History Main / LoveableRogue

%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=vejhdkgs1aqg15jhqx6w7j1x
%% Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread.
%%
[[quoteright:257:[[Webcomic/HarkAVagrant http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/loveable_rogue_6261.jpg]]]]

-> ''"Now; I did a job. Got nothing but trouble since I did it, not to mention more than a few unkind words as regard to my character. So let me make this abundantly clear: I do the job... and then I get paid. Go run your little world."''
-->-- '''Malcolm Reynolds''', ''Series/{{Firefly}}''

A person who breaks the law, for their own personal profit, but is nice enough and charming enough to allow the audience to root for them, especially if they [[ThouShaltNotKill don't kill]] or otherwise seriously harm anyone. It helps that none of their victims are anyone we know or that they've [[AssholeVictim made sure the audience knew they were jerks]], which makes it [[PayEvilUntoEvil "okay" to steal from them]].

Note that while morally a click below your average antihero in the sense that they might not be considered a hero at all, the Lovable Rogue is strongly associated with highly Idealistic series on the SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism, as Cynical series tend not to place value on the concept of a [[ScoundrelCode Code of Honor]], which is usually what makes the Loveable Rogue, well, lovable.

Their loyalties are often played with, particularly if they show up [[ComeWithMeIfYouWantToLive to rescue the hero]]. If they end up being the star of the show, expect a straight-arrow SupportingProtagonist to be the [[AudienceSurrogate audience viewpoint]] character. Complicating matters further is the fact that this person is usually chased by a SympatheticInspectorAntagonist.

A click ''above'' the LovableTraitor, who is definitely not a nice person, but wins by lowering the audience's expectations so much, that he charms them with a few token PetTheDog moments (which usually include helping the hero. It's amazing how much fans will overlook if they help the hero). Usually male, but female thieves tend to be considered Lovable Rogues by default.

And the [[RougeAnglesOfSatin g comes before the u]], ladies and gentlemen. That is, unless you're talking about [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Rouge the Bat]], who [[AccidentalPun just happens to be]] a good example of this trope, [[MsFanservice in more ways than one.]] If the charming person is a villain instead of an AntiHero, then they are described as being AffablyEvil. The audience will usually ''not'' root for a villain, even if he or she is AffablyEvil. [[DesignatedVillain Usua]][[RootingForTheEmpire lly.]]

See also GentlemanThief, KarmicThief, JustifiedCriminal and JustLikeRobinHood.

