History Main / GentlemanThief

* ''VideoGame/SlyCooper'' is a cartoonish, [[TalkingAnimal raccoon]], video game equivalent. He even has his own WorthyOpponent in the form of Carmelita Fox, with whom {{UST}} is a pronounced, recurring theme.

* Literature/ArseneLupin in the series of short stories and books written by Maurice Leblanc between 1905 and 1939, and in five additional volumes written by Boileau-Narcejac in the 1970s, is a GentlemanThief who moonlights as a detective. He was the precursor of [[Manga/LupinIII Arsène Lupin III]], and is pretty much the TropeNamer, as the first collection of short stories on the character is called ''Arsène Lupin: Gentleman Cambrioleur'' (Arsène Lupin: Gentleman Burglar). He's also the TropeCodifier, exhibiting many of the tropes associated with this trope and PhantomThief: {{Calling Card}}s, being a MasterOfDisguise, announcing his crimes ahead of time, fighting evil criminals and displaying a general romantic attitude.

Like the ClassyCatBurglar, the GentlemanThief usually regards the police with a certain amount of disdain and condescension, and frequently leaves behind "{{calling card}}s" announcing who performed the crime; especially confident versions may announce their targets in advance to ensure a challenge. With a WorthyOpponent, they may have a less adversarial relationship, verging at times on friendship (and when the opponent is of the opposite gender, fraught with {{UST}} of the DatingCatwoman variety). They're usually a BadassInANiceSuit, occasionally doing the TuxedoAndMartini look. As he may not enjoy ''actual'' risks, the GentlemanThief may decide that gambling is beneath him and [[FixingTheGame cheat instead]]. Expect him to do so with sophistication. If he does gamble, expect him to be almost supernaturally lucky, or a tournament-grade player without peers. In many cases, they steal because they can and for the thrill, not out of an actual monetary need (since they are often rich) -- though it may be a way to stave off RichBoredom. This is also why they will never give up thievery for simple gambling.

* Nick Wells (Robert De Niro) in ''TheScore''. He even owns a jazz club.

* [[CloudCuckooLander Pinkie Pie]] describes Donut Joe as a GentlemanThief expy of James Bond when she accuses him of eating the desserts on the train. ItMakesSenseInContext. Twilight Sparkle is ''very'' quick to correct her.

* Eames in ''Film/{{Inception}}''.

* Robert De Niro's character in ''{{Heat}}'', Neil [=McCauley=], is a somewhat more realistic version of the GentlemanThief.
* Basically every protagonist in ''[[OceansEleven Ocean's 11]]'', ''Ocean's 12'', and ''Ocean's 13'', as well as the antagonist "Night Fox" Toulour, though to a lesser extent.
* The film version of ''The LeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen'' boasts the cheeky Cockney rogue Rodney Skinner, 'Genn'lemun Thief', as the Invisible Man, in lieu of the psychotic original Invisible Man, [[Literature/TheInvisibleMan Dr. Hawley Griffin]]. Skinner apparently stole Griffin's invisibility formula.
** He kind of [[SubvertedTrope fails at]] the whole [[LoveableSexManiac 'gentleman']] part. [[LoveableRogue But he's adorable anyway.]]

* Cobb from ChristopherNolan's low budget feature debut, ''{{Following}}''.
* Cobb from ChristopherNolan's later and slightly more expensive feature, ''{{Inception}}''.
* Hudson Hawk in ''HudsonHawk'', who sings showtunes to synchronize his robberies.

** He kind of [[SubvertedTrope fails at]] the whole [[LoveableSexManiac 'gentleman']] part. [[LoveableRogue But we like him anyway.]]

* Carlton Dial from ''FortuneHunter'' was a gentleman thief on the side of the angels.

* ''LupinIII'', [[Literature/ArseneLupin Lupin's grandson]], acts like this on the surface, but he always ends up revealing his awkward/goofy side, and, when it comes to women, he acts more like a drooling pervert than a smooth [[TheCasanova Casanova]].

* [[TheDCU DC subversion]]: the Gentleman Ghost may put on airs at times, but he's a highwayman through and through.

* What Colm from VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones grows into in his solo ending. If you get him to marry Neimi through supports, he gives it up to protect his new family.

* Daroach, leader of the eponymous gang of thieves in ''VideoGame/{{Kirby}}: Squeak Squad'', certainly gives off this vibe, what with the NiceHat and scepter. It's {{lampshade|Hanging}}d in a few of his hints in ''[[VideoGame/KirbyMassAttack Mass Attack]]''.

** And on a related note, we have the ''Recap/LupinIIIVsDetectiveConan'' anime special.

* Cobra from ''SpaceAdventureCobra'' is a gentleman thief in a SpaceOpera setting. Despite being one of the most wanted criminals of the galaxy, he ends up helping the Space Police and battling the Space Mafia more often than not.

* Cobra from ''Cobra Space Adventure'' is a gentleman thief in a SpaceOpera setting. Despite being one of the most wanted criminals of the galaxy, he ends up helping the Space Police and battling the Space Mafia more often than not.

* Simon Dermott in ''How to Steal a Million''.

* George Cooper and Rosto the Piper, from two of TamoraPierce's series, are both courteous and clever enough to qualify as gentlemen.

* Panamon Creel from ''Literature/TheSwordOfShannara'' does an amazing impression of one of these, yet at the core he's far more of an AffablyEvil [[TheHighwayman highwayman]] than he is one of these, and he knows it, putting on the act in an attempt at convincing himself that he hasn't wasted his life.

