Autolycus' official bios says that the young Autolycus worked in a carnival but he was bored with his job.Yearning for more danger in his life he became a thief.He mastered the 'art' of stealing and soon became The King of thieves.But in the ep Vanishing Act we learn that Auto became a thief to avenge his brothers death.

Although he is an outlaw and he sometimes seems selfish everyone who gets to know him realises that he has a heart of gold.

Being a very charming womaniser he doesn't like physical violence and he usually relies on his grappling hook (or Xena) to get him out of trouble. Though he doesn't do it very often he can kick ass if it's necessary.