----
!!Examples

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* ''Franchise/LupinIII'' follows the exploits of the titular thief as he attempts to woo Fujiko (or any other attractive lady), and steal anything that amuses him. A bit less lovable in the manga, but often more of a rogue.
* Blue, from ''Manga/PokemonSpecial'', fits this description at first. She consistently cheats and lies, and shows absolutely no signs of a conscience or caring for anyone but herself, yet she and the main character manage to remain on almost friendly terms. She gets nicer and gives up thievery by the end of the first arc, but still keeps some loveable and roguish qualities.
* Androids 17 and 18 of ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' -- in the main timeline, at least. In Trunk's timeline, they're sociopathic killers.
* Ali al-Saachez from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00'' is a subversion; his men love him for his fun nature, and he ''does'' take care of them, often fighting Gundams by himself because he knows only he can match them in direct combat. However, he's also a BloodKnight who cares only for chaos and slaughter; if it's not him causing a civil war, it's making children kill their parents to prove their devotion to the cause, or just random murder for the sake of it.
* Most of the principal cast of ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'', especially Isaac and Miria.
* In ''Manga/FushigiYuugi'', the rough and brash thief Tasuki's first appearance consists of kidnapping the heroine Miaka, unleashing [[GoddamnedBats ghost wolves]] against the heroes who try to stop him, and later faking his own death to avoid joining the heroes. However, he later shows up to [[KillItWithFire save the heroes]] from zombies and becomes completely dedicated to their cause, to the point of nearly making a HeroicSacrifice on Miaka's behalf.
** Plus, the actual ''thieving'' of Tasuki's thief gang is easy to ignore, since they border on being ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything anyway (except when they briefly serve as TheCavalry later in the series, which makes their thieving ''even easier'' to ignore).
* ''Manga/SpaceAdventureCobra'': Cobra. That is all.
* Dark in ''Manga/DNAngel'' most definitely fits this trope!
* ''Manga/InuYasha'': Miroku has no qualms about lying, drinking, womanizing, conning and stealing, being determined to enjoy life to its fullest, but he later shows that he's also loyal, wise, and is ready to help and protect others even with his own life. Although there is pressure on him to produce an heir that can avenge his death (and also inherit the same curse), his womanizing is an inherited character flaw. His grandfather's womanizing nature is what allowed his ArchEnemy to curse the family line in the first place. Miroku's flaws therefore run in the family.
* Dorian Gloria, the thief from ''Manga/FromEroicaWithLove'', who is essentially a gay Lupin III.
* [[Manga/MagicKaito Kaito]] [[Manga/DetectiveConan KID]].
* Nami from ''Manga/OnePiece'' is this at the beginning of the series, and still has bits and pieces of this personality as the story progresses.
** All of the Straw Hats are this to varying degrees, especially Luffy.
* Dirt from ''Webcomic/{{Magician}}'' though he a bit more roguish than loveable at the start.
* In ''Anime/YuGiOh'', Katsuya Jonouchi ran with a bunch of JapaneseDelinquents before he met Yugi.
* Favaro Leone of Anime/RageOfBahamutGenesis. He will ''eventually'' do the right thing, even if there's plenty of self-centered backstabbing in-between.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comics]]
* ''ComicBook/{{Hellblazer}}'': John Constantine sometimes qualifies -- if you're watching from a distance. If you're ''personally'' acquainted with him, you'd be more inclined to say that he is a prick, since sometimes his only goal is taking care of his own interests, and he can exploit others ruthlessly. But most of the time he's saving the world, which makes him an [[AntiHero anti-hero]].
* The snarky outcast drow rogue Downer, the protagonist of the comics ''Downer: Wandering Monster'' and ''Downer: Fool's Errand'' by Kyle Stanley Hunter (formerly published in DUNGEON Magazine). A down on his luck "proven loser" who survives by his wit, quick tongue, quick blade and quick reflexes (and mainly by running the hell away when outnumbered, unless he's sufficiently pissed off that he decides to indulge his inner {{Badass}} and take on a whole bunch of enemies by himself). Although he considers himself an "evil bastard" who puts his own survival first and claims he's "always prepared to be screwed over by his friends", Downer has demonstrated [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold amazing loyalty to friends]] and guild mates on several occasions, and he always pays back his debts. Downer's brother Aristide claims Downer is a "jerk", but then, Aristide is more of a typical drow (read: selfish and cruel) and his viewpoint is questionable. By the end of ''Fool's Errand'', Downer's status has been firmly updated to AntiHero.
* Subverted with Jack from ''ComicBook/{{Fables}}'' and its spin-off ''Jack of Fables." He starts out like this but get to know him long enough and like the tpb character introductions state he is the "lovable rogue" without the "lovable" part.
** From the same series is [[CunningLikeAFox Reynard the Fox]], who appears as one, who seems to have a self-serving agenda, but then genuinely appears to just want to help. He even points out that being self-serving and helping others are goals that complement each other.
* The Black Fox, a GentlemanThief foe of Franchise/SpiderMan, has this vibe going for him. So much so that Spider-Man actually lets him escape from their first few encounters because he just can't bring himself to send the Fox to jail.
* ComicBook/{{Gambit}} is made of this trope. He's a very charming thief.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fanworks]]
* Lampshaded in the ''Manga/DeathNote'' fic ''FanFic/ACureForLove'' when L indirectly calls Light one... [[ItMakesSenseInContext to his face.]] Mello and Matt better qualify.
* ''FanFic/AFarGreenCountry''. Elden is a deserter and a thief. Also, Durus and Surad are thieves. The story presents all three characters as protagonists: Elden became a thief for his own survival, and Durus and Surad become his allies.
* ''Fanfic/TheStrexFamily'' has an entire group of them--the "reverseverse Strexes"'s raison d'etre is basically "steal everything in site"
--> '''Miguel''': Gotta find my son! Gotta get out of--
--> '''Miguel''': (sees full cigar box)
--> '''Miguel''': (begins stuffing his pockets)
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* Definitely Disney/{{Aladdin}}, at least the [[Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon Disney version]].
* Esmeralda from ''Disney/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame''.
* ''WesternAnimation/SinbadLegendOfTheSevenSeas'' has Sinbad leading a troop of non-murderous pirates. They're just so awesome they don't need to kill. Except that one bit in the first scene where they did... but eh.
* Flynn Rider from ''Disney/{{Tangled}}'' certainly counts; he's dashing, funny and experiences the most CharacterDevelopment.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live Action]]
* Creator/DouglasFairbanks essentially invented this archetype for film and based his whole career on it: ''[[Film/TheThiefOfBagdad1924 The Thief of Baghdad]]'', ''Film/TheBlackPirate'', Robin Hood, The Three Musketeers, The Gaucho, ''Film/TheMarkOfZorro'', Don Juan, etc.
* TheArtfulDodger, in most film and stage versions. In the original book... not so much....
* Phil Moscowitz, the hero of the Creator/WoodyAllen comedy ''Film/WhatsUpTigerLily?'', who identifies himself as one when giving his name and occupation and whose lecherous behavior certainly fits the type.
* Daniel Dravot (Creator/SeanConnery) and Peachy Carnehan (Creator/MichaelCaine) from ''Film/TheManWhoWouldBeKing''. They're unscrupulous con men who set out to use modern weaponry and tactics to manipulate a small nation into appointing them kings, with the intent of making off with hoards of treasure, but for most of the film you can't help but root for them. This is very much a matter of AdaptationDistillation, since the original characters in the Kipling story are not particularly attractive, and Kipling doesn't pretend they are
* Han Solo from ''Franchise/StarWars''. He seems to be so lovable that all the pretty rotten things he has done seem so justifiable that they don't seem to sink in.
** Particularly in the Han Solo trilogy, but also in many other EU books, he has conned a number of people, smuggled what is basically the hardest spice (SW equivalent of drugs) available, stolen, forged government documents, entered Imperial services under a false ID, [[FakingTheDead faked his own death]], cheated at games of chance, betrayed several employers, led a picket ship on a chase that resulted in its complete destruction, bribed an Imperial officer, freed slaves (morally good, but technically illegal), led a raid on a former employer's base, resisted arrest a whole lot of times, kidnapped Leia, and killed numerous people (though all of them were at least directly or indirectly trying to kill him at the time). In some instances, these acts were justifiable by being morally good or because he didn't have any sort of choice, but in other cases they were purely selfish acts to get what he wanted.
** Essentially, the only two lines he consistently has shown is an unwillingness to kill anyone in cold blood and a refusal to take part a direct part in any type of slavery operation (he would work for slavers in other matters though).
** [[Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy Talon Karrde]] has been said by his creator to be based off of what Han Solo might have become in the years since the films, if he hadn't fallen for Leia. Karrde developed from there -- it's hard to imagine ''Solo'' running a large and well-organized smuggling/information brokering group -- but the basic idea is the same. He's NotInThisForYourRevolution, he has no love for the Empire but doesn't see the profit or point in open resistance, and he does have a sense of honor.
*** The audiobook version of ''Heir to the Empire'' even felt the need to give him a Spanish accent.
* Captain Jack Sparrow, from the ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'' movies, is a mix of this and MagnificentBastard. He has his own peculiar code of honor and is generally a protagonist, but is highly pragmatic and values his own skin over everyone else's.
---> '''Cdre Norrington''': You are without a doubt, the ''worst'' pirate I've ever heard of.
---> '''Cpt J. Sparrow''': But you ''have'' heard of me.
---> *after [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome the Captain's escape]]*
---> '''Lieutenant''': [[MagnificentBastard That's got to be the best pirate I've ever seen]].
---> '''Cdre Norrington''': So it would seem.
* The Dread Pirate Roberts from ''Film/ThePrincessBride''.
* Creator/ErrolFlynn in ''Film/CaptainBlood''. {{Pirate}}s are prone to being Loveable Rogues, apparently.
* Cpt. Louis Renault of ''Film/{{Casablanca}}'', although he [[HeelFaceTurn turns honest]] at the end.
* ''Film/RepoTheGeneticOpera'' has Grave-Robber, who is, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin obviously]], a graverobber. He's also a drug dealer who sleeps in a dumpster, but he is very, very loveable.
* Bob, the title character of ''Film/TheGoodThief''. Even the cop who's after him has a soft spot for the guy.
* The Man With No Name, as played by Creator/ClintEastwood in Creator/SergioLeone's ''Film/DollarsTrilogy'', is a con-man, a thief and a murderer, but dammit, he's just so cool with that poncho of his.
** [[TheGoodTheBadandtheUgly Tuco]] is even more roguish, and several times more lovable. A murderer, thief and alcoholic, but very personable.
* Rick O'Connell in ''Film/TheMummyTrilogy''. The fact that he started as a soldier in the [[LegionOfLostSouls French Foreign Legion]], until his unit was wiped out, only adds to his rogue status.
* ''Film/PlunkettAndMacleane'''s titular Macleane definitely fits the bill in spite of his thieving and gambling ways.
* Frank Skeffington, the [[SleazyPolitician crooked big-city machine politician]], is undoubtedly one of these in the movie version of ''Literature/TheLastHurrah''; he is ferociously loyal and would never desert a friend, and if he sometimes uses money or offices to secure political favors, he only does it to help out his constituents. He is slightly more overtly sympathetic in the film than in the book (see "Literature" section below).
* Abu in ''Film/TheThiefOfBagdad''.
* Eames in ''Film/{{Inception}}''.
* Rodney Skinner, in ''Film/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen''. A cheerfully self-acknowledged GentlemanThief, who stole the invisibility serum so that he ''could'' be the greatest thief in the world, he arguably emerges as the most loveable character in the whole movie. Bonus points for being [[spoiler:the ReverseMole]] and also for winning over fans of the graphic novel who were disgusted by his predecessor, original invisible man Hawley Griffin.
* Danny Ocean & Friends of ''Film/OceansEleven''. They're all charismatic in their own way, and everyone hates AssholeVictim Terry Benedict anyway.
* "Professor" Harold Hill, of ''Theatre/TheMusicMan'', is this, with a heavy emphasis on the Lovable part (since he's also TheCharmer).
* Private Hook in ''Film/{{Zulu}}''. Note artistic liberty here; the historical Private Hook was no malingerer, not in any way a disciplinary problem, and fought even more bravely in the battle than the film portrays him as doing. His surviving relatives walked out of the premiere when they saw how he'd been portrayed.
* Hachi in Film/{{Onibaba}}, though he's a pretty dark example, he's about as close as the movie gets to sympathetic.
* Creator/HughJackman's characters often use that trope, as in ''Film/{{X-Men}}'', ''Film/{{Swordfish}}'', or ''Film/VanHelsing''.
* BradPitt typically plays this type of character, such as ''Mr and Mrs Smith''.
* Stephen Bloom in "The Brothers Bloom". He's a con man who has no problems stealing money, blowing things up, and even occasionally being violent. He drinks, smokes, and swears. However, unless you try to hurt someone he cares about, he doesn't wish real harm on anyone. Stephen spends most of his life with one goal: taking care of the little brother he loves. In fact, the entire movie is a plot of Stephen's to find a way to make his brother happy.
* Frank Abagnale of ''Film/CatchMeIfYouCan'' (winningly played by Creator/LeonardoDiCaprio). He's a very clever young man who successfully passes for a lawyer, doctor, and airline pilot, whilst committing millions of dollars worth of check fraud. But he only does this because he sees no other prospects for himself; what he longs for most is a stable family. Pursuing FBI agent Carl Hanratty (Creator/TomHanks) comes to realize this, so arranges for Frank to eventually achieve a happy ending. This story has some overlap with RealLife.
* Character actor Creator/TerryThomas in most of his roles was that of an upper-class bounder and scoundrel. Still, there was something endearing about him. Perhaps it was because Terry-Thomas was also a gifted comedian.
* An interesting version in ''Film/ShishOBesh'': Sami is treated as one in-universe, but is in fact an unlikeable JerkAss.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Mythology]]
* Loki in Myth/NorseMythology.
* Hermes in Myth/ClassicalMythology, who may well be the TropeMaker and [[TropeCodifier codifier]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Folklore]]
* RobinHood.
* Slovakia has Juraj Jánošík, who also became a national symbol of resistance to oppression.
* Japan meanwhile has Goemon the charitable ninja.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* [[Literature/TheAdventuresOfTomSawyer Tom Sawyer]] commits petty misdemeanor after petty misdemeanor but generally gets a pass because he's such a charming little rascal.
** Although some of the stuff he does in ''Literature/AdventuresOfHuckleberryFinn'' crosses the line from "petty" to "WhatTheHellHero"
* Simon Templar, aka Literature/TheSaint.
* Literature/{{Discworld}}:
** Moist von Lipwig is one of these turned BoxedCrook. There's a bit of {{Deconstruction}} on the idea that he's only conned big businesses and people who deserved it, and never hurt anyone. Mr Pump reckons that, if you add up the amount of harm he's done, it's equivalent to killing 2.338 people, and this really gets brought home when it turns out [[spoiler:his girlfriend lost her job when he defrauded the bank she worked for]].
** The new miniseries subverts the expectations even more harshly; he apparently drove at least two people to suicide, and one innocent to prison, since he failed to realize that banks themselves would never admit mistakes on their part. It also multiplies the indirect deaths he's caused by a factor of (nearly) ten to 22.8.
** ''Discworld/NightWatch'''s Carcer Dun is a subversion; Vimes notes that he certainly looks and acts like one of your standard cheeky-yet-lovable-rascal types, but if you look closer you'll realise what an insane and unrepentant monster he is.
** Reacher Gilt is another subversion, a pretty nasty piece of work who charms people with his florid, pseudo-pirate style - he even has a parrot which squawks "twelve and a half percent" (work it out... )
** This applies to an entire race with the Nac Mac Feegle, "a bunch of [[StickyFingers thieving]], [[IllTakeTwoBeersToo drunken]] reprobates and scoff-laws with [[ChaoticGood no respect for the law]] whatsoever."
--> Would ye no mind addin' the words "[[BarBrawl drunken disorderly]]"? We would nae want to be sold short here.
--> And what about the [[ItMakesSenseInContext snail-rustling]], [[MeaningfulName Rob]]?
--> ''Have you no good points?''
--> We kind of thought [[InsultBackfire them is our good points]], but if ye want to get picky [[HonorAmongThieves we never steal]] from [[NeverHurtAnInnocent them as has nae money]]. We has [[HiddenHeartOfGold hearts of gold]], although maybe- okay mostly somebody elses's gold. And we did [[NoodleIncident invent]] the [[BreadEggsMilkSquick deep-fried stoat]], that must count for something.
* George Cooper, King of Thieves, from the ''Literature/{{Tortall|Universe}}'' books. His title is actually "The Rogue", and he basically runs the thieves' organization throughout the kingdom. (He later becomes the realm's spymaster.)
** Also Rosto the Piper and his friends in the ''Literature/ProvostsDog'' books. He actually builds George's future home base, the ''Dancing Dove'' Inn.
* Frank Skeffington in ''Literature/TheLastHurrah'' is a [[SleazyPolitician crooked big-city machine politician]] who is nonetheless beloved by his constituents (and ''not'' because [[VillainWithGoodPublicity he is fooling them]]- they know how he works, and they don't care). He may hand out offices and money as a way of buying political power, but he is ferociously loyal and would never desert a friend. Still, his portrayal is a little more overtly sympathetic in {{the Film|OfTheBook}} than in the novel, which is slightly more ambivalent about him and his legacy.
* The ''Literature/{{Nightrunner}}'' series is centered around spies and thieves.
* ''Literature/TheHobbit'': Bilbo Baggins is hired to be one of these, and manages to become one after obtaining the ring.
* Gonff, the Mousethief, from the ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'' novel "Mossflower" is decidedly one of these.
* ''Literature/TheStainlessSteelRat''.
* The Marquis De Carabas, from Creator/NeilGaiman's ''Literature/{{Neverwhere}}''.
* Zaphod Beeblebrox, from ''Franchise/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy''.
* Fred and George Weasley from the ''Literature/HarryPotter'' books. While in school they take a positive delight in breaking rules, including a couple of actual wizarding laws, and messing with people but always remain on the 'good' side of things. After leaving school they open an amazingly successful joke shop.
** The Marauders would be another, at least when they were young, having actually broken the law by not registering to become animagi, and being a bit jerkier.
* Adventurer, mercenary, pirate, counterfeiter and all-around adventurer "Half Cocked" (you don't want to know how he got that nickname) Jack Shaftoe, King of the Vagabonds and hero? of Creator/NealStephenson's ''Literature/TheBaroqueCycle''
* Crowley from ''Literature/GoodOmens''.
* Colonel Blood from George Macdonald Fraser's wonderfully troperiffic ''Literature/ThePyrates.''
* The entire Literature/GentlemanBastard gang.
* The Phouka in ''Literature/WarForTheOaks'' qualifies; his idea of buying things is paying for them with soon-disappearing fairy gold. But being a member of TheFairFolk, he probably can't really help it.
* Silk from ''Literature/{{Belgariad}};'' popular enough that he was the only non-sorcerer member of the party (aside from the Love Interest Ce'Nedra) to star in both ''The Belgariad'' and its sequel, ''The Mallorean''.
** Creator/DavidEddings then put artistic street urchin and pickpocket Talen and GentlemanThief Stragen into ''Literature/TheElenium'' and ''Literature/TheTamuli''.
* Mulch Diggums from the ''Literature/ArtemisFowl'' series.
* Reynard from David R. Witanowski's ''Literature/TheReynardCycle''.
** Subverted in the second and third books in the series, as the character begins to shift into HeWhoFightsMonsters.
* Packrat in the ''Literature/{{Shadowleague}}'' trilogy.
* Jonathan Small, opponent of ''Literature/SherlockHolmes'' in "Sign of the Four" has committed various acts of murder and robbery, which he tells of in detail - and still has much of the reader's sympathy. He has a strong loyalty to his three co-conspirators; also, much of his story takes place in a quite brutal penal colony - and of course, in this situation the reader tends to side with the prisoner against the guards.
* Otto of Shlepswig in Creator/HarryTurtledove's ''Every Inch A King''
* Ostap Bender, ConMan in Soviet Russia in 1920s in ''Literature/TheTwelveChairs'' and ''Literature/TheLittleGoldenCalf'' by Ilf and Petrov and its adaptations.
* Like the Literature/{{Discworld}} example above, almost deconstructed in Chris Wooding's ''[[Literature/TalesOfTheKettyJay Ketty Jay]]'' series with Darian Frey, the main protagonist. He's a petty crook, and while he's certainly charming, has yet to cross the MoralEventHorizon, and [[CharacterDevelopment learned loyalty to his crew]], he is also deeply selfish and the author never lets us forget his flaws for long. In his first appearance he [[spoiler: allows an enemy to shoot his friend and shipmate rather than lose his ship]]; in the first scene of the second book, he and his crew are found ''robbing an orphanage''. Yet, they remain sympathetic. That takes skill.
* Fisk from the ''[[Literature/KnightAndRogueSeries Knight and]]'' '''''[[Literature/KnightAndRogueSeries Rogue]]''''' ''[[Literature/KnightAndRogueSeries Series]]'' is this for the first two books, though by the third constant close quarters with Michael seems to have gotten him to behave a little more within the law.
* Dirk Slipstream in the ''Series/DoctorWho'' novel ''Night of the Humans'' claims to be this. However, it turns out [[spoiler:he's a mass murderer and an escaped convict out to settle a score with the Doctor and obtain a powerful artifact]]. He still talks like a British rogue (e.g. "sorry, ol' chap").
* Ragnar Danneskjöld of ''Literature/AtlasShrugged'' is a pirate who steals from relief ships bound for famine-struck countries. He, quite literally, ''steals food from starving children.'' (He keeps most of the profits, too.) It is implied, by the narrator that most of those relief goods never would have reached those starving children anyway. Nevertheless, he is presented as a charming hero.
* Count Vega from ''Literature/{{Wereworld}}''. A pirate, exile, and a lady killer who has a crush on Whitley.
* Ilmar the Slick in Creator/SergeyLukyanenko's ''Literature/SeekersOfTheSky'' duology is a thief, a grave robber, and a murderer (although in this world's mythology he hasn't yet committed the "mortal sin" of killing a dozen). He's also a devout follower of one of the two [[TheChurch Churches]] of this world (the one more concerned with redemption and forgiveness than punishment) and will often donate sacred texts found in abandoned temples to the Church. Unlike a typical rogue, Ilmar isn't shown to be particularly charming. His fling with a female pilot (who's also a countess) happens after he kidnaps her and forces her to fly him to the mainland. They crash, and she ends up having GladToBeAliveSex with him, while he can't even move.
* Jeff Raven of The ''Literature/TowerAndTheHive'' series. A Prime-level "Wild Talent" (a psychic-powered human with no formal training), who swoops in and claims the heart of The Rowan (the strongest Prime around) with nothing more than confidence and mental rapport.
* Hex from the ''Literature/AlphaForce'' series. A snarky serial hacker who's apparently broken into some highly classified websites, who admits he only does it for the challenge (Except when the person [[PayEvilUntoEvil really deserves to have their bank accounts emptied]]) and is otherwise highly moral.
* Tasslehoff from ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'' could count as this.
* Han "Cuffs" Alister from ''Literature/TheSevenRealmsSeries'' is this.
* The Artful Dodger from ''Literature/OliverTwist'' is this. Even more so in ''Theatre/{{Oliver}}'' .
* Will from ''Literature/TheYearOfRogueDragons'' qualifies.
* Practically the entire main cast from ''Literature/MistbornTheOriginalTrilogy'', seeing as how they form a thieving crew.
* Jean Valjean from ''Literature/LesMiserables'', the book's primary protagonist, {{Atoner}}, and [[MessianicArchetype Messiah]]. He's a convict who spent years in prison for [[JayWalkingWillRuinYourLife stealing a loaf of bread]] to feed his sister's starving family, with more added to his sentence due repeated attempts to escape - making it a total of 19 years. He then spends the rest of the story trying to make the best of his life by being an honest man.
* Demigod children of [[Myth/GreekMythology Hermes]] in the ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'' series are this by default; their father is basically the god of this trope. [[spoiler: Subverted with Luke, however]].
* Thomas Raith of ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles''. As a vampire, he has a slightly different morality system from humans, but he does try to [[FriendlyNeighborhoodVampire minimize the damage he causes]]. It helps that he becomes a [[TheWoobie woobie]] to rival the protagonist as we learn more about him, and that he's not a sociopath like the rest of his vampiric family.
* Downplayed with Emmon in ''[[Literature/AnnalsOfTheWesternShore Gifts]]''. Caspromant only takes him in because the whole place is undergoing a HeroicBSOD. As a lowlander, Emmon's accent reminds Canoc of his recently-deceased wife, and Emmon has entertaining stories and questions for Orrec and Gry; plus he's a novelty. When he takes some silverware with him on his way out, the family takes it stoically since they knew he was a thief in the first place.
* Abe Mazur from ''Literature/VampireAcademy''. Eventually. He is a smuggler and trader in information. He remains a rogue to the end of the series. But comes off as a charming person and loveable TeamDad to Rose's supporters in their efforts to protect her.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* Bret Maverick, from the aptly named western ''Series/{{Maverick}}''. Most often Bret is forced to break the law by escaping jail for crimes he's framed of, or commits crimes as part of schemes and cons to outwit those they have wronged him, (stolen his winnings), or his loved ones.
* Del Boy from ''Series/OnlyFoolsAndHorses''.
** Boycie, originally a [[SmugSnake less loveable]] SitcomArchNemesis for Del Boy, [[CharacterDevelopment developed]] into one following his own turn in the spotlight in ''Series/TheGreenGreenGrass''.
* Monkey from ''Series/{{Monkey}}''.
* Arthur Daley from ''Series/{{Minder}}'', from season 8 and onwards.
* The title character of ''Series/RemingtonSteele''.
* Newkirk from ''Series/HogansHeroes'', pickpocket and card-cheater. Good thing he only uses his skills on the Nazis.
** Hogan might also qualify, given how much of a ManipulativeBastard he is.
* Autolycus, the King of Thieves from ''Series/HerculesTheLegendaryJourneys'' and ''Series/XenaWarriorPrincess''.
** Made more loveable by being played by Creator/BruceCampbell himself.
* The title character of ''Series/RobinHood''.
* Vila Restal from ''Series/BlakesSeven''. Not to mention being a card-carrying coward.
* Captain Malcolm Reynolds from ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' and ''Serenity''.
** Jayne fits the type, even if it's only the audience that finds him lovable. He's like Mal, but without the (semi-)moral compass. Or the smarts ... though he ''does'' look cunning in that hat.[[note]] "That hat makes you look ridiculous." [[/note]]
* The main characters from ''Series/{{Hustle}}'', a team of con artists who only con those who deserve it.
* Ezra, the gambler and con man from ''Series/TheMagnificentSeven''.
* Hatter, from the SyFy version of ''{{Series/Alice|2009}}''. Combine Han Solo and Captain Jack Sparrow (complete with Guyliner) but slightly less rogue and more lovable through the second part of the series.
* Shawn Spencer, from ''Series/{{Psych}}'', who likes coming up with scams and cons as part of his job. But he also scams people to keep his best friend from looking bad...
