Acting · Hobart, Tasmania, Australia · Born June 20, 1909
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).
MovieGene Kelly - An American in Hollywood
2025
as Self (archive footage)
MovieClassic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored
2013
as Self (archive footage)
MovieCameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff
2010
as Self (archive footage)
Movie1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
2009
as Self (archive footage)
MovieWarner at War
2008
as (archive footage)
MovieTasmanian Devil: The Fast and Furious Life of Errol Flynn
2007
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThe Adventures of Errol Flynn
2005
as Self / Various Roles (archive footage) (archive sound)
MovieThe Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
1997
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThe First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
1995
as Self (archive footage)
Legends in Light: The Photography of George Hurrell
1995
as Self (archive footage)
MovieTouring Australia
1993
as Self (archive footage)
MovieHollywood Heaven: Tragic Lives, Tragic Deaths
1990
as (archive footage)
MovieHollywood Scandals and Tragedies
1988
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
MovieHollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
1985
as Self (archive footage)
MovieHollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
MovieShowbiz Ballyhoo
1982
as Self (archive footage)
MovieOops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
1982
as Self (archive footage)
MovieHooray for Hollywood
1976
as Self (archive footage)
MovieBrother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThat's Entertainment!
1974
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
MovieThe Extraordinary Seaman
1969
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
MovieCuban Rebel Girls
1959
as The American Correspondent
MovieThe Truth About Fidel Castro Revolution
1959
as Himself - Reporter
MovieThe Roots of Heaven
1958
as Forsythe
MovieToo Much, Too Soon
1958
as John Barrymore
MovieThe Sun Also Rises
1957
as Mike Campbell
MovieWithout Incident
1957
as Capt. Russell Bidlack
MovieThe Big Boodle
1957
as Ned Sherwood
MovieIstanbul
1957
as James Brennan
TVThe Errol Flynn Theatre
1956
as Self - Host
TVThe Steve Allen Show
1956
as Self - Guest
The Sword of Villon
1956
as Francois Villon
TVScreen Director's Playhouse
1955
as Francois Villon
MovieKing's Rhapsody
1955
as Richard, King of Laurentia
MovieThe Dark Avenger
1955
as Prince Edward
MovieLilacs in the Spring
1954
as John 'Beau' Beaumont
MovieCrossed Swords
1954
as Renzo
MovieThe Master of Ballantrae
1953
as Jamie Durie
MovieThe Story of William Tell
1953
as William Tell
MovieAgainst All Flags
1952
as Brian Hawke
MovieCruise of the Zaca
1952
as Himself / Narrator
MovieMara Maru
1952
as Gregory Mason
MovieDeep Sea Fishing
1952
as Self
MovieAdventures of Captain Fabian
1951
as Capt. Michael Fabian
MovieKim
1950
as Mahbub Ali, the Red Beard
MovieRocky Mountain
1950
as Capt. Lafe Barstow
TVThe Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
as Self
TVWhat's My Line?
1950
as Self
MovieMontana
1950
as Morgan Lane
MovieRabbit Hood
1949
as Robin Hood (archive footage) (uncredited)
MovieThat Forsyte Woman
1949
as Soames Forsyte
MovieIt's a Great Feeling
1949
as Jeffrey Bushdinkle, the Groom (uncredited)
MovieAdventures of Don Juan
1948
as Don Juan de Maraña
TVThe Ed Sullivan Show
1948
as Self
MovieSilver River
1948
as 'Mike' McComb
TVBambi
1948
as Self (archive footage)
MovieBlow-Ups of 1947
1947
as Self
MovieEscape Me Never
1947
as Sebastian Dubrok
MovieCry Wolf
1947
as Mark Caldwell
MovieBlow-Ups of 1946
1946
as Self
MovieNever Say Goodbye
1946
as Phil Gayley
MoviePeeks at Hollywood
1946
MovieSan Antonio
1945
as Clay Hardin
MovieObjective, Burma!
1945
as Capt. Nelson
MovieBreakdowns of 1944
1944
as Self
MovieUncertain Glory
1944
as Jean Picard
MovieNorthern Pursuit
1943
as Corporal Steve Wagner
MovieThank Your Lucky Stars
1943
as Self
MovieShow-Business at War
1943
as Self
MovieEdge of Darkness
1943
as Gunnar Brogge
MovieBreakdowns of 1942
1942
as Self
MovieGentleman Jim
1942
as James J. Corbett
MovieDesperate Journey
1942
as Flight Lt. Terry Forbes
MovieThey Died with Their Boots On
1941
as George Armstrong Custer
MovieDive Bomber
1941
as Douglas S. Lee
MovieScreen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1
1941
as Self
MovieFootsteps in the Dark
1941
as Francis Monroe Warren II, alias F.X. Pettijohn
MovieSanta Fe Trail
1940
as Jeb Stuart
MovieThe Sea Hawk
1940
as Captain Geoffrey Thorpe
MovieVirginia City
1940
as Kerry Bradford
MovieThe Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
1939
as The Earl of Essex
MovieDodge City
1939
as Wade Hatton
MovieBreakdowns of 1938
1938
as Robin Hood (archive footage) (uncredited)
MovieThe Dawn Patrol
1938
as Capt. Courtney
MovieThe Sisters
1938
as Frank Medlin
MovieFour's a Crowd
1938
as Robert Kensington 'Bob' Lansford
MovieOut Where the Stars Begin
1938
as Robin Hood (archive footage)
MovieThe Adventures of Robin Hood
1938
as Robin Hood
MovieBreakdowns of 1937
1937
as Self
MovieThe Perfect Specimen
1937
as Gerald Beresford Wicks
MovieAnother Dawn
1937
as Captain Denny Roark
MovieThe Prince and the Pauper
1937
as Miles Hendon
MovieGreen Light
1937
as Dr. Newell Paige
MovieThe Charge of the Light Brigade
1936
as Major Geoffrey Vickers
MovieA Dream Comes True
1935
as Himself (uncredited)
MovieCaptain Blood
1935
as Dr. Peter Blood
MoviePirate Party on Catalina Isle
1935
as Errol Flynn
MovieDon't Bet on Blondes
1935
as David Van Dusen
MovieThe Case of the Curious Bride
1935
as Gregory Moxley
MovieMurder at Monte Carlo
1935
as Dyter
MovieI Adore You
1933
as Extra (uncredited)
MovieIn the Wake of the Bounty
1933
as Fletcher Christian
MovieHello God
as US Soldier on Anzio Beach
