This swashbuckling, devastatingly handsome and dissolute adventure hero of the 1930s and 40s was just as famed for his off-screen adventures. Born in Tasmania, Flynn spent his youth as a shipping clerk, sailor, plantation manager, gold and diamond prospector, and, finally, an actor. He made his screen debut as Fletcher Christian in the Australian film "In the Wake of the Bounty" (1932), then moved to London for "Murder in Monte Carlo" (1934).
In Hollywood, Flynn spun his wheels in "The Case of the Curious Bride" and "Don't Bet on Blondes" (both 1935), before Warner Brothers made him a leading adventure star and roguish male sex symbol, often appearing opposite Olivia de Havilland in such classics as "Captain Blood" (1935), "The Charge of the Light Brigade" (1936), "The Prince and the Pauper" (1937), "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938) and "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex" (1939). Flynn showed an unexpected flair for screwball comedy in the delightful "The Perfect Specimen" (1937).
As notorious for his dissipated lifestyle (drinking, drugs, sex, brawling) as for his dashing movie roles, Flynn was at the center of a controversy in 1942 when he was tried (unsuccessfully) for the statutory rape of two teenage girls. Amazingly, the scandal did not dent his popularity, and even spawned the still-current slang phrase "In Like Flynn". His career continued unabated through the 40s, with highlights including "The Sea Hawk" (1940), "They Died with Their Boots On" (1941), "Gentleman Jim" (1942) and "Objective Burma" (1945). His career and physical appearance went into decline, largely due to alcohol and drug abuse, in the late 40s, though he salvaged a battered critical reputation with roles as middle-aged drunkards in the 50s (in "The Sun Also Rises", 1957, and as John Barrymore in "Too Much, Too Soon", 1958). In mid-decade, he had some success with the British-made episodic "Errol Flynn Theater" on television. His autobiography, "My Wicked, Wicked Ways", was published posthumously in 1959; Flynn died of a heart attack at the age of 50.
- Also Credited As:
Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn
- Born:
June 20, 1909 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
- Died:
October 14, 1959.
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Job Titles:
Actor, Producer, Author, Columnist, Gold miner, Newspaper correspondent, Plantation manager, Sailor, Shipping clerk, Tobacco grower
Family
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Daughter: Arnella Roma Flynn. born c. 1953 in Italy; raised in Jamaica died in September 1998 at age 45 mother, Patrice Wymore
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Daughter: Deirdre Flynn. mother, Nora Eddington
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Daughter: Rory Flynn. born on March 12, 1947; mother, Nora Eddington; estranged from her sister; has son Sean born c. 1988
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Father: Theodore Leslie Thomson Flynn. served as professor of marine biology at Queen s College, Belfast, Northern Ireland
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Mother: Marelle Flynn.
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Sister: Rosemary Flynn. born c. 1924
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Son: Sean Flynn. born in 1941; declared as MIA in Cambodia in 1970; mother, Lili Damita; appeared in films: Il figlio del Capitano Blood/The Son of Captain Blood (1962) and Cinq gars pour Singapore/Singapore, Singapore (1966)
Significant Others
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Companion: Beverly Aadland. her mother, Florence Aadland, wrote an account of fifteen-year-old Beverly s relationship with Flynn, The Big Love
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Companion: Diana Dill. had brief relationship c. 1942; she later married actor Kirk Douglas
Education
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University of Tasmania, Tasmania
Milestones
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1926 Worked as shipping clerk in Sydney, Australia
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1927 Became a government cadet in New Guinea, an overseer on a copra plantation, a partner in a charter schooner, and gold miner in New Guinea
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1930 Bought schooner ( Sirocco ); boat chartered by American filmmakers making film of New Guinea head-hunters who also took footage of skipper (Flynn) which was shown in Australia
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1930 Wrote articles for THE SYDNEY BULLETIN in New Guinea
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1932 First film as actor in Australian film, In the Wake of the Bounty
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1933 Signed seven years optional contract with Warners
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1933 Went to England and acted with Northampton Repertory Theatre for eighteen months; stage acting debut in The Thirteenth Chair ; wrote play, Cold Rice
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1935 Hollywood film acting debut in The Case of the Curious Bride
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1935 Won stardom in Captain Blood (as a replacement for Robert Donat)
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1943 Acquitted on charge of statutory rape
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1952 Directorial debut with short, Cruise of the Zaca (also narrator and appearance)
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1956 US TV debut, The Sword of Villon on Playhouse 90
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1957 Hosted The Errol Flynn Theatre TV series, made in England
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Became second cook on an ocean-going schooner
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Classified 4F and rejected from every branch of active service during WWII due to heart defect, recurrent malaria and tuberculosis
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Signed with Warner Brothers