** Not to mention the fact that he scams the police department, ''regularly'', by pretending to be a psychic. Oh, and the various crimes and misdemeanors he perpetrates in ''every single episode''.
*** But he only does those things to solve ''worse'' crimes (and the first time, to keep from being wrongfully arrested)!... And also sometimes for fun.
**** And wrongfully arrested for essentially doing the police department's job for them. Constantly. If anyone is justified for irreverent behavior towards law enforcement, it's Shawn.
*** Basically, the cops would rather arrest him for being involved in a crime than believe he's that good at spotting things.
* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' tried to pull one of these off in a second season episode, "[[InformedAttribute The Outrageous Okona]]". While it didn't work too well, he was at least a ''little'' funny.
** On the other hand the [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries original series]] did it very well with the immortal and immoral Harry Mudd, as well as the somewhat more benevolent Cyrano Jones.
** ''ST:TNG'' also had a supporting character named Vash, a female version of this trope who romanced Picard for a short time. For bonus irony points, Q [[spoiler: casts her as Maid Marion in a Robin Hood fantasy.]]
* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': Quark is one of these most of the time almost to the point of being a GentlemanThief. This makes him the first exemplar of the virtues of Ferengi. Its telling that Quark is noticeably uncomfortable when he turns to arms dealing to stay afloat and the people who liked him up to that point are disappointed in him. He also typically abhors violence.
* Hellooo, he's Captain Jack Harkness of ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'' fame, pleased to make your acquaintance.
* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
** The Doctor stole his TARDIS, fled his home planet, disrespects most forms of authority and is a very loveable guy. The most obvious example is the Fourth Doctor, a vibrant but [[ByronicHero slightly difficult]] RebelliousSpirit [[TheCharmer charisma volcano]] associated with {{Swashbuckler}} tropes, though the First, Second, Eleventh and Twelfth qualify particularly too.
** River Song is a rare female example of this trope. She's a time-travelling archaeologist, [[spoiler:convicted murderer, thief]] and still saves the universe every now and then with the Doctor.
** A (less heroic than the above) example from the classic series was Sabalom Glitz, a charming conman who showed up in a few episodes and became a friendly acquaintance of The Doctor. His character was so enjoyable that episodes featuring him tended to gloss over things like [[MoralDissonance him selling his mutinous crew into slavery.]]
* Sawyer from ''Series/{{Lost}}'', a highly popular character despite being a conman and murderer.
** In season 5, he [[CharacterDevelopment develops]] from one into a snarky but otherwise perfectly heroic character. [[spoiler:The actor has said that Juliet's death will push him into this territory again in season 6... except drop the "loveable".]]
* Claude Greengrass in the British period police soap ''Series/{{Heartbeat}}''. Lampshaded when a character calls Greengrass a rogue and he responds "Yes, but I'm loveable".
** Also later Peggy Armstrong, who began as an Unlovable Rogue but was subsequently softened. In between there was Vernon Scripps, who is often considered this, but stayed on the right side of the law.
* Jack and Stan from ''OnTheBuses''. Not criminals, just terminally lazy.
* Pretty much the entire cast of ''Series/{{Leverage}}''.
* Dean and Sam Winchester of ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'', who commit credit card fraud and hustle pool to fund their world-saving activities.
* Claude Rains, the {{invisible}}, [[HomelessPigeonPerson pigeon-keeping]] thief in the first season of ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' is utterly cynical, lives invisibly (thus isolating himself from the rest of society), hates everyone, and steals everything he needs,but everyone loves him because we've seen glimpses of [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold something more underneath all that]].
** It also helps that he's played by [[Series/DoctorWho the]] [[TheNthDoctor Ninth]] [[Creator/ChristopherEccleston Doctor]].
* Jack (Creator/BruceCampbell) from ''Series/JackOfAllTrades''.
* Neal, the main character of ''Series/WhiteCollar'' personifies this trope.
* Omar, from ''Series/TheWire'' definitely falls under this category. He makes his living ripping off drug dealers and is constantly killing people. But he has a moral code of "all in the game" and he is just too loveable for the audience not to, well, love.
* Neil from ''Series/TheLibrarians2007'' sees himself as a loveable rogue. No one else does.
* All of the members of ''Series/TheATeam'' are this since the bad guys are so one-dimensionally horrible, but Face probably fits here the most since he's the slick and charming [[HandsomeLech ladies' man]] (and ConMan). The team also fits as a group of Anti-Heroes.
* Starbuck from ''Series/BattlestarGalactica1978''. Added bonus when played by Dirk Benedict, who was also Face.
** And there's Chameleon (played by Creator/FredAstaire), which is appropriate considering he's [[spoiler: Starbuck's father]].
* Anthony Dinozzo Sr. from ''Series/{{NCIS}}''.
* Taja from ''Series/MortalKombatConquest'' is still mostly this after joining the group.
* Darien Fawkes in ''Series/TheInvisibleMan''. He's a notorious thief who only got caught last time because he tried to revive an old man he thought was having a heart attack (instead, he got [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished convicted for attempted rape]]). His brother, an accomplished scientist, gets him out of prison to be the guinea pig for a top-secret project. After Darien gets the [[AppliedPhlebotinum quicksilver]] gland, he can now become invisible at will. A dream come true for a thief. However, he needs regular injections of a counteragent that prevents him from going insane from quicksilver overdose, a deliberate flaw in the gland. Despite now working for a secret government agency, Darien still has plenty of roguish qualities, who loves to use his new ability to sneak into places he shouldn't (like spy on a guard and a nurse getting it on). However, in the series finale, the flaw in the gland is finally fixed, allowing him to be free from the Agency. The first thing he does is rob a place, only to leave the money on the sidewalk when he realizes he's not the same guy anymore.
* [[{{Pun}} Lutin]], from ''Series/TheLegendOfDickAndDom'', is introduced in the opening credit voiceover as the heroes' thieving servant. Saves the quest several times with heists, capers and jailbreaks, as well as routinely sabotaging opponents and lifting small items; she's a classic cheeky, sarcastic rogue.
* Dennis Stanton on ''Series/MurderSheWrote''. A jewel thief who crossed Jessica Fletcher's path several times. (He ended up using his skills for legal purposes as an insurance investigator.)
* [[Series/LostGirl Kenzi]] is a rare female example.
* Gwen Raiden from ''Series/{{Angel}}'' is also like this.
* Danny from ''Series/RedfernNow'' is a shoplifter who becomes inadvertently involved in a hit-and-run--when he calls an ambulance in the latter case it begins his CharacterDevelopment that puts the "lovable" in his character.
* Vala Mal Doran from ''Series/StargateSG1''.
** Aris Boch as well.
** Much like [[{{Series/Firefly}} Jayne]], theirs also Golan Jarlath.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
* The late Wrestling/EddieGuerrero was well known for his "Lie, Cheat, and Steal" lifestyle. But he was so damn charming, he'd usually get away with it, all the while stealing the audience's hearts.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
* Former French President Jacques Chirac is portrayed this way in the satirical fake news show with puppets ''Series/LesGuignolsDeLInfo'', being shown to be a shameless liar (he even had another identity as Super Menteur, i.e. "Super Liar") while still remaining highly likable. It's thought this may have actually helped (the real) Jacques Chirac get re-elected.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Radio]]
* Harry Lime as he was portrayed in ''Radio/TheLivesOfHarryLime''. He was considerably less loveable in ''Film/TheThirdMan''.
* Gemma and Damien Mildury in ''Radio/TheSpaceGypsyAdventures'', it helps that they mostly steal from the [[TheEmpire Federal Alliance]] military and that Damien's only about ten years old.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* There's a good chance that any given Thief/Rogue, Bard, or Swashbuckler you meet in a game of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' is this kind of character.
** An old maxim of roleplaying states that "A thief or rogue characer will never be morally centrist. He will either be a good-natured chap who steals from people who deserve it and is the subject of much affection, or he will be a complete sociopath".
** There's an even better chance they won't be, but will pretend they are.
* The [[PlanetOfHats hat]] of the [[TabletopGame/{{Talislanta}} Sarista]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theater]]
* Falstaff in Shakespeare's ''Theatre/HenryIV''.
* The Engineer from ''Theatre/MissSaigon''.
* Creator/BertoltBrecht {{deconstruct|edTrope}}ts this trope in ''Theatre/TheThreepennyOpera''.
* The rogue Autolycus in Shakespeare's ''Theatre/TheWintersTale''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* Luis Sera from ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4''. A charismatic womanizer with a good heart working for the wrong side.
* Locke the [[InsistentTerminology treasure hunter]], from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' is pretty much the definition of this trope, though he drifts into being less of a rogue and more of a hero as the game progresses.
* Practically 25% of the world's population in ''VideoGame/SkiesOfArcadia'' is made up of these. Naturally, this includes all the playable characters.
* Balthier from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII''. Considering how much ''Final Fantasy XII'' seems to be inspired by ''StarWars'', he's almost certainly inspired by Han Solo.
* If Robin Hood is a Loveable Rogue, then definitely we have to include Yoshimitsu of ''[[VideoGame/SoulSeries SoulCalibur]]'' and ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}''. In both games, he steals from rich people and gives to the poor, much like Robin Hood. Most people love him, even if he's not really important to either storyline, but everyone loves him only because he's just so damn awesome. It helps that he can use his sword as a pogo stick. And as a helicopter.
* Jansen Friedh from ''VideoGame/LostOdyssey'' plays this one almost perfectly, with a healthy dose of PluckyComicRelief. ObfuscatingStupidity too. And a little bit of ButtMonkey. He's one of the best characters in the game.
* Hawkeye from ''Seiken Densetsu 3'', who seems to be modeled off of Robin Hood.
* The two characters in ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' who get a KarmaHoudini fall under this category. For [[spoiler: PhantomThief Ron De Lite it's because he's so darn adorable]] and for [[spoiler: Shelly de Killer it's because he's such a classy assassin.]]
** And Kay Faraday, even though she doesn't technically steal anything. Except the truth!
* Rei and Teepo from ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireIII'', respectively an DeadpanSnarker ClassyCatBurglar and a HotBlooded BadassAdorable mugger.
* Heather, from ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTellius Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn]]'' is a thief who steals more for her sick mother than herself. She also steals money by charming men, however, despite [[AmbiguouslyGay flirting with every female she engages in conversation with.]]
** In [[FireEmblemElibe Fire Emblem Blazing Sword]], there's Legault. Whether he's AmbiguouslyBi or not ([[BrokenBase the fandom still doesn't decide]]), he sure is a charmer.
** Matthew qualifies as well. Come to think of it, this is a recurring trend in the Franchise/FireEmblem series.
** Colm from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones'' as well, with a hint of JerkWithAHeartOfGold.
** Also Julian, from Shadow Dragon, though that's more brought on by the IncorruptiblePurePureness of Lena.
** Gaius, from ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]'', is first seen with a band of assassins with designs on killing the Exalt, having been led to believe they were just there to rob the place. He's... upset when he finds out the truth, and joins the party at the prospect of [[SweetTooth free candy]] as well as [[FireForgedFriends being in more savory company.]]
* Zidane Tribal from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX''.
** The rest of Tantalus probably qualifies too.
* The Prince in ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersia2008'' seems to be this, considering how the developers have stated that he's inspired by Harrison Ford's characters. [[spoiler:Although the ending also has a VERY serious moment that might be crossing the MoralEventHorizon.]]
* Nick from ''Videogame/{{Left 4 Dead 2}}'' has a somewhat shady (and probably violent) criminal past, and he starts out with a lone wolf-style attitude, but because of the circumstances he's in, as the game progresses, he's slowly forced to shed that attitude, and learns to trust and respect his teammates (well, respect MOST of them) and almost grows close to them, through whatever they go through.
** It also helps that he's the character providing most of the game's DeadpanSnarker. He bounces some of the best lines off of [[CloudCuckooLander Ellis]] because of this.
* Milanor the Silver Wolf from ''VideoGame/YggdraUnion'' is the leader of a loosely-knit group of vagabonds, but he also helps the eponymous princess form [[LaResistance a counter-imperial rebellion]].
* Nathan Drake's interactions with his crew in the ''VideoGame/{{Uncharted}}'' series makes him an lovable and entertaining rogue. He also tends to operate at least somewhat outside the law (such as being forced to get into an explosive gunfight with pirates in the first game's intro due to operating without a permit), and ''[[VideoGame/Uncharted2AmongThieves Uncharted 2]]'' opens with him engaging in a museum break-in.
* ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'': Ezio Auditore da Firenze, before he received some hefty CharacterDevelopment.
* ''VideoGame/CrimsonSkies''' Nathan Zachary.
* Imoen, [[spoiler:[[BigBrotherInstinct your own little sister]]]], from the ''VideoGame/BaldursGate'' series definitely qualifies, though she dual-classes into a SquishyWizard in the sequel. Her merciless torture at the hands of Jon Irenicus is a vicious PlayerPunch and one of the main reasons for you to hate Irenicus' guts.
** Yoshimo also works ''hard'' to project this image, although there are [[{{Foreshadowing}} moments]] where it's a little off. From all indications he was 100% this trope prior to [[spoiler:selling his life and soul to Irenicus]].
** Saemon Havarian probably works as this as well, if not for the fact that half of the time the one he's screwing over is ''you''. He seems to hold no ill will towards you or anyone despite throwing you to the wolves repeatedly to save his own skin (and he ''does'' seem to have an interest in defeating the BigBad as long as he's not in the direct line of fire), and you have the option of having CHARNAME reciprocate. After about the third time he backstabs you the dialogue offers the line that it's basically [[ReliableTraitor just Saemon being Saemon]].
* Tomi Undergallows from ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights'' is probably the most entertaining henchman for his sense of humor and his [[UnreliableNarrator questionably accurate tales of working for evil monstrous humanoids and stealing the hearts of women twice his size]]. Deekin from the expansion packs also counts because, well, he's a kobold bard. A [[AlwaysChaoticEvil nonevil]] kobold bard who speaks in the third person and sings about doom. How can you not love that? "AAAAHH! Deekin...heart..."
* Neeshka from ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2''. She is a sort of a tiefling reincarnation of Imoen. Safiya's familiar in Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask Of The Betrayer may count as well.
* Chosokabe Motochika from ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara'' is a kleptomaniac {{pirate}} known as the "Demon of the Western Sea" who crushes people's skulls with a [[AnchorsAway giant anchor]]. However, once you get past this he's actually a fairly honest, charming, and good-hearted guy who values things like friendship and keeping promises, and overall one of the most honourable characters around.
* Lara Croft from ''Franchise/TombRaider''. While the game would prefer you to see her as an AdventurerArchaeologist, in [[RealLife the real world]] she would be called an ordinary [[GraveRobbing grave robber]].
** Speaking of Eidos, ''VideoGame/{{Gex}}'' was reportedly supposed to be this, as revealed in the interview with the creator at the end of the Enter The Gecko Strategy Guide.
* And for that matter, don't forget [[PhantomThief Garrett]] from the ''VideoGame/{{Thief}}'' series.
* Rikku from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX''. Sure, she's a thief who comes from a group of people who are considered heathens, and even kidnaps Yuna at one point, but she's also a sweet, lovable GenkiGirl who's always ready to brighten up the mood.
* [[ClassyCatBurglar Kasumi Goto]] from ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', primarily due to her [[GenkiGirl upbeat, energetic nature]] but still [[TearJerker sad]] backstory. It also helps that she's willing to risk her life for humanity along with the rest of you and she seems to genuinely care about the crew being the ShipperOnDeck for multiple potential couples.
* Sly Cooper from the ''Franchise/SlyCooper'' games definitely falls under this category, along with the rest of the Cooper Gang.
* [[PirateGirl Isabela]] from ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' sits here [[TheLadette with a drink]] and [[KnifeNut a few knives]] most of the time, if only because of her easygoing nature and the fact that the loss of her ship has forced her into [[ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything a lack of pirating recently.]] [[spoiler:It can be subverted when she abandons Hawke and Kirkwall to the Qunari at the climax of Act II. If the player has her at at least 50 friendship/rivalry though, [[ChangedMyMindKid she'll come back.]]]] There's also the fact that she lost her ship in the first place because she refused to carry a shipment of slaves.
** Zevran and Varric also count. One of them is a charming assassin with some degree of conscience, the other is a witty information man.
* The Smuggler in ''Videogame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'' runs on this Trope. S/he is RefugeInAudacity personified, starts out as a small-time gun-runner on a corrupt Republic backwater and pretty much ends up leading half the criminal underworld by the endgame. But it's hard ''not'' to laugh when the Smuggler trolls the guy who stole his/her ship by inflating the guy's criminal record ''and'' marking him as a carrier of "Bothan Nether Rot."
* Ozan, one of the Signature Heroes of ''VideoGame/RuneScape'', seems to fit this category well. He happens to be a thief and a liar with an inflated ego... Yet his friendly, fun and charming personality makes him likable despite this. Oh, and he ''is'' a hero (if the term Signature Heroes wasn't enough of a clue).
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'' introduced the Mogmas, a race of tunnel dwellers who are mostly seen plotting to steal ancient treasure from the local temples. Despite being thieves they always repay debts, and their kindness and inclination to help Link save Zelda make them very lovable.
* Raven from ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'', who, despite being a bit of a [[ChivalrousPervert pervert]] and working a selfish agenda, also happens to be a genuinely good guy and the comic relief character.
* Sky from ''VideoGame/JadeEmpire''.
* Lyndon from ''VideoGame/DiabloIII'', despite [[BlackAndGrayMorality the setting]], falls squarely into this category, much thanks to his charming (and humorous) personality. [[spoiler:He does have ''some'' noble motivations at least--one of his own thefts caused his brother to be imprisoned, and Lyndon is working to get him freed.]]
* The majority of characters from {{Pirate101}} fall under this trope.
* The Spy from ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' considers himself this, and is one when on your team. On the enemy team, he's a sadistic psychopath.
* In later video games, the crew of ''Saints Row'' makes a point of deliberately branding themselves as this trope as they become famous.
-->'''Zinyak:''' I should have realized a prison of peace would never hold a sociopath like yourself.
-->'''Boss:''' I'm more of a puckish rogue.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* Mordekai from the Fantasy theme of ''Webcomic/IrregularWebcomic'' actually [[http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/comic.php?comic=590 insists]] [[http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/comic.php?comic=1593 on]] [[http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/2637.html being]] referred to as a ''Loveable Rogue''.
* Julio Scoundrel in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', who briefly becomes Elan's mentor.
** And back in the main party, Haley Starshine probably qualifies, even though we almost never see her actually break any laws (at least, in the strip itself).
*** We see her doing a sneaky burglary and theft in the prequel ''On the Origin of [[PlayerCharacter PCs]]'', and likewise in [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0577.html this online comic strip]]. Suffice to say, in ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' the Thief or Rogue has been a character class from the beginning, and a life of crime does not mean a thief character is automatically considered ''evil'' in alignment, he just cannot be ''lawful''.
*** At least in the 3.5 and 4th editions, even that was dropped when rogues were generalized towards "sneaky and talented one", including characters like spies or assassins with codes of honour.
* ''WebComic/MagickChicks'': Ash has occasionally leads breastplate raids on [[AllGirlSchool Artemis Academy.]] Despite this, he's roguishly handsome and charming enough that he's gained a fair number of admirers among its students. It also helps that [[AFatherToHisMen he looks out for his cohorts]] and is skilled enough [[http://www.magickchicks.com/strips-mc/you_have_improved to match repartee and trade punches]] with their student council president, [[DatingCatwoman whom he happens to be dating]], as ''even she'' [[http://www.magickchicks.com/strips-mc/cheatin_powers can't resist his charms.]]
* ''Webcomic/HarkAVagrant'' [[http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=53 portrays]] RobinHood in this manner. Dick Turpin, [[SubvertedTrope on the other hand...]]
* The pirates from Webcomic/DubiousCompany. Sure they steal [[HeroStoleMyBike ships]], [[TrademarkFavoriteFood rum]], and [[MagiTek polyphase conductors]], but overall they're [[PokeThePoodle terrible]] [[MinionWithAnFInEvil pirates]]. Of course their main adversaries, the Imperial Guard, are [[WhatTheHellHero terrible]] [[HeroWithAnFinGood officers]]. A major arc involved the pirates trying to stop the Imperial Guard from giving the [[EvilOverlord Emperor]] [[FusionDance superpowers]], by [[HumanSacrifice murdering]] an otherwise innocent priestess.
* ''Webcomic/{{Greg}}'': Ted displays his rouge tendencies by sneaking onto a college campus disguised as a professor to score the digits of the female students and [[http://gregcomic.com/2011/09/09/storyline-back-to-campus-part-1/ more]].
* This trope is {{invoked|Trope}} in ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' to describe [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=006414 the difference between the Rogue and Thief classes]]:
-->[[color:#929292:UU: a rogUe is a passive class. yoU see, there are passive (+) and active (-) classes. some more strongly passive or active than others. ]]
-->[[color:#929292:UU: the +/- distinction can mean many things, bUt coUld be qUite roUghly sUmmed Up in this way: active classes exploit their aspect to benefit themselves, while passive classes allow their aspect to benefit others.]]
-->...
-->[[color:#929292:UU: classes always come in +/- pairs, with significant disparity between them. ]]
-->[[color:#929292:UU: while a rogUe is passive, a thief woUld be its far more active coUnterpart.]]
-->[[color:#ff6ff2:TG: so basically ]]
-->[[color:#ff6ff2:TG: a thief is like the asshole class ]]
-->[[color:#ff6ff2:TG: the player who says step off shits mine suckas ]]
-->[[color:#ff6ff2:TG: whereas ]]
-->[[color:#ff6ff2:TG: a rogue ]]
-->[[color:#ff6ff2:TG: is bascially robin hood]]
* Though he claims otherwise at first, Varden of ''Webcomic/{{Inverloch}} is really a decent fellow who comes to really care about the group (especially Lei'ella). He got into thieving mainly because of emotional issues about his MissingMom and his dad's shipping business going bust due to politics, and stayed in it because he enjoyed it and he was good at it. [[spoiler:Lei'ella becomes his partner for a while, but eventually convinces him to follow his dad's footsteps after a dangerous job.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Web Original]]
* Captain Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock in WebVideo/HitlerRants. In ''Film/DasBoot'', he was a TragicHero caught up in a war he did not understand. In the U-Boat Parodies, he's a loveable, manipulative rogue who always manages to remain one step ahead of Hitler, and almost always finds ways to benefit from the latter's misery.
* The Undersiders from {{Worm}} are this to a greater (Tattletale and Grue) or lesser (Regent and Bitch) degree when we first meet them. A band of teenage supervillains who rob banks and casinos and whatnot for fun and profit, all of them either have sympathetic motivations (like Grue) or extremely nasty backstories which guarantee that they couldn't have normal lives even if they wanted to for reasons largely beyond their control. As the [[VillainProtagonist Villain Protagonists]] of the story, they tend to fluctuate between putting their lives on the line for the greater good and trying to Take Over the City.
* Jack Masterson of ''Literature/ChronoHustle'' is a con artist who has no problem lying and cheating. But he does try to avoid hurting good people, and will help out people in need from time to time.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* [[SecretIdentity The Blue Spirit]] of ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', the "lovable" part established in Season 1, with the "rogueish" part not really coming out until he committed several thefts and at least one death threat.
* Rattrap from ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars''. At one point Optimus Primal is presumed dead during the course of one night. During that time Rattrap takes it upon himself to take over his (much nicer) quarters and replace everything with his own stuff. When he is called out on it, his response is basically "Hey, come on. What do you expect?"
* Bender from ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}''.
-->'''Bender:''' It's me! Bender! The lovable rascal!
* Puck from ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'' most definitely qualifies. "Sunny disposition and always kind to animals" indeed.
* WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck of ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' fame, under Robert [=McKimson=]'s direction was evolved into a {{comp|ositeCharacter}}romise of both his [[ScrewySquirrel former]] and [[SmallNameBigEgo latter]] forms, often acting as a con artist or door to door salesman. In tradition with this trope, his luck was often [[LaserGuidedKarma karma based]], when trying to swindle protagonists such as WesternAnimation/BugsBunny and WesternAnimation/PorkyPig he was usually foiled, when trying to make money out of antagonists such as Elmer Fudd and the Tazmanian Devil however, Daffy would often make a profit.
* ''WesternAnimation/ShaunTheSheep'' in his spin off series. His schemes often involve screwing the Farmer or Bitzer in some way, but he has no harmful intent and occasionally tries to do nice things for them to compensate. Usually the rest of the flock get in on this too.
* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' has Red X, who is not only entertainingly witty during combat, but also manages to ''completely dominate'' all five Titans at once. He also remarks that he doesn't steal for any sort of incomprehensibly psychopathic reason; he's just doing it all [[ItAmusedMe for the fun]]. To add to this status, he even saves the heroes' lives and helps save the city before escaping.
* Jerry of ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry'' was supposed to be this.
* ''WesternAnimation/TopCat'' and his gang of alley cats are either con artists or {{Zany Scheme}}rs, but have altruistic qualities and a ton of charisma to boot.
* Also ''WesternAnimation/YogiBear'' of [[Creator/HannaBarbera the same team]]. He's obsessed with stealing 'pic-a-nic baskets' from campers and often winding up [[HeroAntagonist Ranger Smith]] in the process, but he's a friendly easy going guy who is repentant when his stunts cause significant problems in the park. In most interpretations he is not portrayed as a thief he becomes an outright protagonist solving mysteries or helping friends.
* The title character of "Dan Vs." is a [[HairTriggerTemper short-tempered]] {{Jerkass}} who will use any means possible to get [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge his revenge]] on people for petty reasons, but his hidden FreudianExcuse and ComedicSociopathy, accompanied with the fact that his foes are usually [[BiggerBad worse]], makes it very hard not to like him.
[[/folder]]

