Errol Flynn
Acting • Born 1909-06-20 – Died 1959-10-14
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).
Filmography
101 credits
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
Movie • 1985
Self (archive footage)
Santa Fe Trail
Movie • 1940
Jeb Stuart
The Adventures of Robin Hood
Movie • 1938
Robin Hood
Hollywood Heaven: Tragic Lives, Tragic Deaths
Movie • 1990
(archive footage)
The Sun Also Rises
Movie • 1957
Mike Campbell
The Sea Hawk
Movie • 1940
Captain Geoffrey Thorpe
Adventures of Don Juan
Movie • 1948
Don Juan de Maraña
The Prince and the Pauper
Movie • 1937
Miles Hendon
The Master of Ballantrae
Movie • 1953
Jamie Durie
That Forsyte Woman
Movie • 1949
Soames Forsyte
Never Say Goodbye
Movie • 1946
Phil Gayley
Objective, Burma!
Movie • 1945
Capt. Nelson
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Movie • 1943
Self
Gentleman Jim
Movie • 1942
James J. Corbett
Cry Wolf
Movie • 1947
Mark Caldwell
The Charge of the Light Brigade
Movie • 1936
Major Geoffrey Vickers
Against All Flags
Movie • 1952
Brian Hawke
The Big Boodle
Movie • 1957
Ned Sherwood
Footsteps in the Dark
Movie • 1941
Francis Monroe Warren II, alias F.X. Pettijohn
It's a Great Feeling
Movie • 1949
Jeffrey Bushdinkle, the Groom (uncredited)
Captain Blood
Movie • 1935
Dr. Peter Blood
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
Movie • 1939
The Earl of Essex
They Died with Their Boots On
Movie • 1941
George Armstrong Custer
The Dawn Patrol
Movie • 1938
Capt. Courtney
San Antonio
Movie • 1945
Clay Hardin
Virginia City
Movie • 1940
Kerry Bradford
Rocky Mountain
Movie • 1950
Capt. Lafe Barstow
Four's a Crowd
Movie • 1938
Robert Kensington 'Bob' Lansford
Dive Bomber
Movie • 1941
Douglas S. Lee
Silver River
Movie • 1948
'Mike' McComb
Dodge City
Movie • 1939
Wade Hatton
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Movie • 1983
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Desperate Journey
Movie • 1942
Flight Lt. Terry Forbes
Edge of Darkness
Movie • 1943
Gunnar Brogge
Northern Pursuit
Movie • 1943
Corporal Steve Wagner
Uncertain Glory
Movie • 1944
Jean Picard
Don't Bet on Blondes
Movie • 1935
David Van Dusen
Mara Maru
Movie • 1952
Gregory Mason
Another Dawn
Movie • 1937
Captain Denny Roark
The Case of the Curious Bride
Movie • 1935
Gregory Moxley
The Dark Avenger
Movie • 1955
Prince Edward
The Roots of Heaven
Movie • 1958
Forsythe
Too Much, Too Soon
Movie • 1958
John Barrymore
Rabbit Hood
Movie • 1949
Robin Hood (archive footage) (uncredited)
Cruise of the Zaca
Movie • 1952
Himself / Narrator
Montana
Movie • 1950
Morgan Lane
Escape Me Never
Movie • 1947
Sebastian Dubrok
The Adventures of Errol Flynn
Movie • 2005
Self / Various Roles (archive footage) (archive sound)
The Sisters
Movie • 1938
Frank Medlin
Kim
Movie • 1950
Mahbub Ali, the Red Beard
Out Where the Stars Begin
Movie • 1938
Robin Hood (archive footage)
Murder at Monte Carlo
Movie • 1935
Dyter
Green Light
Movie • 1937
Dr. Newell Paige
The Perfect Specimen
Movie • 1937
Gerald Beresford Wicks
In the Wake of the Bounty
Movie • 1933
Fletcher Christian
Adventures of Captain Fabian
Movie • 1951
Capt. Michael Fabian
Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1
Movie • 1941
Self
Touring Australia
Movie • 1993
Self (archive footage)
Istanbul
Movie • 1957
James Brennan
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
Movie • 1982
Self (archive footage)
Cuban Rebel Girls
Movie • 1959
The American Correspondent
Lilacs in the Spring
Movie • 1954
John 'Beau' Beaumont
Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored
Movie • 2013
Self (archive footage)
The Story of William Tell
Movie • 1953
William Tell
That's Entertainment!
Movie • 1974
(archive footage) (uncredited)
Crossed Swords
Movie • 1954
Renzo
The Truth About Fidel Castro Revolution
Movie • 1959
Himself - Reporter
King's Rhapsody
Movie • 1955
Richard, King of Laurentia
I Adore You
Movie • 1933
Extra (uncredited)
Blow-Ups of 1947
Movie • 1947
Self
Breakdowns of 1938
Movie • 1938
Robin Hood (archive footage) (uncredited)
A Dream Comes True
Movie • 1935
Himself (uncredited)
Breakdowns of 1937
Movie • 1937
Self
Pirate Party on Catalina Isle
Movie • 1935
Errol Flynn
Breakdowns of 1944
Movie • 1944
Self
Blow-Ups of 1946
Movie • 1946
Self
Show-Business at War
Movie • 1943
Self
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Movie • 1975
Self (archive footage)
Tasmanian Devil: The Fast and Furious Life of Errol Flynn
Movie • 2007
Self (archive footage)
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
Movie • 2009
Self (archive footage)
Peeks at Hollywood
Movie • 1946
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
Movie • 1997
Self (archive footage)
Deep Sea Fishing
Movie • 1952
Self
Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff
Movie • 2010
Self (archive footage)
Breakdowns of 1942
Movie • 1942
Self
The Sword of Villon
Movie • 1956
Francois Villon
Gene Kelly - An American in Hollywood
Movie • 2025
Self (archive footage)
The Extraordinary Seaman
Movie • 1969
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Hooray for Hollywood
Movie • 1976
Self (archive footage)
Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies
Movie • 1988
Showbiz Ballyhoo
Movie • 1982
Self (archive footage)
Without Incident
Movie • 1957
Capt. Russell Bidlack
Warner at War
Movie • 2008
(archive footage)
The Colgate Comedy Hour
TV • 1950
Self
The Ed Sullivan Show
TV • 1948
Self
The Steve Allen Show
TV • 1956
Self - Guest
Bambi
TV • 1948
Self (archive footage)
The Errol Flynn Theatre
TV • 1956
Self - Host
What's My Line?
TV • 1950
Self - Panelist
What's My Line?
TV • 1950
Self - Mystery Guest
Screen Director's Playhouse
TV • 1955
Francois Villon