Patrick Swayze as Darrell in the 1983 film
Darrel "Darry" Curtis Jr. is Sodapop and Ponyboy Curtis' oldest brother and a supporting character in The Outsiders. He seems cold and heartless to Ponyboy, but loves his brothers very much and does his best to protect and care for them since their parents died. He is also the unofficial leader of the Greasers.
Personality
Darry is, in short, a second father for his younger brothers. He loves them dearly, though has a bit of a weird way of showing it. Instead of being caring and understanding, he is stern and protective of them. However, this is only because he doesn't want to lose them to a boy's home.
He doesn't goof around often, though has been seen teasing Soda on occasion.
Ponyboy describes him as a young man who grew up too fast and as someone handling things no one his age should have to.
Darry is very intelligent and athletic. He wants Ponyboy to grow up well and go to college since that is an opportunity he and Soda, the middle brother, missed out on. He wishes that he could go back to college but won't because of financial problems and because he won't leave his younger brothers.