, he often rehearses day-to-day social situations in his head beforehand as though they’re an acting role he can prepare for, bluffing with self-confident bravado. He’s studying theatre and dance, but also works part time in his father's restaurant, at his mother's dance studio, and as a stagehand for a local theatre.

LIAM SCHWARTZ

Liam is introverted and wry. He has a tendency to choose comfort over change, often opting for letting others make big life decisions for him if it means he doesn't have to think about it. He's doing his best lately to to take control of his own life, while trying not to let himself stagnate as he overthinks what he should do. He distracts himself from the uncertainty of his future with too much coffee and the macabre— which, not surprisingly, makes him a little high-strung.

HEBERT DALTON

Hebert (sic) is an aspiring professional actor, and a classmate/colleague of Milo's. There's an ocean and five time-zone hours newly placed between himself and his sorely missed friends and family. As a result, he has a tendency to be slightly too desperate for human interaction. Some people find this trait to be somewhat off-putting. (Milo finds this trait to be somewhat off-putting.)

MATT DOOLEY

Matt shared a number of classes with Liam in their first year of law school. As an intelligent and well put-together student, Matt always did seem to be doing a great deal better than Liam in their classes. Liam found himself a little envious of Matt, thinking of him as a standard of success that Liam himself couldn't quite measure up to. Now Matt has started showing up in Liam's life again, and Liam still can't seem to stop comparing himself.

JOJO SCHWARTZ

Liam's pet cat. Jojo was born without eyes, which is exactly the reason why young Liam was drawn to the eerie kitten. Despite his lack of sight, Jojo seems to have no trouble getting into things he's not supposed to.

RORY AND FRIENDS

Rory T. Lion is the main character of "Rory and Friends," a classic children's book that was popularized by a 90's cartoon series and several movies. Milo thinks Rory and the gang are really cute— until someone asks him about it. Then he's clearly too old for Rory. Or his friends Tip Tap, Giraffer, and the rest.



FAMILY

NORA SINCLAIR

Milo's mother. While Nora aspired to be an actress and a dancer once upon a time, her career was cut short by Milo's unexpected arrival. She traded university for a job and started her family at 18 years old— and was divorced 11 years later. She's remarried and has a new baby girl with her new husband, but she can't help being a little bitter toward her ex. (Especially when Dylan remains bitter, himself.)

SYLVIA SINCLAIR

Sylvia is Milo's new half-sister, the daughter of his mother Nora and her new husband, Roger. While Milo's not yet fully come to terms with where he stands in mother's new life and new family dynamic, it's pretty hard for him not to find Sylvia cute.

ROGER SINCLAIR

Well connected and affluent, Roger Sinclair is a big name talent agent. He's also been Milo's agent since Milo was a child. It's a little unclear whether Nora and Roger started seeing each other before or after Roger began working on Milo's behalf. Either way, Milo isn't particularly thrilled about his mother's new husband (despite being hesitant to cut his own nose to spite his face).

DYLAN DUNSTAN

Dylan is Milo's father. Despite having been a dad for half his young life, he often acts like he’s still trying to figure out how to be a parent. As a result, he often treats Milo more like a brother than a son. He’s laid back and cares deeply for his children, but he can be sarcastic and bitter at times— especially when it comes to his ex-wife. He owns an upscale French restaurant downtown.

MOLLY AND MINA DUNSTAN

Milo's younger twin sisters. They lived with their mother after their parents' divorce, and saw Milo less often than they would have liked growing up. When they see him now, they latch on to him— or better yet, latch on to his boyfriend, Liam. Molly is the curly-haired and more upbeat of the pair; Mina entered her edgy teenager phase early. (They wouldn't be thrilled to share a cast page slot, but here we are.)

ELI SCHWARTZ

Eli is Liam's father; he’s a strict and conservative lawyer. As an aging single father of a son he struggles to relate to, he's often thoroughly disapproving of the choices Liam makes, and isn't shy about letting his son know about it. Liam spends a great deal of energy trying to stay on good terms and to avoid upsetting his father, but often walks away disappointed after they’ve stubbornly butt heads. Living apart has given their relationship new context, however; no longer feeling responsible for where Liam is has given Eli a better vantage point to think of Liam as his own person.

RIVA SCHWARTZ

Riva was Liam's mother, and Eli's late wife of 31 years. She died unexpectedly one summer at the age of 51, when Liam was only 11— leaving he and Eli confused about how to relate to each other in a world she no longer was a part of. Liam started boarding school in the fall, and therapy the following spring. Liam hesitates to talk about his mother, and seems uncomfortable when Eli wishes she were around to help him understand things when he's struggling; Liam was old enough to remember how much she struggled, too.

ALFONS SCHWARTZ

Alfons is Liam's older cousin on his father’s side, and the black sheep of the family. Alfons ran away at 18 years old to pursue a career in doing absolutely nothing. His talent for music and his friendly nature pays his way in life— while he depends on the hospitality of whoever he can sucker into sheltering him.



MENTORS

THEODORE ATWATER

As an established writer with a few books under his belt, Teddy was put in touch with Liam to become his writing mentor. They "have a lot in common," according to their mutual editor— and while Liam thinks that might have been intended as a bit of a drag, he likes Teddy enough to take it as an enormous compliment. 