** Marvel also has Shen Kuei, aka "The Cat" (he evens has a tattoo of a cat on his chest), who is both this trope and a rare male example of the ClassyCatBurglar at times. He's not only a skilled thief, but he also has martial arts skills that rival his arch enemies, Shang-Chi and Iron Fist.

Like the ClassyCatBurglar, the GentlemanThief usually regards the police with a certain amount of disdain and condescension, and frequently leaves behind "{{calling card}}s" announcing who performed the crime; especially confident versions may announce their targets in advance to ensure a challenge. With a WorthyOpponent, they may have a less adversarial relationship, verging at times on friendship (and when the opponent is of the opposite gender, fraught with {{UST}} of the DatingCatwoman variety). They're usually a BadassInANiceSuit, occasionally doing the TuxedoAndMartini look. As he may not enjoy ''actual'' risks, the GentlemanThief may decide that gambling is beneath him and [[FixingTheGame cheat instead]]. Expect him to do so with sophistication. If he does gamble, expect him to be almost supernaturally lucky, or a a tournament-grade player without peers. In many cases, they steal because they can and for the thrill, not out of an actual monetary need (since they are often rich) -- though it may be a way to stave off RichBoredom. This is also why they will never give up thievery for simple gambling.

* Flambeau is a clever, strong, joking, and very tall jewel thief of the ''FatherBrown'' series by Creator/GKChesterton. His name means "''torch''" in French. He liked to use paradoxical disguises (as in "''The Queer Feet''"). After several encounters with Father Brown, he gave up crime and [[HeelFaceTurn reformed]].

* ComicBook/TheRiddler from ''{{Batman}}'', occasionally. His personality varies, actually.

* Michael Baffle was a one-shot [[TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] foe of ComicBook/{{Batman}} (and obvious {{Expy}} of ''Literature/{{Raffles}}'').

** And on a related note, we have the ''Lupin The 3rd vs. Detective Conan'' anime special.

[[quoteright:350:[[ArseneLupin http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/LupinBW_3875.jpg]]]]

* ''LupinIII'', [[ArseneLupin Lupin's grandson]], acts like this on the surface, but he always ends up revealing his awkward/goofy side, and, when it comes to women, he acts more like a drooling pervert than a smooth [[TheCasanova Casanova]].

* ArseneLupin in the series of short stories and books written by Maurice Leblanc between 1905 and 1939, and in five additional volumes written by Boileau-Narcejac in the 1970s, is a GentlemanThief who moonlights as a detective. He was the precursor of [[Manga/LupinIII Arsène Lupin III]], and is pretty much the TropeNamer, as the first collection of short stories on the character is called ''Arsène Lupin: Gentleman Cambrioleur'' (Arsène Lupin: Gentleman Burglar). He's also the TropeCodifier, exhibiting many of the tropes associated with this trope and PhantomThief: {{Calling Card}}s, being a MasterOfDisguise, announcing his crimes ahead of time, fighting evil criminals and displaying a general romantic attitude.

* Creator/AlfredHitchcock's ''ToCatchAThief'' follows John Robie (Cary Grant), a reformed GentlemanThief, as he attempts to discover who has been framing him for a new spate of burglaries. It turns out to be a ClassyCatBurglar.

* Gambit, from ''Comicbook/{{X-Men}}'': charms the ladies while taking their pocketbooks.

* Nicholas Valiarde/Donatien in ''The Death Of The Necromancer'' by Martha Wells.

* Nicholas Valiarde, a recurring character in Martha Wells's Literature/{{Ile-Rien}} series and the hero of the novel ''The Death of the Necromancer,'' is a master art thief from whom no wealthy collector's mansion is safe.

* Dennis Stanton, a RecurringCharacter in ''MurderSheWrote'', was a GentlemanThief in his first appearance, although in later appearances, he used his skills as an insurance investigator. He worked by three rules: he never steals from anyone who can't afford it, he never steals anything with sentimental value, and he makes sure that everything he steals is insured by the company who refused to pay for his late wife to have a lifesaving operation.

* ''Series/ItTakesAThief1968'' was about a second generation GentlemanThief who was caught and given the choice of prison or helping the government. He chose helping the government. Inspired by, though not based upon, the 1955 Cary Grant motion picture ''To Catch a Thief'' (see above). Notable for starring Robert Wagner as the thief and FredAstaire!!! as his father, who says at the start of every third season episode, "I've heard of stealing ''from'' the government, but stealing ''for'' the government?".

* Neal Caffrey from ''WhiteCollar'' fits this trope to a tee.
* Mamoru Chiba, aka Tuxedo Kamen, in the [[PrettyGuardianSailorMoon Live Action]] [[LiveActionAdaptation Adaptation]] of ''SailorMoon''.
* Steve [=McBride=], who is also known as a middle class thief ([[JamesMcAvoy James [=McAvoy's=]]] character in series 1-2 of ''{{Shameless}}'').

* ''InDeath'': you can be sure that Roarke became this as he became an adult. He is as suave as they come and is certainly an expert at stealing.
* Nicholas Valiarde, a recurring character in Martha Wells' ''{{Ile-Rien}}'' series and the hero of the novel "The Death of the Necromancer," is a master art thief from whom no wealthy collector's mansion is safe.
* Panamon Creel from ''TheSwordOfShannara'' does an amazing impression of one of these, yet at the core he's far more of an AffablyEvil [[TheHighwayman highwayman]] than he is one of these, and he knows it, putting on the act in an attempt at convincing himself that he hasn't wasted his life.

* In [[MonacoMine Monaco: What's Yours is Mine]] this role is filled (Naturally) by The Gentleman.