----

[[redirect:LovableRogue]]

%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=vejhdkgs1aqg15jhqx6w7j1x
%% Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread.
%%
[[quoteright:257:[[Webcomic/HarkAVagrant http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/loveable_rogue_6261.jpg]]]]

-> ''"Now; I did a job. Got nothing but trouble since I did it, not to mention more than a few unkind words as regard to my character. So let me make this abundantly clear: I do the job... and then I get paid. Go run your little world."''
-->-- '''Malcolm Reynolds''', ''Series/{{Firefly}}''

A person who breaks the law, for their own personal profit, but is nice enough and charming enough to allow the audience to root for them, especially if they [[ThouShaltNotKill don't kill]] or otherwise seriously harm anyone. It helps that none of their victims are anyone we know or that they've [[AssholeVictim made sure the audience knew they were jerks]], which makes it [[PayEvilUntoEvil "okay" to steal from them]].

Note that while morally a click below your average antihero in the sense that they might not be considered a hero at all, the Lovable Rogue is strongly associated with highly Idealistic series on the SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism, as Cynical series tend not to place value on the concept of a [[ScoundrelCode Code of Honor]], which is usually what makes the Loveable Rogue, well, lovable.

Their loyalties are often played with, particularly if they show up [[ComeWithMeIfYouWantToLive to rescue the hero]]. If they end up being the star of the show, expect a straight-arrow SupportingProtagonist to be the [[AudienceSurrogate audience viewpoint]] character. Complicating matters further is the fact that this person is usually chased by a SympatheticInspectorAntagonist.

A click ''above'' the LovableTraitor, who is definitely not a nice person, but wins by lowering the audience's expectations so much, that he charms them with a few token PetTheDog moments (which usually include helping the hero. It's amazing how much fans will overlook if they help the hero). Usually male, but female thieves tend to be considered Lovable Rogues by default.