LAURENCE "LAURIE" GREEN

Laurence Green has been the voice actor for Rory (of Rory and Friends fame) since the 90's. Milo's grown up idolizing him— and now that he may even have a chance to work with Laurie, he's extra motivated to be impressive around someone he already looks up to.

EVELYN BRIDGES, EDITOR

Liam's editor and liaison to his new publishing house. She's very pleasant, so it's not her fault at all that Liam is terrified of her and can't seem to slip out of imposter syndrome any time he meets with her. She's asked him to call her Evie, and he absolutely never will.

DR. DORIS FRIEND, PSY.D.

After ending his therapeutic relationship with Dr. John, Liam did a bit of shopping around for a psychologist he felt more comfortable seeing. Liam knew Dr. Doris Friend was going to be a good fit when she cracked a dry joke about having married her husband only for his surname. She does Liam the kindness of chuckling at his jokes before dismantling his deflection.



SCHOOL FRIENDS

KAT DRESCHER

Kat's an emotional rock - nothing really seems to phase her. Her calm presence makes people think she’s good at giving relationship and life advice, and she finds herself not minding the mothering role she takes on for her friends. She's infrequently seen without her "best friend" (with benefits), Penny O'Neil.

PENNY O'NEIL

Penny, despite being a little bit of a social recluse, has a pretty good understanding of the way people work. She's developed a skill for taking advantage of situations that can be turned in her favour— though it's not always clear what she plans to do with all of that favour. Kat seems to be the only person she’s sincerely close to.

ARCHIE BAST

Archie is Liam's best friend and former college roommate. Despite often seeming caught up in his own worries and anxieties (and despite having more than his fair share of them), he's more observant than people tend to give him credit for. He's also a great deal more understanding. [Archie’s creator: Galen & their webcomic ♥]

ALLY MAYFARE

Ally was a friend of Milo's in college. She's friendly and upbeat, but with a temper a mile wide if she feels she (or a friend) is insulted. She has an unquenchable thirst for Liam’s friend, Archie. As an amateur actress and a member of their college theatre club, she made up one leg of the Nerd Herd. [Ally’s creator: Ally]

ANTONIA "TONI" LUCCI

An aspiring professional actress and dancer. She was assigned to be Milo's partner by their university professor, making their professional relationship a little awkward as they try to become accustomed to each other. It helps that they're vaguely familiar with each other from previous dance classes in their childhood.

NOEL LAROQUE

Noel doesn't know what it means to not get her way. Her family is very wealthy and of influential social standing. Under her frosty exterior and her stubborn opinions (which she shares relentlessly), she has a warm heart for anyone who treats her with respect and kindness. Liam has always been a little enamoured with her; she's never been shy to call him out on his nonsense, and he appreciates that about her very much.

SEYMOUR WRIGHT

Seymour was in theatre with Milo, Ally, and Viola when they went to school together. Milo was always a little jealous that Seymour had gotten the lead in one of their very last college plays, but even Milo has to admit that it was pretty fitting that he shared the character's first name. (And disposition.)

CHLOE RANDOLPH

Chloe is just too nice. She lives in her own little bubble— and has a tendency to be self-absorbed inside of it. She's bubbly and friendly, and always tries to look on the bright side of things - which makes you wonder if there’s some hidden wild side that exists under all that positivity. Archie once had an enormous crush on her that she seemed to never quite notice, even after having been on a date with him.

RICHARD "DICK" MARRE

Dick is a man's man. He's got your back in any situation. Unfortunately, his idea of "having your back" is usually to be loud and overbearing, which is a lot more like pounding you in the back with a sledgehammer than "having" it.

VIOLA BUTLER

Vi is one of Milo's friends from college and a former member of the Nerd Herd. She's confident in the sort of way that doesn’t have to be pumped up artificially - a state of being that Milo could only aspire to and admire in his friend. She’s quick with a friendly jab when she catches her friends contradicting themselves. She loves making up nonsensical nicknames. [Vi’s creator: Tabs]



AND THE REST

THE LANDLADY

The owner of Milo and Liam's first flat. She's not the most forthcoming and tends to sugarcoat the worst of the flat's flaws, but to her credit, her building has had hardly any fires lately.

THE REDHEAD

(One of?) Dylan's girlfriend(s?); Dylan sometimes travels abroad to visit her. Milo's not sure he wants to know who she is, especially given his current family situation is complicated enough for him as it is now.

MR. RENARD

Mr. Renard owns a local theatre, and employs Milo there as a favour to Roger Sinclair. He's eccentric and jovial, but he can be very shrewd in analyzing how useful others can actually be to him - especially when it comes to acting. He doesn't seem to see much promise in Milo as a stage actor, but he's certainly put him to work as a stage hand.

DR. JOHN KHOLBERG, PSY.D.

Liam's first therapist is an old friend of Liam's parents, Eli and Riva. Liam began seeing Dr. John Kholberg as a patient shortly after Liam's mother died. He found Dr. John's tendency to share the details of his psychiatric meetings with his father invasive, even though it took him a while to do something about it. It didn't help that Dr. Kholberg's stern therapy style didn't abate Liam's discomfort with him, either.

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