The character known as Dick from the anime Little Lord Fauntleroy, sometimes referred to as Dick Tipton, is a young bootblack who becomes a close and loyal friend to the protagonist, Cedric Errol. He is a boy of the streets, likely in his adolescence, with brown hair and black eyes, who earns a living by shining shoes at a busy corner in downtown New York. His background is one of poverty; he has been a street waif for nearly all of his life, sleeping in the streets before his fortunes changed, yet he is never portrayed as a bad or dishonest individual.

Personality wise, Dick embodies a rough but genuine kindness and a strong sense of personal integrity. He values being "square" in his business dealings and is deeply frustrated by his partner, Jake, who cheats customers and damages the reputation of their shared enterprise. Despite his tough exterior and uneducated manner of speaking, he possesses a warm heart and a sentimental nature, struggling to express his emotions but showing them clearly through his actions and moistening eyes during farewells. He is ambitious in his own way, harboring a private yearning for a more respectable existence and feeling the significance of being invited into the home of a stable shopkeeper like Mr. Hobbs.

Dick's primary motivation is his profound friendship with Cedric, whom he first encountered when the little boy lost his bouncing ball in the street. Without hesitation, Dick ran into the dangerous traffic to retrieve the ball, wiping it off with his coat and kindly reassuring the upset child. This initial act of generosity forged a strong bond between the wealthy young boy and the poor bootblack, a friendship that transcends their vastly different social stations. Cedric consistently greets Dick as a friend, and Dick, in turn, feels a fierce loyalty and a desire to protect him. This motivation culminates when Cedric, having learned he is a lord and received a large sum of money, uses his newfound wealth to buy out the dishonest Jake, providing Dick with new brushes, a sign, and the means to own his own business and start out fair.

In the story's overall narrative, Dick serves as a significant figure in Cedric's life in America, representing the common, honest people the young lord values. His role demonstrates Cedric's inherent goodness and democratic spirit, as he treats a bootblack with the same respect he would show an earl. After Cedric leaves for England, Dick remains a figure of loyalty, expressing his willingness to give Cedric half of his shoe-shining business if he ever returns. He also forms an unlikely friendship with Mr. Hobbs, the gruff grocery store owner, as the two men bond over their mutual affection for Cedric and their shared bewilderment and curiosity about the world of earls and castles, even reading penny dreadfuls together to learn more.

The character of Dick undergoes notable development, transitioning from a struggling street boot-black with a dishonest partner to a legitimate business owner thanks to Cedric's intervention. His good fortune does not end there; the Earl of Dorincourt ultimately decides to provide for Dick, ensuring he receives a solid education, a life-altering opportunity that lifts him permanently out of poverty. His key relationships include his partnership with the untrustworthy Jake, his deep friendship with Cedric, and his later camaraderie with Mr. Hobbs. While he does not possess any superhuman or trained abilities, Dick's notable practical skills include his proficiency as a bootblack. More importantly, his defining ability is his fundamental decency and his capacity for loyalty, which is recognized and rewarded by both his young friend and, ultimately, by the Earl himself.