Errol Flynn
Biography
Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn (June 20, 1909 - October 14, 1959) was an Australian-American actor and writer. He is popularly remembered as a charismatic romantic hero in the eight films he starred in with Olivia de Havilland. Flynn’s most iconic role came as Robin Hood in "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938).
After signing with Warner Bros. Pictures in January 1935, Flynn’s rise to stardom was swift. The studio decided to take a risk casting the unknown 26-year-old as the lead in "Captain Blood" (1935). The film established Flynn as a major Hollywood star and the natural successor to Douglas Fairbanks. The smash hit was followed up by "The Charge of the Light Brigade" (1936) and "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938), the most expensive film Warner Bros. had made up to that time. In spite of his Australian accent, Flynn starred in the enormously successful westerns "Dodge City" (1939), "Virginia City" (1940), "Santa Fe Trail" (1940), and "They Died with Their Boots On" (1941). The popularly of these westerns played a part in the genre’s revival.
In late 1942, Flynn was charged with statutory rape of two 17-year-old girls. Despite his acquittal, press coverage of the trial led to the ubiquity of the expression, “In like Flynn.” With America’s involvement in WWII, Flynn had tried to enlist but was rated 4-F due to his enlarged heart, latent pulmonary tuberculosis and recurrent malaria (contracted in New Guinea). During the war, he made several films with the director Raoul Walsh. These include "Gentleman Jim" (1942) – one of Flynn’s favorite roles – and war films such as "Desperate Journey" (1942) and "Objective, Burma!" (1945).
Embittered by his public image as a womanizer and his inability to serve in the war, Flynn further descended into a life of drug-addiction and alcoholism. His slow deflation became apparent in the waning success of his films and his aging physical appearance. By the late '50s, Flynn mounted a comeback with his turns in "The Sun Also Rises" (1957), "Too Much, Too Soon" (1958) and "The Roots of Heaven" (1958). In 1959, he died of a heart attack in Vancouver, Canada. Flynn’s notorious autobiography "My Wicked, Wicked Ways" (1959) was posthumously published. He also wrote two novels: "Beam Ends" (1937) and "Showdown" (1946).
Acting (91 movies)
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
1985
Santa Fe Trail
1940
The Adventures of Robin Hood
1938
Hollywood Heaven: Tragic Lives, Tragic Deaths
1990
The Sun Also Rises
1957
The Sea Hawk
1940
Adventures of Don Juan
1948
The Prince and the Pauper
1937
The Master of Ballantrae
1953
That Forsyte Woman
1949
Never Say Goodbye
1946
Objective, Burma!
1945
Thank Your Lucky Stars
1943
Gentleman Jim
1942
Cry Wolf
1947
The Charge of the Light Brigade
1936
Against All Flags
1952
The Big Boodle
1957
Footsteps in the Dark
1941
It's a Great Feeling
1949
Captain Blood
1935
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
1939
They Died with Their Boots On
1941
The Dawn Patrol
1938
San Antonio
1945
Virginia City
1940
Rocky Mountain
1950
Four's a Crowd
1938
Dive Bomber
1941
Silver River
1948
Dodge City
1939
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983
Northern Pursuit
1943
Uncertain Glory
1944
Desperate Journey
1942
Edge of Darkness
1943
Don't Bet on Blondes
1935
Mara Maru
1952
The Roots of Heaven
1958
The Case of the Curious Bride
1935
The Dark Avenger
1955
Another Dawn
1937
Too Much, Too Soon
1958
Rabbit Hood
1949
Cruise of the Zaca
1952
Montana
1950
Escape Me Never
1947
The Sisters
1938
The Adventures of Errol Flynn
2005
Kim
1950
Out Where the Stars Begin
1938
Murder at Monte Carlo
1935
Green Light
1937
The Perfect Specimen
1937
In the Wake of the Bounty
1933
Adventures of Captain Fabian
1951
Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1
1941
Touring Australia
1993
Istanbul
1957
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
1982
Cuban Rebel Girls
1959
Lilacs in the Spring
1954
Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored
2013
The Story of William Tell
1953
That's Entertainment!
1974
Crossed Swords
1954
The Truth About Fidel Castro Revolution
1959
King's Rhapsody
1955
I Adore You
1933
Blow-Ups of 1947
1947
Breakdowns of 1938
1938
A Dream Comes True
1935
Breakdowns of 1937
1937
Pirate Party on Catalina Isle
1935
Blow-Ups of 1946
1946
Breakdowns of 1944
1944
Show-Business at War
1943
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
Tasmanian Devil: The Fast and Furious Life of Errol Flynn
2007
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
2009
Peeks at Hollywood
1946
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
1997
Deep Sea Fishing
1952
Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff
2010
Breakdowns of 1942
1942
Gene Kelly - An American in Hollywood
2025
The Extraordinary Seaman
1969
Hooray for Hollywood
1976
Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies
1988
Showbiz Ballyhoo
1982
Without Incident
1957
Directing (2 movies)
| Title | Year | Job |
|---|---|---|
| Adventures of Captain Fabian | 1951 | Screenplay |
| The Story of William Tell | 1953 | Producer |
| Crossed Swords | 1954 | Producer |
| Cuban Rebel Girls | 1959 | Screenplay |