And the [[RougeAnglesOfSatin g comes before the u]] ladies and gentlemen. That is, unless you're talking about [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Rouge the Bat]], who [[AccidentalPun just happens to be]] a good example of this trope, [[MsFanservice in more ways than one.]] If the charming person is a villain instead of an AntiHero, then they are described as being AffablyEvil. The audience will usually ''not'' root for a villain, even if he or she is AffablyEvil. [[DesignatedVillain Usua]][[RootingForTheEmpire lly.]]

See also GentlemanThief, KarmicThief, JustifiedCriminal and JustLikeRobinHood.

----
!!Examples

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* ''Franchise/LupinIII'' follows the exploits of the titular thief as he attempts to woo Fujiko (or any other attractive lady), and steal anything that amuses him. A bit less loveable in the manga, but often more of a rogue.
* Blue, from ''Manga/PokemonSpecial'', fits this description at first. She consistently cheats and lies, and shows absolutely no signs of a conscience or caring for anyone but herself, yet she and the main character manage to remain on almost friendly terms. She gets nicer and gives up thievery by the end of the first arc, but still keeps some loveable and roguish qualities.
* Androids 17 and 18 of ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' -- in the main timeline, at least. In Trunk's timeline, they're sociopathic killers.
* Ali al-Saachez from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00'' is a subversion; his men love him for his fun nature, and he ''does'' take care of them, often fighting Gundams by himself because he knows only he can match them in direct combat. However, he's also a BloodKnight who cares only for chaos and slaughter; if it's not him causing a civil war, it's making children kill their parents to prove their devotion to the cause, or just random murder for the sake of it.
* Most of the principal cast of ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'', especially Isaac and Miria.
* In ''Manga/FushigiYuugi'', the rough and brash thief Tasuki's first appearance consists of kidnapping the heroine Miaka, unleashing [[GoddamnedBats ghost wolves]] against the heroes who try to stop him, and later faking his own death to avoid joining the heroes. However, he later shows up to [[KillItWithFire save the heroes]] from zombies and becomes completely dedicated to their cause, to the point of nearly making a HeroicSacrifice on Miaka's behalf.
** Plus, the actual ''thieving'' of Tasuki's thief gang is easy to ignore, since they border on being ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything anyway (except when they briefly serve as TheCavalry later in the series, which makes their thieving ''even easier'' to ignore).
* ''Manga/SpaceAdventureCobra'': Cobra. That is all.
* Dark in ''Manga/DNAngel'' most definitely fits this trope!
* ''Manga/InuYasha'': Miroku has no qualms about lying, drinking, womanizing, conning and stealing, being determined to enjoy life to its fullest, but he later shows that he's also loyal, wise, and is ready to help and protect others even with his own life. Although there is pressure on him to produce an heir that can avenge his death (and also inherit the same curse), his womanizing is an inherited character flaw. His grandfather's womanizing nature is what allowed his ArchEnemy to curse the family line in the first place. Miroku's flaws therefore run in the family.
* Dorian Gloria, the thief from ''Manga/FromEroicaWithLove'', who is essentially a gay Lupin III.
* [[Manga/MagicKaito Kaito]] [[Manga/DetectiveConan KID]].
* Nami from ''Manga/OnePiece'' is this at the beginning of the series, and still has bits and pieces of this personality as the story progresses.
** All of the Straw Hats are this to varying degrees, especially Luffy.
* Dirt from ''Webcomic/{{Magician}}'' though he a bit more roguish than loveable at the start.
* In ''Anime/YuGiOh'', Katsuya Jonouchi ran with a bunch of JapaneseDelinquents before he met Yugi.
* Favaro Leone of Anime/RageOfBahamutGenesis. He will ''eventually'' do the right thing, even if there's plenty of self-centered backstabbing in-between.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comics]]
* ''ComicBook/{{Hellblazer}}'': John Constantine sometimes qualifies -- if you're watching from a distance. If you're ''personally'' acquainted with him, you'd be more inclined to say that he is a prick, since sometimes his only goal is taking care of his own interests, and he can exploit others ruthlessly. But most of the time he's saving the world, which makes him an [[AntiHero anti-hero]].
* The snarky outcast drow rogue Downer, the protagonist of the comics ''Downer: Wandering Monster'' and ''Downer: Fool's Errand'' by Kyle Stanley Hunter (formerly published in DUNGEON Magazine). A down on his luck "proven loser" who survives by his wit, quick tongue, quick blade and quick reflexes (and mainly by running the hell away when outnumbered, unless he's sufficiently pissed off that he decides to indulge his inner {{Badass}} and take on a whole bunch of enemies by himself). Although he considers himself an "evil bastard" who puts his own survival first and claims he's "always prepared to be screwed over by his friends", Downer has demonstrated [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold amazing loyalty to friends]] and guild mates on several occasions, and he always pays back his debts. Downer's brother Aristide claims Downer is a "jerk", but then, Aristide is more of a typical drow (read: selfish and cruel) and his viewpoint is questionable. By the end of ''Fool's Errand'', Downer's status has been firmly updated to AntiHero.
* Subverted with Jack from ''ComicBook/{{Fables}}'' and its spin-off ''Jack of Fables." He starts out like this but get to know him long enough and like the tpb character introductions state he is the "lovable rogue" without the "lovable" part.
** From the same series is [[CunningLikeAFox Reynard the Fox]], who appears as one, who seems to have a self-serving agenda, but then genuinely appears to just want to help. He even points out that being self-serving and helping others are goals that complement each other.
* The Black Fox, a GentlemanThief foe of Franchise/SpiderMan, has this vibe going for him. So much so that Spider-Man actually lets him escape from their first few encounters because he just can't bring himself to send the Fox to jail.
* ComicBook/{{Gambit}} is made of this trope. He's a very charming thief.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fanworks]]
* Lampshaded in the ''Manga/DeathNote'' fic ''FanFic/ACureForLove'' when L indirectly calls Light one... [[ItMakesSenseInContext to his face.]] Mello and Matt better qualify.
* ''FanFic/AFarGreenCountry''. Elden is a deserter and a thief. Also, Durus and Surad are thieves. The story presents all three characters as protagonists: Elden became a thief for his own survival, and Durus and Surad become his allies.
* ''Fanfic/TheStrexFamily'' has an entire group of them--the "reverseverse Strexes"'s raison d'etre is basically "steal everything in site"
--> '''Miguel''': Gotta find my son! Gotta get out of--
--> '''Miguel''': (sees full cigar box)
--> '''Miguel''': (begins stuffing his pockets)
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* Definitely Disney/{{Aladdin}}, at least the [[Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon Disney version]].
* Esmeralda from ''Disney/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame''.
* ''WesternAnimation/SinbadLegendOfTheSevenSeas'' has Sinbad leading a troop of non-murderous pirates. They're just so awesome they don't need to kill. Except that one bit in the first scene where they did... but eh.
* Flynn Rider from ''Disney/{{Tangled}}'' certainly counts; he's dashing, funny and experiences the most CharacterDevelopment.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live Action]]
* Creator/DouglasFairbanks essentially invented this archetype for film and based his whole career on it: ''[[Film/TheThiefOfBagdad1924 The Thief of Baghdad]]'', ''Film/TheBlackPirate'', Robin Hood, The Three Musketeers, The Gaucho, ''Film/TheMarkOfZorro'', Don Juan, etc.
* TheArtfulDodger, in most film and stage versions. In the original book... not so much....
* Phil Moscowitz, the hero of the Creator/WoodyAllen comedy ''Film/WhatsUpTigerLily?'', who identifies himself as one when giving his name and occupation and whose lecherous behavior certainly fits the type.
* Daniel Dravot (Creator/SeanConnery) and Peachy Carnehan (Creator/MichaelCaine) from ''Film/TheManWhoWouldBeKing''. They're unscrupulous con men who set out to use modern weaponry and tactics to manipulate a small nation into appointing them kings, with the intent of making off with hoards of treasure, but for most of the film you can't help but root for them. This is very much a matter of AdaptationDistillation, since the original characters in the Kipling story are not particularly attractive, and Kipling doesn't pretend they are
* Han Solo from ''Franchise/StarWars''. He seems to be so lovable that all the pretty rotten things he has done seem so justifiable that they don't seem to sink in.
** Particularly in the Han Solo trilogy, but also in many other EU books, he has conned a number of people, smuggled what is basically the hardest spice (SW equivalent of drugs) available, stolen, forged government documents, entered Imperial services under a false ID, [[FakingTheDead faked his own death]], cheated at games of chance, betrayed several employers, led a picket ship on a chase that resulted in its complete destruction, bribed an Imperial officer, freed slaves (morally good, but technically illegal), led a raid on a former employer's base, resisted arrest a whole lot of times, kidnapped Leia, and killed numerous people (though all of them were at least directly or indirectly trying to kill him at the time). In some instances, these acts were justifiable by being morally good or because he didn't have any sort of choice, but in other cases they were purely selfish acts to get what he wanted.
** Essentially, the only two lines he consistently has shown is an unwillingness to kill anyone in cold blood and a refusal to take part a direct part in any type of slavery operation (he would work for slavers in other matters though).
** [[Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy Talon Karrde]] has been said by his creator to be based off of what Han Solo might have become in the years since the films, if he hadn't fallen for Leia. Karrde developed from there -- it's hard to imagine ''Solo'' running a large and well-organized smuggling/information brokering group -- but the basic idea is the same. He's NotInThisForYourRevolution, he has no love for the Empire but doesn't see the profit or point in open resistance, and he does have a sense of honor.
*** The audiobook version of ''Heir to the Empire'' even felt the need to give him a Spanish accent.
* Captain Jack Sparrow, from the ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'' movies, is a mix of this and MagnificentBastard. He has his own peculiar code of honor and is generally a protagonist, but is highly pragmatic and values his own skin over everyone else's.
---> '''Cdre Norrington''': You are without a doubt, the ''worst'' pirate I've ever heard of.
---> '''Cpt J. Sparrow''': But you ''have'' heard of me.
---> *after [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome the Captain's escape]]*
---> '''Lieutenant''': [[MagnificentBastard That's got to be the best pirate I've ever seen]].
---> '''Cdre Norrington''': So it would seem.
* The Dread Pirate Roberts from ''Film/ThePrincessBride''.
* Creator/ErrolFlynn in ''Film/CaptainBlood''. {{Pirate}}s are prone to being Loveable Rogues, apparently.
* Cpt. Louis Renault of ''Film/{{Casablanca}}'', although he [[HeelFaceTurn turns honest]] at the end.
* ''Film/RepoTheGeneticOpera'' has Grave-Robber, who is, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin obviously]], a graverobber. He's also a drug dealer who sleeps in a dumpster, but he is very, very loveable.
* Bob, the title character of ''Film/TheGoodThief''. Even the cop who's after him has a soft spot for the guy.
* The Man With No Name, as played by Creator/ClintEastwood in Creator/SergioLeone's ''Film/DollarsTrilogy'', is a con-man, a thief and a murderer, but dammit, he's just so cool with that poncho of his.
** [[TheGoodTheBadandtheUgly Tuco]] is even more roguish, and several times more lovable. A murderer, thief and alcoholic, but very personable.
* Rick O'Connell in ''Film/TheMummyTrilogy''. The fact that he started as a soldier in the [[LegionOfLostSouls French Foreign Legion]], until his unit was wiped out, only adds to his rogue status.
* ''Film/PlunkettAndMacleane'''s titular Macleane definitely fits the bill in spite of his thieving and gambling ways.
* Frank Skeffington, the [[SleazyPolitician crooked big-city machine politician]], is undoubtedly one of these in the movie version of ''Literature/TheLastHurrah''; he is ferociously loyal and would never desert a friend, and if he sometimes uses money or offices to secure political favors, he only does it to help out his constituents. He is slightly more overtly sympathetic in the film than in the book (see "Literature" section below).
* Abu in ''Film/TheThiefOfBagdad''.
* Eames in ''Film/{{Inception}}''.
* Rodney Skinner, in ''Film/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen''. A cheerfully self-acknowledged GentlemanThief, who stole the invisibility serum so that he ''could'' be the greatest thief in the world, he arguably emerges as the most loveable character in the whole movie. Bonus points for being [[spoiler:the ReverseMole]] and also for winning over fans of the graphic novel who were disgusted by his predecessor, original invisible man Hawley Griffin.
* Danny Ocean & Friends of ''Film/OceansEleven''. They're all charismatic in their own way, and everyone hates AssholeVictim Terry Benedict anyway.
* "Professor" Harold Hill, of ''Theatre/TheMusicMan'', is this, with a heavy emphasis on the Lovable part (since he's also TheCharmer).
* Private Hook in ''Film/{{Zulu}}''. Note artistic liberty here; the historical Private Hook was no malingerer, not in any way a disciplinary problem, and fought even more bravely in the battle than the film portrays him as doing. His surviving relatives walked out of the premiere when they saw how he'd been portrayed.
* Hachi in Film/{{Onibaba}}, though he's a pretty dark example, he's about as close as the movie gets to sympathetic.
* Creator/HughJackman's characters often use that trope, as in ''Film/{{X-Men}}'', ''Film/{{Swordfish}}'', or ''Film/VanHelsing''.
* BradPitt typically plays this type of character, such as ''Mr and Mrs Smith''.
* Stephen Bloom in "The Brothers Bloom". He's a con man who has no problems stealing money, blowing things up, and even occasionally being violent. He drinks, smokes, and swears. However, unless you try to hurt someone he cares about, he doesn't wish real harm on anyone. Stephen spends most of his life with one goal: taking care of the little brother he loves. In fact, the entire movie is a plot of Stephen's to find a way to make his brother happy.
* Frank Abagnale of ''Film/CatchMeIfYouCan'' (winningly played by Creator/LeonardoDiCaprio). He's a very clever young man who successfully passes for a lawyer, doctor, and airline pilot, whilst committing millions of dollars worth of check fraud. But he only does this because he sees no other prospects for himself; what he longs for most is a stable family. Pursuing FBI agent Carl Hanratty (Creator/TomHanks) comes to realize this, so arranges for Frank to eventually achieve a happy ending. This story has some overlap with RealLife.
* Character actor Creator/TerryThomas in most of his roles was that of an upper-class bounder and scoundrel. Still, there was something endearing about him. Perhaps it was because Terry-Thomas was also a gifted comedian.
* An interesting version in ''Film/ShishOBesh'': Sami is treated as one in-universe, but is in fact an unlikeable JerkAss.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Mythology]]
* Loki in Myth/NorseMythology.
* Hermes in Myth/ClassicalMythology, who may well be the TropeMaker and [[TropeCodifier codifier]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Folklore]]
* RobinHood.
* Slovakia has Juraj Jánošík, who also became a national symbol of resistance to oppression.
* Japan meanwhile has Goemon the charitable ninja.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* [[Literature/TheAdventuresOfTomSawyer Tom Sawyer]] commits petty misdemeanor after petty misdemeanor but generally gets a pass because he's such a charming little rascal.
** Although some of the stuff he does in ''Literature/AdventuresOfHuckleberryFinn'' crosses the line from "petty" to "WhatTheHellHero"
* Simon Templar, aka Literature/TheSaint.
* Literature/{{Discworld}}:
** Moist von Lipwig is one of these turned BoxedCrook. There's a bit of {{Deconstruction}} on the idea that he's only conned big businesses and people who deserved it, and never hurt anyone. Mr Pump reckons that, if you add up the amount of harm he's done, it's equivalent to killing 2.338 people, and this really gets brought home when it turns out [[spoiler:his girlfriend lost her job when he defrauded the bank she worked for]].
** The new miniseries subverts the expectations even more harshly; he apparently drove at least two people to suicide, and one innocent to prison, since he failed to realize that banks themselves would never admit mistakes on their part. It also multiplies the indirect deaths he's caused by a factor of (nearly) ten to 22.8.
** ''Discworld/NightWatch'''s Carcer Dun is a subversion; Vimes notes that he certainly looks and acts like one of your standard cheeky-yet-lovable-rascal types, but if you look closer you'll realise what an insane and unrepentant monster he is.
** Reacher Gilt is another subversion, a pretty nasty piece of work who charms people with his florid, pseudo-pirate style - he even has a parrot which squawks "twelve and a half percent" (work it out... )
** This applies to an entire race with the Nac Mac Feegle, "a bunch of [[StickyFingers thieving]], [[IllTakeTwoBeersToo drunken]] reprobates and scoff-laws with [[ChaoticGood no respect for the law]] whatsoever."
--> Would ye no mind addin' the words "[[BarBrawl drunken disorderly]]"? We would nae want to be sold short here.
--> And what about the [[ItMakesSenseInContext snail-rustling]], [[MeaningfulName Rob]]?
--> ''Have you no good points?''
--> We kind of thought [[InsultBackfire them is our good points]], but if ye want to get picky [[HonorAmongThieves we never steal]] from [[NeverHurtAnInnocent them as has nae money]]. We has [[HiddenHeartOfGold hearts of gold]], although maybe- okay mostly somebody elses's gold. And we did [[NoodleIncident invent]] the [[BreadEggsMilkSquick deep-fried stoat]], that must count for something.
* George Cooper, King of Thieves, from the ''Literature/{{Tortall|Universe}}'' books. His title is actually "The Rogue", and he basically runs the thieves' organization throughout the kingdom. (He later becomes the realm's spymaster.)
** Also Rosto the Piper and his friends in the ''Literature/ProvostsDog'' books. He actually builds George's future home base, the ''Dancing Dove'' Inn.
* Frank Skeffington in ''Literature/TheLastHurrah'' is a [[SleazyPolitician crooked big-city machine politician]] who is nonetheless beloved by his constituents (and ''not'' because [[VillainWithGoodPublicity he is fooling them]]- they know how he works, and they don't care). He may hand out offices and money as a way of buying political power, but he is ferociously loyal and would never desert a friend. Still, his portrayal is a little more overtly sympathetic in {{the Film|OfTheBook}} than in the novel, which is slightly more ambivalent about him and his legacy.
* The ''Literature/{{Nightrunner}}'' series is centered around spies and thieves.
* ''Literature/TheHobbit'': Bilbo Baggins is hired to be one of these, and manages to become one after obtaining the ring.
* Gonff, the Mousethief, from the ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'' novel "Mossflower" is decidedly one of these.
* ''Literature/TheStainlessSteelRat''.
