Errol Flynn Biography (1909-1959)

Full name, Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn; born June 20, 1909, in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; became U.S. citizen, 1942; died of a heart attack, October 14,1959, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; son of Theodore Thomas (a marine biologist and zoologist) and Marrelle Young Flynn; married Lili Damita (anactress), June, 1935 (divorced April, 1942); married Nora Eddington (an actress), August, 1943 (divorced, 1949); married Patrice Wymore (an actress), October, 1950 (separated, 1957); children: Sean (an actor, photographer, and warcorrespondent), Deirdre, Rory, Annella Roma.

Nationality
Australian
Gender
Male
Birth Details
June 20, 1909
Hobart, Australia
Death Details
October 14, 1959
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Famous Works

  • Credits; Film Appearances
  • Fletcher Christian, In the Wake of the Bounty, Expeditionary, 1933.
  • Dyter, a newspaper reporter, Murder at Monte Carlo, Warner Bros., 1935.
  • Himself, Pirate Party on Catalina Isle, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1935.
  • David Van Dusen, Don't Bet on Blondes, Warner Bros., 1935.
  • Gregory Moxley, The Case of the Curious Bride, First National, 1935.
  • Peter Blood, Captain Blood, First National, 1935.
  • Major Geoffrey Vickers, The Charge of the Light Brigade, Warner Bros., 1936.
  • Miles Hendon, The Prince and the Pauper, Warner Bros., 1937.
  • Gerald Beresford Wicks, The Perfect Specimen, Warner Bros., 1937.
  • Dr. Newell Paige, Green Light, Warner Bros./Cosmopolitan, 1937.
  • Captain Denny Roark, Another Dawn, Warner Bros., 1937.
  • Robert Kensington Lansford, Four's a Crowd, Warner Bros., 1938.
  • Captain Courtney, The Dawn Patrol, Warner Bros., 1938.
  • Robin Hood (Sir Robin of Locksley), The Adventures of Robin Hood (also known as Robin Hood), First National, 1938.
  • Frank Medlin, The Sisters, Warner Bros., 1938.
  • Wade Hatton, Dodge City, Warner Bros., 1939.
  • Robert Devereaux, Earl of Essex, The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex(also known as Elizabeth and Essex and Elizabeth the Queen), Warner Bros., 1939.
  • Captain Geoffrey Thorpe, The Sea Hawk, Warner Bros., 1940.
  • Jeb Stuart, Santa Fe Trail, Warner Bros., 1940.
  • Kerry Bradford, Virginia City, Warner Bros., 1940.
  • Francis Warren, Footsteps in the Dark, Warner Bros., 1941.
  • Lieutenant Doug Lee, Dive Bomber, Warner Bros., 1941.
  • George Armstrong Custer, They Died with Their Boots on, Warner Bros., 1942.
  • Flight Lieutenant Terrence Forbes, Desperate Journey, Warner Bros., 1942.
  • James J. Corbett, Gentleman Jim, Warner Bros., 1942.
  • Himself, Show Business at War (documentary newsreel; also known as The March of Time Volume IX, Issue 10), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1943.
  • Gunnar Brogge, Edge of Darkness, Warner Bros., 1943.
  • Corporal Steve Wagner, Northern Pursuit, Warner Bros., 1943.
  • Himself, Thank Your Lucky Stars, Warner Bros., 1943.
  • Jean Picard, Uncertain Glory, Warner Bros., 1944.
  • Clay Hardin, San Antonio, Warner Bros., 1945.
  • Major Nelson, Objective, Burma!, Warner Bros., 1945.
  • Phil Gayley, Never Say Goodbye, Warner Bros., 1946.
  • Sebastian Dubrok, Escape Me Never, Warner Bros., 1947.
  • Mark Caldwell, Cry Wolf, Warner Bros., 1947.
  • Himself, Always Together, 1948.
  • Captain Mike McComb, Silver River, Warner Bros., 1948.
  • Don Juan, Adventures of Don Juan (also known as The New Adventures of DonJuan), Warner Bros., 1949.
  • Soames Forsyte, That Forsyte Woman (also known as The Forsyte Saga), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1949.
  • Jeffrey Bushfinkle, the groom, It's a Great Feeling, Warner Bros., 1949.
  • Lafe Barstow, Rocky Mountain, Warner Bros., 1950.
  • Morgan Lane, Montana, Warner Bros., 1950.
  • Mahbub Ali, the Red Beard, Kim, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1950.
  • Man on Anzio Beach, Hello God, Flynn, 1951.
  • Captain Michael Fabian, Adventures of Captain Fabian, Republic, 1951.
