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Errol Flynn
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
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 f…
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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).
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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2025
Gene Kelly: An American in Hollywood
Movie Self (archive footage)
- 2023
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2018
In Like Flynn
Movie Book
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2013
Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2010
Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2009
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2008
Warner at War
Movie (archive footage)
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2007
Tasmanian Devil: The Fast and Furious Life of Errol Flynn
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2005
The Adventures of Errol Flynn
Movie Self / Various Roles (archive footage) (archive sound)
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1997
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
Movie Self (archive footage)
-
1995
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
Movie Self (archive footage)
-
1995
Secret Lives
TV show Self(archive footage)
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1995
Legends in Light: The Photography of George Hurrell
Movie Self (archive footage)
-
1993
Touring Australia
Movie Self (archive footage)
-
1990
Hollywood Heaven: Tragic Lives, Tragic Deaths
Movie (archive footage)
-
1988
Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies
Movie (archive footage) (uncredited)
More credits
- 1985
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1985
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
Movie Self (archive footage)
-
1983
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Movie Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
-
1982
Showbiz Ballyhoo
Movie Self (archive footage)
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1982
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
Movie Self (archive footage)
-
1976
Hooray for Hollywood
Movie Self (archive footage)
-
1975
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Movie Self (archive footage)
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1974
That's Entertainment!
Movie (archive footage) (uncredited)
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1969
The Extraordinary Seaman
Movie Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
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1959
Cuban Rebel Girls
Movie The American Correspondent
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1959
The Truth About Fidel Castro Revolution
Movie Himself - Reporter
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1958
The Roots of Heaven
Movie Forsythe
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1958
Too Much, Too Soon
Movie John Barrymore
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1957
The Sun Also Rises
Movie Mike Campbell
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1957
Without Incident
Movie Capt. Russell Bidlack
-
1957
The Big Boodle
Movie Ned Sherwood
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1957
Istanbul
Movie James Brennan
-
1956
The Errol Flynn Theatre
TV show Self - Host
-
1956
The Steve Allen Show
TV show Self - Guest
-
1956
The Sword of Villon
Movie Francois Villon
-
1955
Screen Director's Playhouse
TV show Francois Villon
-
1955
King's Rhapsody
Movie Richard, King of Laurentia
-
1955
The Dark Avenger
Movie Prince Edward
-
1954
Lilacs in the Spring
Movie John 'Beau' Beaumont
