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).

Known For

The Ed Sullivan Show

What's My Line?

Bambi

The Colgate Comedy Hour

The Steve Allen Show

Screen Director's Playhouse

The Adventures of Robin Hood

Captain Blood

All Movies (94)

• Gene Kelly - An American in Hollywood2025 · as Self (archive footage)
• Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored2013 · as Self (archive footage)
• Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff2010 · as Self (archive footage)
• 1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year2009 · as Self (archive footage)
• Warner at War2008 · as (archive footage)
• Tasmanian Devil: The Fast and Furious Life of Errol Flynn2007 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Adventures of Errol Flynn2005 · as Self / Various Roles (archive footage) (archive sound)
• The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender1997 · as Self (archive footage)
• Touring Australia1993 · as Self (archive footage)
• Hollywood Heaven: Tragic Lives, Tragic Deaths1990 · as (archive footage)
• Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies1988 · as (archive footage) (uncredited)
• Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers1985 · as Self (archive footage)
• Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage1983 · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
• Showbiz Ballyhoo1982 · as Self (archive footage)
• Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!1982 · as Self (archive footage)
• Hooray for Hollywood1976 · as Self (archive footage)
• Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?1975 · as Self (archive footage)
• That's Entertainment!1974 · as (archive footage) (uncredited)
• The Extraordinary Seaman1969 · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
• Cuban Rebel Girls1959 · as The American Correspondent
• The Truth About Fidel Castro Revolution1959 · as Himself - Reporter
• The Roots of Heaven1958 · as Forsythe
• Too Much, Too Soon1958 · as John Barrymore
• The Sun Also Rises1957 · as Mike Campbell
• Without Incident1957 · as Capt. Russell Bidlack
• The Big Boodle1957 · as Ned Sherwood
• Istanbul1957 · as James Brennan
• The Sword of Villon1956 · as Francois Villon
• King's Rhapsody1955 · as Richard, King of Laurentia
• The Dark Avenger1955 · as Prince Edward
• Lilacs in the Spring1954 · as John 'Beau' Beaumont
• Crossed Swords1954 · as Renzo
• The Master of Ballantrae1953 · as Jamie Durie
• The Story of William Tell1953 · as William Tell
• Against All Flags1952 · as Brian Hawke
• Cruise of the Zaca1952 · as Himself / Narrator
• Mara Maru1952 · as Gregory Mason
• Deep Sea Fishing1952 · as Self
• Adventures of Captain Fabian1951 · as Capt. Michael Fabian
• Kim1950 · as Mahbub Ali, the Red Beard
• Rocky Mountain1950 · as Capt. Lafe Barstow
• Montana1950 · as Morgan Lane
• Rabbit Hood1949 · as Robin Hood (archive footage) (uncredited)
• That Forsyte Woman1949 · as Soames Forsyte
• It's a Great Feeling1949 · as Jeffrey Bushdinkle, the Groom (uncredited)
• Adventures of Don Juan1948 · as Don Juan de Maraña
• Silver River1948 · as 'Mike' McComb
• Blow-Ups of 19471947 · as Self
• Escape Me Never1947 · as Sebastian Dubrok
• Cry Wolf1947 · as Mark Caldwell
• Blow-Ups of 19461946 · as Self
• Never Say Goodbye1946 · as Phil Gayley
• Peeks at Hollywood1946
• San Antonio1945 · as Clay Hardin
• Objective, Burma!1945 · as Capt. Nelson
• Breakdowns of 19441944 · as Self
• Uncertain Glory1944 · as Jean Picard
• Northern Pursuit1943 · as Corporal Steve Wagner
• Thank Your Lucky Stars1943 · as Self
• Show-Business at War1943 · as Self
• Edge of Darkness1943 · as Gunnar Brogge
• Breakdowns of 19421942 · as Self
• Gentleman Jim1942 · as James J. Corbett
• Desperate Journey1942 · as Flight Lt. Terry Forbes
• They Died with Their Boots On1941 · as George Armstrong Custer
• Dive Bomber1941 · as Douglas S. Lee
• Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 11941 · as Self
• Footsteps in the Dark1941 · as Francis Monroe Warren II, alias F.X. Pettijohn
• Santa Fe Trail1940 · as Jeb Stuart
• The Sea Hawk1940 · as Captain Geoffrey Thorpe
• Virginia City1940 · as Kerry Bradford
• The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex1939 · as The Earl of Essex
• Dodge City1939 · as Wade Hatton
• Breakdowns of 19381938 · as Robin Hood (archive footage) (uncredited)
• The Dawn Patrol1938 · as Capt. Courtney
• The Sisters1938 · as Frank Medlin
• Four's a Crowd1938 · as Robert Kensington 'Bob' Lansford
• Out Where the Stars Begin1938 · as Robin Hood (archive footage)
• The Adventures of Robin Hood1938 · as Robin Hood
• Breakdowns of 19371937 · as Self
• The Perfect Specimen1937 · as Gerald Beresford Wicks
• Another Dawn1937 · as Captain Denny Roark
• The Prince and the Pauper1937 · as Miles Hendon
• Green Light1937 · as Dr. Newell Paige
• The Charge of the Light Brigade1936 · as Major Geoffrey Vickers
• A Dream Comes True1935 · as Himself (uncredited)
• Captain Blood1935 · as Dr. Peter Blood
• Pirate Party on Catalina Isle1935 · as Errol Flynn
• Don't Bet on Blondes1935 · as David Van Dusen
• The Case of the Curious Bride1935 · as Gregory Moxley
• Murder at Monte Carlo1935 · as Dyter
• I Adore You1933 · as Extra (uncredited)
• In the Wake of the Bounty1933 · as Fletcher Christian
• Hello God— · as US Soldier on Anzio Beach

All TV Shows (7)

• The Errol Flynn Theatre1956 · as Self - Host
• The Steve Allen Show1956 · as Self - Guest
• Screen Director's Playhouse1955 · as Francois Villon
• The Colgate Comedy Hour1950 · as Self
• What's My Line?1950 · as Self
• The Ed Sullivan Show1948 · as Self
• Bambi1948 · as Self (archive footage)