Ripley
Ripley is the protagonist of the film. She has survived the first encounter with the aliens and is recruited by Burke to destroy the aliens on LV-426. She comes to find out that she's been tricked and that Burke is there to bring back alien eggs to study on earth. She protects the young Newt who is the lone survivor of the colony and kills the Queen alien. She survives to enter hypersleep with Newt and Hicks.
Hicks
Hicks is a Marine Corporal and second in command. Once the Lieutenant is killed, he takes over and willingly yields to Ripley who has fought the species of aliens before. He risks his life to save Newt and Ripley from the face hugger and is one of the survivors of the colony mission.
Burke
Burke works for Weyland-Yutani corporation and has coordinated the mission to colony LV-426. He tells Ripley that they are going to destroy the aliens but the truth is he wants to bring back eggs to study on earth. He betrays Ripley by putting a face hugger in the room while she and Newt are sleeping and locks the door in order to have the alien put eggs into them. He cowardly locks himself in the medical bay leaving everyone else to die only to be killed by an alien that is in there with him.
Bishop
Bishop is an artificially intelligent being. He is on board to serve the mission and more specifically to serve Burke who has told him not to destroy any eggs. He risks great harm when he tunnels to another part of the colony in order to get the ship to come save the crew before the nuclear reactor destroys them all. He is ripped in half by the Queen but survives.
Newt
Newt is the lone survivor on colony LV-426. She is a mere child and Ripley fiercely protects her. Burke attempts to have a face hugger implant eggs into her and Ripley but they are save by Hicks. Newt is protected from the Queen by Ripley who kills it. Newt is one of the survivors of the colony.
Hudson
Hudson is a Marinal Private who is cocky going into the mission, but soon finds the enemy they are up against is not one to take lightly. He makes a brave stand against the alien onslaught at the end of the film but is killed in his attempt to destroy them.
