Errol Flynn
Acting
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
Acting103
movieGene Kelly - An American in Hollywood
2025
Self (archive footage)
movieClassic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored
2013
Self (archive footage)
movieCameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff
2010
Self (archive footage)
movie1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
2009
Self (archive footage)
movieWarner at War
2008
(archive footage)
movieTasmanian Devil: The Fast and Furious Life of Errol Flynn
2007
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Adventures of Errol Flynn
2005
Self / Various Roles (archive footage) (archive sound)
movieThe Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
1997
Self (archive footage)
movieThe First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
1995
Self (archive footage)
Legends in Light: The Photography of George Hurrell
1995
Self (archive footage)
movieTouring Australia
1993
Self (archive footage)
movieHollywood Heaven: Tragic Lives, Tragic Deaths
1990
(archive footage)
movieHollywood Scandals and Tragedies
1988
(archive footage) (uncredited)
movieHollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
1985
Self (archive footage)
movieHollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieShowbiz Ballyhoo
1982
Self (archive footage)
movieOops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
1982
Self (archive footage)
movieHooray for Hollywood
1976
Self (archive footage)
movieBrother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
Self (archive footage)
movieThat's Entertainment!
1974
(archive footage) (uncredited)
movieThe Extraordinary Seaman
1969
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieCuban Rebel Girls
1959
The American Correspondent
movieThe Truth About Fidel Castro Revolution
1959
Himself - Reporter
movieThe Roots of Heaven
1958
Forsythe
movieToo Much, Too Soon
1958
John Barrymore
movieThe Sun Also Rises
1957
Mike Campbell
movieWithout Incident
1957
Capt. Russell Bidlack
movieThe Big Boodle
1957
Ned Sherwood
movieIstanbul
1957
James Brennan
tvThe Errol Flynn Theatre
1956
Self - Host
tvThe Steve Allen Show
1956
Self - Guest
The Sword of Villon
1956
Francois Villon
tvScreen Director's Playhouse
1955
Francois Villon
movieKing's Rhapsody
1955
Richard, King of Laurentia
movieThe Dark Avenger
1955
Prince Edward
movieLilacs in the Spring
1954
John 'Beau' Beaumont
movieThe Master of Ballantrae
1953
Jamie Durie
movieThe Story of William Tell
1953
William Tell
movieAgainst All Flags
1952
Brian Hawke
movieCruise of the Zaca
1952
Himself / Narrator
movieMara Maru
1952
Gregory Mason
movieAdventures of Captain Fabian
1951
Capt. Michael Fabian
movieKim
1950
Mahbub Ali, the Red Beard
movieRocky Mountain
1950
Capt. Lafe Barstow
movieMontana
1950
Morgan Lane
movieRabbit Hood
1949
Robin Hood (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieThat Forsyte Woman
1949
Soames Forsyte
movieIt's a Great Feeling
1949
Jeffrey Bushdinkle, the Groom (uncredited)
movieAdventures of Don Juan
1948
Don Juan de Maraña
movieSilver River
1948
'Mike' McComb
tvBambi
1948
Self (archive footage)
movieEscape Me Never
1947
Sebastian Dubrok
movieCry Wolf
1947
Mark Caldwell
movieNever Say Goodbye
1946
Phil Gayley
movieSan Antonio
1945
Clay Hardin
movieObjective, Burma!
1945
Capt. Nelson
movieUncertain Glory
1944
Jean Picard
movieNorthern Pursuit
1943
Corporal Steve Wagner
movieEdge of Darkness
1943
Gunnar Brogge
movieGentleman Jim
1942
James J. Corbett
movieDesperate Journey
1942
Flight Lt. Terry Forbes
movieThey Died with Their Boots On
1941
George Armstrong Custer
movieDive Bomber
1941
Douglas S. Lee
movieFootsteps in the Dark
1941
Francis Monroe Warren II, alias F.X. Pettijohn
movieSanta Fe Trail
1940
Jeb Stuart
movieThe Sea Hawk
1940
Captain Geoffrey Thorpe
movieVirginia City
1940
Kerry Bradford
movieThe Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
1939
The Earl of Essex
movieDodge City
1939
Wade Hatton
movieBreakdowns of 1938
1938
Robin Hood (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieThe Dawn Patrol
1938
Capt. Courtney
movieThe Sisters
1938
Frank Medlin
movieFour's a Crowd
1938
Robert Kensington 'Bob' Lansford
movieOut Where the Stars Begin
1938
Robin Hood (archive footage)
movieThe Adventures of Robin Hood
1938
Robin Hood
movieThe Perfect Specimen
1937
Gerald Beresford Wicks
movieAnother Dawn
1937
Captain Denny Roark
movieThe Prince and the Pauper
1937
Miles Hendon
movieGreen Light
1937
Dr. Newell Paige
movieThe Charge of the Light Brigade
1936
Major Geoffrey Vickers
movieA Dream Comes True
1935
Himself (uncredited)
movieCaptain Blood
1935
Dr. Peter Blood
moviePirate Party on Catalina Isle
1935
Errol Flynn
movieDon't Bet on Blondes
1935
David Van Dusen
movieThe Case of the Curious Bride
1935
Gregory Moxley
movieI Adore You
1933
Extra (uncredited)
movieIn the Wake of the Bounty
1933
Fletcher Christian
movieHello God
US Soldier on Anzio Beach
Production5
movieCrossed Swords
1954
Producer
movieCry Wolf
1947
Associate Producer
movieUncertain Glory
1944
Associate Producer
movieHello God
Producer
Writing4
Directing2
movieCruise of the Zaca
1952
Director
movieDeep Sea Fishing
1952
Director