* The Marquis De Carabas, from Creator/NeilGaiman's ''Literature/{{Neverwhere}}''.
* Zaphod Beeblebrox, from ''Franchise/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy''.
* Fred and George Weasley from the ''Literature/HarryPotter'' books. While in school they take a positive delight in breaking rules, including a couple of actual wizarding laws, and messing with people but always remain on the 'good' side of things. After leaving school they open an amazingly successful joke shop.
** The Marauders would be another, at least when they were young, having actually broken the law by not registering to become animagi, and being a bit jerkier.
* Adventurer, mercenary, pirate, counterfeiter and all-around adventurer "Half Cocked" (you don't want to know how he got that nickname) Jack Shaftoe, King of the Vagabonds and hero? of Creator/NealStephenson's ''Literature/TheBaroqueCycle''
* Crowley from ''Literature/GoodOmens''.
* Colonel Blood from George Macdonald Fraser's wonderfully troperiffic ''Literature/ThePyrates.''
* The entire Literature/GentlemanBastard gang.
* The Phouka in ''Literature/WarForTheOaks'' qualifies; his idea of buying things is paying for them with soon-disappearing fairy gold. But being a member of TheFairFolk, he probably can't really help it.
* Silk from ''Literature/{{Belgariad}};'' popular enough that he was the only non-sorcerer member of the party (aside from the Love Interest Ce'Nedra) to star in both ''The Belgariad'' and its sequel, ''The Mallorean''.
** Creator/DavidEddings then put artistic street urchin and pickpocket Talen and GentlemanThief Stragen into ''Literature/TheElenium'' and ''Literature/TheTamuli''.
* Mulch Diggums from the ''Literature/ArtemisFowl'' series.
* Reynard from David R. Witanowski's ''Literature/TheReynardCycle''.
** Subverted in the second and third books in the series, as the character begins to shift into HeWhoFightsMonsters.
* Packrat in the ''Literature/{{Shadowleague}}'' trilogy.
* Jonathan Small, opponent of ''Literature/SherlockHolmes'' in "Sign of the Four" has committed various acts of murder and robbery, which he tells of in detail - and still has much of the reader's sympathy. He has a strong loyalty to his three co-conspirators; also, much of his story takes place in a quite brutal penal colony - and of course, in this situation the reader tends to side with the prisoner against the guards.
* Otto of Shlepswig in Creator/HarryTurtledove's ''Every Inch A King''
* Ostap Bender, ConMan in Soviet Russia in 1920s in ''Literature/TheTwelveChairs'' and ''Literature/TheLittleGoldenCalf'' by Ilf and Petrov and its adaptations.
* Like the Literature/{{Discworld}} example above, almost deconstructed in Chris Wooding's ''[[Literature/TalesOfTheKettyJay Ketty Jay]]'' series with Darian Frey, the main protagonist. He's a petty crook, and while he's certainly charming, has yet to cross the MoralEventHorizon, and [[CharacterDevelopment learned loyalty to his crew]], he is also deeply selfish and the author never lets us forget his flaws for long. In his first appearance he [[spoiler: allows an enemy to shoot his friend and shipmate rather than lose his ship]]; in the first scene of the second book, he and his crew are found ''robbing an orphanage''. Yet, they remain sympathetic. That takes skill.
* Fisk from the ''[[Literature/KnightAndRogueSeries Knight and]]'' '''''[[Literature/KnightAndRogueSeries Rogue]]''''' ''[[Literature/KnightAndRogueSeries Series]]'' is this for the first two books, though by the third constant close quarters with Michael seems to have gotten him to behave a little more within the law.
* Dirk Slipstream in the ''Series/DoctorWho'' novel ''Night of the Humans'' claims to be this. However, it turns out [[spoiler:he's a mass murderer and an escaped convict out to settle a score with the Doctor and obtain a powerful artifact]]. He still talks like a British rogue (e.g. "sorry, ol' chap").
* Ragnar Danneskjöld of ''Literature/AtlasShrugged'' is a pirate who steals from relief ships bound for famine-struck countries. He, quite literally, ''steals food from starving children.'' (He keeps most of the profits, too.) It is implied, by the narrator that most of those relief goods never would have reached those starving children anyway. Nevertheless, he is presented as a charming hero.
* Count Vega from ''Literature/{{Wereworld}}''. A pirate, exile, and a lady killer who has a crush on Whitley.
* Ilmar the Slick in Creator/SergeyLukyanenko's ''Literature/SeekersOfTheSky'' duology is a thief, a grave robber, and a murderer (although in this world's mythology he hasn't yet committed the "mortal sin" of killing a dozen). He's also a devout follower of one of the two [[TheChurch Churches]] of this world (the one more concerned with redemption and forgiveness than punishment) and will often donate sacred texts found in abandoned temples to the Church. Unlike a typical rogue, Ilmar isn't shown to be particularly charming. His fling with a female pilot (who's also a countess) happens after he kidnaps her and forces her to fly him to the mainland. They crash, and she ends up having GladToBeAliveSex with him, while he can't even move.
* Jeff Raven of The ''Literature/TowerAndTheHive'' series. A Prime-level "Wild Talent" (a psychic-powered human with no formal training), who swoops in and claims the heart of The Rowan (the strongest Prime around) with nothing more than confidence and mental rapport.
* Hex from the ''Literature/AlphaForce'' series. A snarky serial hacker who's apparently broken into some highly classified websites, who admits he only does it for the challenge (Except when the person [[PayEvilUntoEvil really deserves to have their bank accounts emptied]]) and is otherwise highly moral.
* Tasslehoff from ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'' could count as this.
* Han "Cuffs" Alister from ''Literature/TheSevenRealmsSeries'' is this.
* The Artful Dodger from ''Literature/OliverTwist'' is this. Even more so in ''Theatre/{{Oliver}}'' .
* Will from ''Literature/TheYearOfRogueDragons'' qualifies.
* Practically the entire main cast from ''Literature/MistbornTheOriginalTrilogy'', seeing as how they form a thieving crew.
* Jean Valjean from ''Literature/LesMiserables'', the book's primary protagonist, {{Atoner}}, and [[MessianicArchetype Messiah]]. He's a convict who spent years in prison for [[JayWalkingWillRuinYourLife stealing a loaf of bread]] to feed his sister's starving family, with more added to his sentence due repeated attempts to escape - making it a total of 19 years. He then spends the rest of the story trying to make the best of his life by being an honest man.
* Demigod children of [[Myth/GreekMythology Hermes]] in the ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'' series are this by default; their father is basically the god of this trope. [[spoiler: Subverted with Luke, however]].
* Thomas Raith of ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles''. As a vampire, he has a slightly different morality system from humans, but he does try to [[FriendlyNeighborhoodVampire minimize the damage he causes]]. It helps that he becomes a [[TheWoobie woobie]] to rival the protagonist as we learn more about him, and that he's not a sociopath like the rest of his vampiric family.
* Downplayed with Emmon in ''[[Literature/AnnalsOfTheWesternShore Gifts]]''. Caspromant only takes him in because the whole place is undergoing a HeroicBSOD. As a lowlander, Emmon's accent reminds Canoc of his recently-deceased wife, and Emmon has entertaining stories and questions for Orrec and Gry; plus he's a novelty. When he takes some silverware with him on his way out, the family takes it stoically since they knew he was a thief in the first place.
* Abe Mazur from ''Literature/VampireAcademy''. Eventually. He is a smuggler and trader in information. He remains a rogue to the end of the series. But comes off as a charming person and loveable TeamDad to Rose's supporters in their efforts to protect her.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* Bret Maverick, from the aptly named western ''Series/{{Maverick}}''. Most often Bret is forced to break the law by escaping jail for crimes he's framed of, or commits crimes as part of schemes and cons to outwit those they have wronged him, (stolen his winnings), or his loved ones.
* Del Boy from ''Series/OnlyFoolsAndHorses''.
** Boycie, originally a [[SmugSnake less loveable]] SitcomArchNemesis for Del Boy, [[CharacterDevelopment developed]] into one following his own turn in the spotlight in ''Series/TheGreenGreenGrass''.
* Monkey from ''Series/{{Monkey}}''.
* Arthur Daley from ''Series/{{Minder}}'', from season 8 and onwards.
* The title character of ''Series/RemingtonSteele''.
* Newkirk from ''Series/HogansHeroes'', pickpocket and card-cheater. Good thing he only uses his skills on the Nazis.
** Hogan might also qualify, given how much of a ManipulativeBastard he is.
* Autolycus, the King of Thieves from ''Series/HerculesTheLegendaryJourneys'' and ''Series/XenaWarriorPrincess''.
** Made more loveable by being played by Creator/BruceCampbell himself.
* The title character of ''Series/RobinHood''.
* Vila Restal from ''Series/BlakesSeven''. Not to mention being a card-carrying coward.
* Captain Malcolm Reynolds from ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' and ''Serenity''.
** Jayne fits the type, even if it's only the audience that finds him lovable. He's like Mal, but without the (semi-)moral compass. Or the smarts ... though he ''does'' look cunning in that hat.[[note]] "That hat makes you look ridiculous." [[/note]]
* The main characters from ''Series/{{Hustle}}'', a team of con artists who only con those who deserve it.
* Ezra, the gambler and con man from ''Series/TheMagnificentSeven''.
* Hatter, from the SyFy version of ''{{Series/Alice|2009}}''. Combine Han Solo and Captain Jack Sparrow (complete with Guyliner) but slightly less rogue and more lovable through the second part of the series.
* Shawn Spencer, from ''Series/{{Psych}}'', who likes coming up with scams and cons as part of his job. But he also scams people to keep his best friend from looking bad...
** Not to mention the fact that he scams the police department, ''regularly'', by pretending to be a psychic. Oh, and the various crimes and misdemeanors he perpetrates in ''every single episode''.
*** But he only does those things to solve ''worse'' crimes (and the first time, to keep from being wrongfully arrested)!... And also sometimes for fun.
**** And wrongfully arrested for essentially doing the police department's job for them. Constantly. If anyone is justified for irreverent behavior towards law enforcement, it's Shawn.
*** Basically, the cops would rather arrest him for being involved in a crime than believe he's that good at spotting things.
* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' tried to pull one of these off in a second season episode, "[[InformedAttribute The Outrageous Okona]]". While it didn't work too well, he was at least a ''little'' funny.
** On the other hand the [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries original series]] did it very well with the immortal and immoral Harry Mudd, as well as the somewhat more benevolent Cyrano Jones.
** ''ST:TNG'' also had a supporting character named Vash, a female version of this trope who romanced Picard for a short time. For bonus irony points, Q [[spoiler: casts her as Maid Marion in a Robin Hood fantasy.]]
* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': Quark is one of these most of the time almost to the point of being a GentlemanThief. This makes him the first exemplar of the virtues of Ferengi. Its telling that Quark is noticeably uncomfortable when he turns to arms dealing to stay afloat and the people who liked him up to that point are disappointed in him. He also typically abhors violence.
* Hellooo, he's Captain Jack Harkness of ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'' fame, pleased to make your acquaintance.
* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
** The Doctor stole his TARDIS, fled his home planet, disrespects most forms of authority and is a very loveable guy. The most obvious example is the Fourth Doctor, a vibrant but [[ByronicHero slightly difficult]] RebelliousSpirit [[TheCharmer charisma volcano]] associated with {{Swashbuckler}} tropes, though the First, Second, Eleventh and Twelfth qualify particularly too.
** River Song is a rare female example of this trope. She's a time-travelling archaeologist, [[spoiler:convicted murderer, thief]] and still saves the universe every now and then with the Doctor.
** A (less heroic than the above) example from the classic series was Sabalom Glitz, a charming conman who showed up in a few episodes and became a friendly acquaintance of The Doctor. His character was so enjoyable that episodes featuring him tended to gloss over things like [[MoralDissonance him selling his mutinous crew into slavery.]]
* Sawyer from ''Series/{{Lost}}'', a highly popular character despite being a conman and murderer.
** In season 5, he [[CharacterDevelopment develops]] from one into a snarky but otherwise perfectly heroic character. [[spoiler:The actor has said that Juliet's death will push him into this territory again in season 6... except drop the "loveable".]]
* Claude Greengrass in the British period police soap ''Series/{{Heartbeat}}''. Lampshaded when a character calls Greengrass a rogue and he responds "Yes, but I'm loveable".
** Also later Peggy Armstrong, who began as an Unlovable Rogue but was subsequently softened. In between there was Vernon Scripps, who is often considered this, but stayed on the right side of the law.
* Jack and Stan from ''OnTheBuses''. Not criminals, just terminally lazy.
* Pretty much the entire cast of ''Series/{{Leverage}}''.
* Dean and Sam Winchester of ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'', who commit credit card fraud and hustle pool to fund their world-saving activities.
* Claude Rains, the {{invisible}}, [[HomelessPigeonPerson pigeon-keeping]] thief in the first season of ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' is utterly cynical, lives invisibly (thus isolating himself from the rest of society), hates everyone, and steals everything he needs,but everyone loves him because we've seen glimpses of [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold something more underneath all that]].
** It also helps that he's played by [[Series/DoctorWho the]] [[TheNthDoctor Ninth]] [[Creator/ChristopherEccleston Doctor]].
* Jack (Creator/BruceCampbell) from ''Series/JackOfAllTrades''.
* Neal, the main character of ''Series/WhiteCollar'' personifies this trope.
* Omar, from ''Series/TheWire'' definitely falls under this category. He makes his living ripping off drug dealers and is constantly killing people. But he has a moral code of "all in the game" and he is just too loveable for the audience not to, well, love.
* Neil from ''Series/TheLibrarians2007'' sees himself as a loveable rogue. No one else does.
* All of the members of ''Series/TheATeam'' are this since the bad guys are so one-dimensionally horrible, but Face probably fits here the most since he's the slick and charming [[HandsomeLech ladies' man]] (and ConMan). The team also fits as a group of Anti-Heroes.
* Starbuck from ''Series/BattlestarGalactica1978''. Added bonus when played by Dirk Benedict, who was also Face.
** And there's Chameleon (played by Creator/FredAstaire), which is appropriate considering he's [[spoiler: Starbuck's father]].
* Anthony Dinozzo Sr. from ''Series/{{NCIS}}''.
* Taja from ''Series/MortalKombatConquest'' is still mostly this after joining the group.
* Darien Fawkes in ''Series/TheInvisibleMan''. He's a notorious thief who only got caught last time because he tried to revive an old man he thought was having a heart attack (instead, he got [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished convicted for attempted rape]]). His brother, an accomplished scientist, gets him out of prison to be the guinea pig for a top-secret project. After Darien gets the [[AppliedPhlebotinum quicksilver]] gland, he can now become invisible at will. A dream come true for a thief. However, he needs regular injections of a counteragent that prevents him from going insane from quicksilver overdose, a deliberate flaw in the gland. Despite now working for a secret government agency, Darien still has plenty of roguish qualities, who loves to use his new ability to sneak into places he shouldn't (like spy on a guard and a nurse getting it on). However, in the series finale, the flaw in the gland is finally fixed, allowing him to be free from the Agency. The first thing he does is rob a place, only to leave the money on the sidewalk when he realizes he's not the same guy anymore.
* [[{{Pun}} Lutin]], from ''Series/TheLegendOfDickAndDom'', is introduced in the opening credit voiceover as the heroes' thieving servant. Saves the quest several times with heists, capers and jailbreaks, as well as routinely sabotaging opponents and lifting small items; she's a classic cheeky, sarcastic rogue.
* Dennis Stanton on ''Series/MurderSheWrote''. A jewel thief who crossed Jessica Fletcher's path several times. (He ended up using his skills for legal purposes as an insurance investigator.)
* [[Series/LostGirl Kenzi]] is a rare female example.
* Gwen Raiden from ''Series/{{Angel}}'' is also like this.
* Danny from ''Series/RedfernNow'' is a shoplifter who becomes inadvertently involved in a hit-and-run--when he calls an ambulance in the latter case it begins his CharacterDevelopment that puts the "lovable" in his character.
* Vala Mal Doran from ''Series/StargateSG1''.
** Aris Boch as well.
** Much like [[{{Series/Firefly}} Jayne]], theirs also Golan Jarlath.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
* The late Wrestling/EddieGuerrero was well known for his "Lie, Cheat, and Steal" lifestyle. But he was so damn charming, he'd usually get away with it, all the while stealing the audience's hearts.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
* Former French President Jacques Chirac is portrayed this way in the satirical fake news show with puppets ''Series/LesGuignolsDeLInfo'', being shown to be a shameless liar (he even had another identity as Super Menteur, i.e. "Super Liar") while still remaining highly likable. It's thought this may have actually helped (the real) Jacques Chirac get re-elected.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Radio]]
* Harry Lime as he was portrayed in ''Radio/TheLivesOfHarryLime''. He was considerably less loveable in ''Film/TheThirdMan''.
* Gemma and Damien Mildury in ''Radio/TheSpaceGypsyAdventures'', it helps that they mostly steal from the [[TheEmpire Federal Alliance]] military and that Damien's only about ten years old.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* There's a good chance that any given Thief/Rogue, Bard, or Swashbuckler you meet in a game of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' is this kind of character.
** An old maxim of roleplaying states that "A thief or rogue characer will never be morally centrist. He will either be a good-natured chap who steals from people who deserve it and is the subject of much affection, or he will be a complete sociopath".
** There's an even better chance they won't be, but will pretend they are.
* The [[PlanetOfHats hat]] of the [[TabletopGame/{{Talislanta}} Sarista]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theater]]
* Falstaff in Shakespeare's ''Theatre/HenryIV''.
* The Engineer from ''Theatre/MissSaigon''.
* Creator/BertoltBrecht {{deconstruct|edTrope}}ts this trope in ''Theatre/TheThreepennyOpera''.
* The rogue Autolycus in Shakespeare's ''Theatre/TheWintersTale''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* Luis Sera from ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4''. A charismatic womanizer with a good heart working for the wrong side.
* Locke the [[InsistentTerminology treasure hunter]], from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' is pretty much the definition of this trope, though he drifts into being less of a rogue and more of a hero as the game progresses.
* Practically 25% of the world's population in ''VideoGame/SkiesOfArcadia'' is made up of these. Naturally, this includes all the playable characters.
