Phil Marlowe is a criminal in every novel Raymond Chandler ever wrote. Classic crime: first witness to scene of murder, steals valuable evidence to further his own case, doesn’t report the crime, and never, ever fesses up to The Man.
Honorable mention: Cecil B. Demented.
Honorable mention: Peter Lorre, in both M and The Maltese Falcon.
Honorable mention: Rockford.
----KEYSER SOZE----
Cool…I’d thought I was going to be the only one to mention him. 
(I’m assuming, of course, that you’re NOT talking about Lupin III, who I’m almost entirely unfamiliar with. Don’t even know if his first name’s Arsene…)
I concur.
There is no Keyser Soze.
And so…he would be fictional 
jarbaby
Gully Foyle
Arnold Zeck, criminal mastermind in Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe series. Any man who would destroy thousands of dollars worth of orchids belonging to the smartest detective in New York deserves what he gets.
Also, the Deaf Man, in Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct series. Ah, the irony of a deaf man playing games with a cop who has a deaf wife . . .
I would have to go with Croyd Crensen from “Wild Cards” but Rorshach runs a close second
The Jackal. (From the book, NOT the movie.)
Ceejaytee and MsWhatsit
My compliments. Very good selections.
TV
Heathcliff, from Wuthering Heights. I didn’t care too much for the other Bronte books or Jane Austen, but Wuthering Heights rocks.
The moral of the story was:
don’t f*** with Heathcliff.
Dr. Hannibal Lecter.
Both from the excellent books and Anthony Hopkins’ chillingly upper class portrayal in both films.
::inhales through teeth with little chittering noise::
DAMN! I just now saw this thread! I had in-laws visiting all week and am playing catch-up!
I second this! Moriarty was crime personified.
Wadsworth, aka, Mr. Boddy, from “Clue.”
Mojo Jojo and Him from Powerpuff Girls.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand…Mr. Burns. Oh, and Snake and Fat Tony.
What? You said anyone fictional.
-The High Window
Rocketeer said:
I agree! I was excited when I found the collection, but the whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth. There’s something not quite right going on.
I don’t think the later Arsene Lupins were THAT bad, I like them all.
Irene Adler is a good one, as is Arsene, but my favorite would have to be Sir John Smythe.