  • Gregory Mason, Mara Maru, Warner Bros., 1952.
  • Himself and narrator, Cruise of the Zaca (documentary short film), WarnerBros., 1952.
  • Himself, Deep Sea Fishing (documentary short film), 1952.
  • Brian Hawke, Against All Flags, Universal, 1952.
  • James "Jamie" Durrisdeer, The Master of Ballantrae, Warner Bros., 1953.
  • Renzo, Crossed Swords (also known as Il Maestro di Don Giovanni), UnitedArtists, 1954.
  • William Tell, 1954.
  • John Beaumont, Let's Make Up (also known as Lilacs in the Spring), UnitedArtists, 1955.
  • King Richard of Laurentia, King's Rhapsody, United Artists, 1955.
  • Prince Edward, The Warriors (also known as The Dark Avenger), Allied Artists, 1955.
  • James "Jim" Brennan, Istanbul, Universal, 1957.
  • Ned Sherwood, The Big Boodle (also known as A Night in Havana), United Artists, 1957.
  • Mike Campbell, The Sun Also Rises, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1957.
  • John Barrymore, Too Much, Too Soon, Warner Bros., 1958.
  • Major Forsythe, The Roots of Heaven, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1958.
  • Himself and narrator, Assault of the Rebel Girls (also known as Attack ofthe Rebel Girls and Cuban Rebel Girls), Brenner, 1959.
  • Actor in archival footage, It's Showtime (also known as Let's Have a RealGood Time, Showtime, and Stunts), United Artists, 1976.
  • Credits; Film Work
  • Producer, The Bargain, 1951.
  • Director, Cruise of the Zaca (documentary short film), Warner Bros., 1952.
  • Director, Deep Sea Fishing (documentary short film), 1952.
  • Coproducer, Assault of the Rebel Girls (also known as Attack of the RebelGirls and Cuban Rebel Girls), Brenner, 1959.
  • Credits; Television Appearances; Series
  • Host and performer, The Errol Flynn Theatre (also known as Goodyear Theatre), syndicated, 1957-58.
  • Credits; Television Appearances; Episodic
  • "The Sword of Villon," Screen Directors Playhouse, NBC, 1956.
  • "Without Incident," Playhouse 90, CBS, 1957.
  • "The Golden Shanty," Goodyear Theatre, NBC, 1959.
  • Credits; Stage Appearances
  • The Master of Thornfield, produced in Detroit, MI, and Cincinnati, OH, 1958.
  • Also appeared in stage productions in England.
  • Credits; Major Tours
  • Toured in Jane Eyre, U.S. cities.
  • Credits; Taped Readings
  • (With others) The Three Musketeers, Columbia Masterworks (New York City),1949.
  • Writings;Screenplays
  • Adventures of Captain Fabian, Republic, 1951.
  • Assault of the Rebel Girls (also known as Attack of the Rebel Girls and Cuban Rebel Girls), Brenner, 1959.
  • Writings;Memoirs
  • Beam Ends, [New York City], 1937.
  • Showdown, [New York City], 1946.
  • (With Earl Conrad) My Wicked, Wicked Ways, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1959.
  • From a Life of Adventure: The Writings of Errol Flynn, edited and introduced by Tony Thomas, Citadel Press (Secaucus, NJ), 1980.
  • Other Works
  • Adaptations: My Wicked, Wicked Ways was adapted as a television movie byCBS and broadcast in 1985 as My Wicked, Wicked Ways ... the Legend of Errol Flynn.

Further Reference

Books:

  • International Directory of Films and Filmmakers, Volume 3: Actors and Actresses, St. James Press (Detroit, MI), 1992.
Periodicals:
  • Architectural Digest, April, 1994, pp. 212-213.
  • Empire, October, 1997, p. 199.
  • Entertainment Weekly, fall, 1996, p. 35.
  • Films and Filming (London), summer, 1967.
  • Films in Review, January, 1960; February, 1965; June-July, 1965; October, 1986; volume 38, number 4, 1987.
  • Granta, May 3, 1967.
  • Inter/View, February, 1975.
  • Journal of Popular Film, winter, 1982.
  • Velvet Light Trap (Madison, WI), June, 1971.
Electronic:
  • Celebsite Vital Stats, http://www.celebsite.com/people/errolflynn/content/factscontent.html (web page), December 9, 1997.
  • Errol Flynn: Hollywood's Greatest Swashbuckler &; Greatest Enigma!,http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Hills/5808/ (web page), December 9, 1997.
  • Movie Guide Database: Errol Flynn, http://www.tvguide.com/movies/katz/2342.sml (web page), December 9, 1997.