* Balthier from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII''. Considering how much ''Final Fantasy XII'' seems to be inspired by ''StarWars'', he's almost certainly inspired by Han Solo.
* If Robin Hood is a Loveable Rogue, then definitely we have to include Yoshimitsu of ''[[VideoGame/SoulSeries SoulCalibur]]'' and ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}''. In both games, he steals from rich people and gives to the poor, much like Robin Hood. Most people love him, even if he's not really important to either storyline, but everyone loves him only because he's just so damn awesome. It helps that he can use his sword as a pogo stick. And as a helicopter.
* Jansen Friedh from ''VideoGame/LostOdyssey'' plays this one almost perfectly, with a healthy dose of PluckyComicRelief. ObfuscatingStupidity too. And a little bit of ButtMonkey. He's one of the best characters in the game.
* Hawkeye from ''Seiken Densetsu 3'', who seems to be modeled off of Robin Hood.
* The two characters in ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' who get a KarmaHoudini fall under this category. For [[spoiler: PhantomThief Ron De Lite it's because he's so darn adorable]] and for [[spoiler: Shelly de Killer it's because he's such a classy assassin.]]
** And Kay Faraday, even though she doesn't technically steal anything. Except the truth!
* Rei and Teepo from ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireIII'', respectively an DeadpanSnarker ClassyCatBurglar and a HotBlooded BadassAdorable mugger.
* Heather, from ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTellius Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn]]'' is a thief who steals more for her sick mother than herself. She also steals money by charming men, however, despite [[AmbiguouslyGay flirting with every female she engages in conversation with.]]
** In [[FireEmblemElibe Fire Emblem Blazing Sword]], there's Legault. Whether he's AmbiguouslyBi or not ([[BrokenBase the fandom still doesn't decide]]), he sure is a charmer.
** Matthew qualifies as well. Come to think of it, this is a recurring trend in the Franchise/FireEmblem series.
** Colm from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones'' as well, with a hint of JerkWithAHeartOfGold.
** Also Julian, from Shadow Dragon, though that's more brought on by the IncorruptiblePurePureness of Lena.
** Gaius, from ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]'', is first seen with a band of assassins with designs on killing the Exalt, having been led to believe they were just there to rob the place. He's... upset when he finds out the truth, and joins the party at the prospect of [[SweetTooth free candy]] as well as [[FireForgedFriends being in more savory company.]]
* Zidane Tribal from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX''.
** The rest of Tantalus probably qualifies too.
* The Prince in ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersia2008'' seems to be this, considering how the developers have stated that he's inspired by Harrison Ford's characters. [[spoiler:Although the ending also has a VERY serious moment that might be crossing the MoralEventHorizon.]]
* Nick from ''Videogame/{{Left 4 Dead 2}}'' has a somewhat shady (and probably violent) criminal past, and he starts out with a lone wolf-style attitude, but because of the circumstances he's in, as the game progresses, he's slowly forced to shed that attitude, and learns to trust and respect his teammates (well, respect MOST of them) and almost grows close to them, through whatever they go through.
** It also helps that he's the character providing most of the game's DeadpanSnarker. He bounces some of the best lines off of [[CloudCuckooLander Ellis]] because of this.
* Milanor the Silver Wolf from ''VideoGame/YggdraUnion'' is the leader of a loosely-knit group of vagabonds, but he also helps the eponymous princess form [[LaResistance a counter-imperial rebellion]].
* Nathan Drake's interactions with his crew in the ''VideoGame/{{Uncharted}}'' series makes him an lovable and entertaining rogue. He also tends to operate at least somewhat outside the law (such as being forced to get into an explosive gunfight with pirates in the first game's intro due to operating without a permit), and ''[[VideoGame/Uncharted2AmongThieves Uncharted 2]]'' opens with him engaging in a museum break-in.
* ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'': Ezio Auditore da Firenze, before he received some hefty CharacterDevelopment.
* ''VideoGame/CrimsonSkies''' Nathan Zachary.
* Imoen, [[spoiler:[[BigBrotherInstinct your own little sister]]]], from the ''VideoGame/BaldursGate'' series definitely qualifies, though she dual-classes into a SquishyWizard in the sequel. Her merciless torture at the hands of Jon Irenicus is a vicious PlayerPunch and one of the main reasons for you to hate Irenicus' guts.
** Yoshimo also works ''hard'' to project this image, although there are [[{{Foreshadowing}} moments]] where it's a little off. From all indications he was 100% this trope prior to [[spoiler:selling his life and soul to Irenicus]].
** Saemon Havarian probably works as this as well, if not for the fact that half of the time the one he's screwing over is ''you''. He seems to hold no ill will towards you or anyone despite throwing you to the wolves repeatedly to save his own skin (and he ''does'' seem to have an interest in defeating the BigBad as long as he's not in the direct line of fire), and you have the option of having CHARNAME reciprocate. After about the third time he backstabs you the dialogue offers the line that it's basically [[ReliableTraitor just Saemon being Saemon]].
* Tomi Undergallows from ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights'' is probably the most entertaining henchman for his sense of humor and his [[UnreliableNarrator questionably accurate tales of working for evil monstrous humanoids and stealing the hearts of women twice his size]]. Deekin from the expansion packs also counts because, well, he's a kobold bard. A [[AlwaysChaoticEvil nonevil]] kobold bard who speaks in the third person and sings about doom. How can you not love that? "AAAAHH! Deekin...heart..."
* Neeshka from ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2''. She is a sort of a tiefling reincarnation of Imoen. Safiya's familiar in Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask Of The Betrayer may count as well.
* Chosokabe Motochika from ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara'' is a kleptomaniac {{pirate}} known as the "Demon of the Western Sea" who crushes people's skulls with a [[AnchorsAway giant anchor]]. However, once you get past this he's actually a fairly honest, charming, and good-hearted guy who values things like friendship and keeping promises, and overall one of the most honourable characters around.
* Lara Croft from ''Franchise/TombRaider''. While the game would prefer you to see her as an AdventurerArchaeologist, in [[RealLife the real world]] she would be called an ordinary [[GraveRobbing grave robber]].
** Speaking of Eidos, ''VideoGame/{{Gex}}'' was reportedly supposed to be this, as revealed in the interview with the creator at the end of the Enter The Gecko Strategy Guide.
* And for that matter, don't forget [[PhantomThief Garrett]] from the ''VideoGame/{{Thief}}'' series.
* Rikku from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX''. Sure, she's a thief who comes from a group of people who are considered heathens, and even kidnaps Yuna at one point, but she's also a sweet, lovable GenkiGirl who's always ready to brighten up the mood.
* [[ClassyCatBurglar Kasumi Goto]] from ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', primarily due to her [[GenkiGirl upbeat, energetic nature]] but still [[TearJerker sad]] backstory. It also helps that she's willing to risk her life for humanity along with the rest of you and she seems to genuinely care about the crew being the ShipperOnDeck for multiple potential couples.
* Sly Cooper from the ''Franchise/SlyCooper'' games definitely falls under this category, along with the rest of the Cooper Gang.
* [[PirateGirl Isabela]] from ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' sits here [[TheLadette with a drink]] and [[KnifeNut a few knives]] most of the time, if only because of her easygoing nature and the fact that the loss of her ship has forced her into [[ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything a lack of pirating recently.]] [[spoiler:It can be subverted when she abandons Hawke and Kirkwall to the Qunari at the climax of Act II. If the player has her at at least 50 friendship/rivalry though, [[ChangedMyMindKid she'll come back.]]]] There's also the fact that she lost her ship in the first place because she refused to carry a shipment of slaves.
** Zevran and Varric also count. One of them is a charming assassin with some degree of conscience, the other is a witty information man.
* The Smuggler in ''Videogame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'' runs on this Trope. S/he is RefugeInAudacity personified, starts out as a small-time gun-runner on a corrupt Republic backwater and pretty much ends up leading half the criminal underworld by the endgame. But it's hard ''not'' to laugh when the Smuggler trolls the guy who stole his/her ship by inflating the guy's criminal record ''and'' marking him as a carrier of "Bothan Nether Rot."
* Ozan, one of the Signature Heroes of ''VideoGame/RuneScape'', seems to fit this category well. He happens to be a thief and a liar with an inflated ego... Yet his friendly, fun and charming personality makes him likable despite this. Oh, and he ''is'' a hero (if the term Signature Heroes wasn't enough of a clue).
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'' introduced the Mogmas, a race of tunnel dwellers who are mostly seen plotting to steal ancient treasure from the local temples. Despite being thieves they always repay debts, and their kindness and inclination to help Link save Zelda make them very lovable.
* Raven from ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'', who, despite being a bit of a [[ChivalrousPervert pervert]] and working a selfish agenda, also happens to be a genuinely good guy and the comic relief character.
* Sky from ''VideoGame/JadeEmpire''.
* Lyndon from ''VideoGame/DiabloIII'', despite [[BlackAndGrayMorality the setting]], falls squarely into this category, much thanks to his charming (and humorous) personality. [[spoiler:He does have ''some'' noble motivations at least--one of his own thefts caused his brother to be imprisoned, and Lyndon is working to get him freed.]]
* The majority of characters from {{Pirate101}} fall under this trope.
* The Spy from ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' considers himself this, and is one when on your team. On the enemy team, he's a sadistic psychopath.
* In later video games, the crew of ''Saints Row'' makes a point of deliberately branding themselves as this trope as they become famous.
-->'''Zinyak:''' I should have realized a prison of peace would never hold a sociopath like yourself.
-->'''Boss:''' I'm more of a puckish rogue.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* Mordekai from the Fantasy theme of ''Webcomic/IrregularWebcomic'' actually [[http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/comic.php?comic=590 insists]] [[http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/comic.php?comic=1593 on]] [[http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/2637.html being]] referred to as a ''Loveable Rogue''.
* Julio Scoundrel in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', who briefly becomes Elan's mentor.
** And back in the main party, Haley Starshine probably qualifies, even though we almost never see her actually break any laws (at least, in the strip itself).
*** We see her doing a sneaky burglary and theft in the prequel ''On the Origin of [[PlayerCharacter PCs]]'', and likewise in [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0577.html this online comic strip]]. Suffice to say, in ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' the Thief or Rogue has been a character class from the beginning, and a life of crime does not mean a thief character is automatically considered ''evil'' in alignment, he just cannot be ''lawful''.
*** At least in the 3.5 and 4th editions, even that was dropped when rogues were generalized towards "sneaky and talented one", including characters like spies or assassins with codes of honour.
* ''WebComic/MagickChicks'': Ash has occasionally leads breastplate raids on [[AllGirlSchool Artemis Academy.]] Despite this, he's roguishly handsome and charming enough that he's gained a fair number of admirers among its students. It also helps that [[AFatherToHisMen he looks out for his cohorts]] and is skilled enough [[http://www.magickchicks.com/strips-mc/you_have_improved to match repartee and trade punches]] with their student council president, [[DatingCatwoman whom he happens to be dating]], as ''even she'' [[http://www.magickchicks.com/strips-mc/cheatin_powers can't resist his charms.]]
* ''Webcomic/HarkAVagrant'' [[http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=53 portrays]] RobinHood in this manner. Dick Turpin, [[SubvertedTrope on the other hand...]]
* The pirates from Webcomic/DubiousCompany. Sure they steal [[HeroStoleMyBike ships]], [[TrademarkFavoriteFood rum]], and [[MagiTek polyphase conductors]], but overall they're [[PokeThePoodle terrible]] [[MinionWithAnFInEvil pirates]]. Of course their main adversaries, the Imperial Guard, are [[WhatTheHellHero terrible]] [[HeroWithAnFinGood officers]]. A major arc involved the pirates trying to stop the Imperial Guard from giving the [[EvilOverlord Emperor]] [[FusionDance superpowers]], by [[HumanSacrifice murdering]] an otherwise innocent priestess.
* ''Webcomic/{{Greg}}'': Ted displays his rouge tendencies by sneaking onto a college campus disguised as a professor to score the digits of the female students and [[http://gregcomic.com/2011/09/09/storyline-back-to-campus-part-1/ more]].
* This trope is {{invoked|Trope}} in ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' to describe [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=006414 the difference between the Rogue and Thief classes]]:
-->[[color:#929292:UU: a rogUe is a passive class. yoU see, there are passive (+) and active (-) classes. some more strongly passive or active than others. ]]
-->[[color:#929292:UU: the +/- distinction can mean many things, bUt coUld be qUite roUghly sUmmed Up in this way: active classes exploit their aspect to benefit themselves, while passive classes allow their aspect to benefit others.]]
-->...
-->[[color:#929292:UU: classes always come in +/- pairs, with significant disparity between them. ]]
-->[[color:#929292:UU: while a rogUe is passive, a thief woUld be its far more active coUnterpart.]]
-->[[color:#ff6ff2:TG: so basically ]]
-->[[color:#ff6ff2:TG: a thief is like the asshole class ]]
-->[[color:#ff6ff2:TG: the player who says step off shits mine suckas ]]
-->[[color:#ff6ff2:TG: whereas ]]
-->[[color:#ff6ff2:TG: a rogue ]]
-->[[color:#ff6ff2:TG: is bascially robin hood]]
* Though he claims otherwise at first, Varden of ''Webcomic/{{Inverloch}} is really a decent fellow who comes to really care about the group (especially Lei'ella). He got into thieving mainly because of emotional issues about his MissingMom and his dad's shipping business going bust due to politics, and stayed in it because he enjoyed it and he was good at it. [[spoiler:Lei'ella becomes his partner for a while, but eventually convinces him to follow his dad's footsteps after a dangerous job.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Web Original]]
* Captain Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock in WebVideo/HitlerRants. In ''Film/DasBoot'', he was a TragicHero caught up in a war he did not understand. In the U-Boat Parodies, he's a loveable, manipulative rogue who always manages to remain one step ahead of Hitler, and almost always finds ways to benefit from the latter's misery.
* The Undersiders from {{Worm}} are this to a greater (Tattletale and Grue) or lesser (Regent and Bitch) degree when we first meet them. A band of teenage supervillains who rob banks and casinos and whatnot for fun and profit, all of them either have sympathetic motivations (like Grue) or extremely nasty backstories which guarantee that they couldn't have normal lives even if they wanted to for reasons largely beyond their control. As the [[VillainProtagonist Villain Protagonists]] of the story, they tend to fluctuate between putting their lives on the line for the greater good and trying to Take Over the City.
* Jack Masterson of ''Literature/ChronoHustle'' is a con artist who has no problem lying and cheating. But he does try to avoid hurting good people, and will help out people in need from time to time.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* [[SecretIdentity The Blue Spirit]] of ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', the "lovable" part established in Season 1, with the "rogueish" part not really coming out until he committed several thefts and at least one death threat.
* Rattrap from ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars''. At one point Optimus Primal is presumed dead during the course of one night. During that time Rattrap takes it upon himself to take over his (much nicer) quarters and replace everything with his own stuff. When he is called out on it, his response is basically "Hey, come on. What do you expect?"
* Bender from ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}''.
-->'''Bender:''' It's me! Bender! The lovable rascal!
* Puck from ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'' most definitely qualifies. "Sunny disposition and always kind to animals" indeed.
* WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck of ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' fame, under Robert [=McKimson=]'s direction was evolved into a {{comp|ositeCharacter}}romise of both his [[ScrewySquirrel former]] and [[SmallNameBigEgo latter]] forms, often acting as a con artist or door to door salesman. In tradition with this trope, his luck was often [[LaserGuidedKarma karma based]], when trying to swindle protagonists such as WesternAnimation/BugsBunny and WesternAnimation/PorkyPig he was usually foiled, when trying to make money out of antagonists such as Elmer Fudd and the Tazmanian Devil however, Daffy would often make a profit.
* ''WesternAnimation/ShaunTheSheep'' in his spin off series. His schemes often involve screwing the Farmer or Bitzer in some way, but he has no harmful intent and occasionally tries to do nice things for them to compensate. Usually the rest of the flock get in on this too.
* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' has Red X, who is not only entertainingly witty during combat, but also manages to ''completely dominate'' all five Titans at once. He also remarks that he doesn't steal for any sort of incomprehensibly psychopathic reason; he's just doing it all [[ItAmusedMe for the fun]]. To add to this status, he even saves the heroes' lives and helps save the city before escaping.
* Jerry of ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry'' was supposed to be this.
* ''WesternAnimation/TopCat'' and his gang of alley cats are either con artists or {{Zany Scheme}}rs, but have altruistic qualities and a ton of charisma to boot.
* Also ''WesternAnimation/YogiBear'' of [[Creator/HannaBarbera the same team]]. He's obsessed with stealing 'pic-a-nic baskets' from campers and often winding up [[HeroAntagonist Ranger Smith]] in the process, but he's a friendly easy going guy who is repentant when his stunts cause significant problems in the park. In most interpretations he is not portrayed as a thief he becomes an outright protagonist solving mysteries or helping friends.
* The title character of "Dan Vs." is a [[HairTriggerTemper short-tempered]] {{Jerkass}} who will use any means possible to get [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge his revenge]] on people for petty reasons, but his hidden FreudianExcuse and ComedicSociopathy, accompanied with the fact that his foes are usually [[BiggerBad worse]], makes it very hard not to like him.
[[/folder]]

