character vs hero

character and hero both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
character	Yes	No	Yes	No
hero	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, hero is a hyponym of character; that is, hero is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than character:

Other hyponyms of character include bit part, minor role, heavy, ingenue, name part, title role, heroine, baddie, villain.

character (noun)	hero (noun)
(genetics) an attribute (structural or functional) that is determined by a gene or group of genes	the principal character in a play or movie or novel or poem
the inherent complex of attributes that determines a persons moral and ethical actions and reactions	a large sandwich made of a long crusty roll split lengthwise and filled with meats and cheese (and tomato and onion and lettuce and condiments); different names are used in different sections of the United States
a characteristic property that defines the apparent individual nature of something	a person distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
an actor's portrayal of someone in a play	someone who fights for a cause
a written symbol that is used to represent speech	(classical mythology) a being of great strength and courage celebrated for bold exploits; often the offspring of a mortal and a god
a formal recommendation by a former employer to a potential future employer describing the person's qualifications and dependability
a person of a specified kind (usually with many eccentricities)
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
good repute

character (verb)	hero (verb)
engrave or inscribe characters on