----

* Demigod children of [[Myth/GreekMythology Hermes]] in the ''PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'' series are this by default; their father is basically the god of this trope. [[spoiler: Subverted with Luke, however]].

* Omar, from the HBO series, ''Series/TheWire'' definitely falls under this category. He makes his living ripping off drug dealers and is constantly killing people. But he has a moral code of "all in the game" and he is just too loveable for the audience not to, well, love.
* Neil from ''Series/TheLibrarians'' sees himself as a loveable rogue. No one else does.

* Starbuck from the original ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|1978}}''. Added bonus when played by Dirk Benedict, who was also Face.
** And there's Chameleon (played by Fred Astaire), which is appropriate considering he's [[spoiler: Starbuck's father]].
* [[Series/{{NCIS}} Anthony Dinozzo Sr.]]

* Captain Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock in WebVideo/HitlerRants. In ''DasBoot'', he was a TragicHero caught up in a war he did not understand. In the U-Boat Parodies, he's a loveable, manipulative rogue who always manages to remain one step ahead of Hitler, and almost always finds ways to benefit from the latter's misery.

* Starbuck from the original ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|Classic}}''. Added bonus when played by Dirk Benedict, who was also Face.

-> ''"Now; I did a job. Got nothing but trouble since I did it, not to mention more than a few unkind words as regard to my character. So let me make this abundantly clear: I do the job... and then I get paid. [[IronicEcho Go run your little world.]]"''

** And theirs Chameleon (played by Fred Astaire), which is appropriate considering he's [[spoiler: Starbuck's father]].

* The Smuggler in ''StarWarsTheOldRepublic'' runs on this Trope. S/he is RefugeInAudacity personified, starts out as a small-time gun-runner on a corrupt Republic backwater and pretty much ends up leading half the criminal underworld by the endgame. But it's hard ''not'' to laugh when the Smuggler trolls the guy who stole his/her ship by inflating the guy's criminal record ''and'' marking him as a carrier of "Bothan Nether Rot."

* Loki in NorseMythology.
* Hermes in ClassicalMythology, who may well be the TropeMaker and [[TropeCodifier codifier]].

* Demigod children of [[GreekMythology Hermes]] in the ''PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'' series are this by default; their father is basically the god of this trope. [[spoiler: Subverted with Luke, however]].

* Claude Greengrass in the British period police soap ''{{Heartbeat}}''. Lampshaded when a character calls Greengrass a rogue and he responds "Yes, but I'm loveable".

* Definitely Disney/{{Aladdin}}, at least the [[DisneyAnimatedCanon Disney version]].

* Nathan Drake's interactions with his crew in the ''{{Uncharted}}'' series makes him an lovable and entertaining rogue. He also tends to operate at least somewhat outside the law (such as being forced to get into an explosive gunfight with pirates in the first game's intro due to operating without a permit), and Uncharted 2 opens with him engaging in a museum break-in.

* Colonel Blood from George Macdonald Fraser's wonderfully troperiffic ''ThePyrates.''

* Douglas Fairbanks essentially invented this archetype for film and based his whole career on it: ''[[Film/TheThiefOfBagdad1924 The Thief of Baghdad]]'', ''Film/TheBlackPirate'', Robin Hood, The Three Musketeers, The Gaucho, ''Film/TheMarkOfZorro'', Don Juan, etc.

* An interesting version in ''Film/ShishOBesh'': Sami is treated as on in-universe, but is in fact an unlikeable JerkAss.

** Boycie, originally a [[SmugSnake less loveable]] SitcomArchNemesis for Del Boy, [[CharacterDevelopment developed]] into one following [[TheGreenGreenGrass his own turn in the spotlight]].

* Arthur Daley from ''{{Minder}}'', from season 8 and onwards.

* Douglas Fairbanks essentially invented this archetype for film and based his whole career on it: The Thief of Baghdad, The Black Pirate, Robin Hood, The Three Musketeers, The Gaucho, Zorro, Don Juan, etc.