Errol Flynn

Errol Flynn
source
Name	Errol Flynn
Caption	Flynn in 1940
Birth date	20 June 1909
Birth place	Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Death date	14 October 1959
Death place	Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1932–1959
Spouse	Lili Damita (1935–1942), Nora Eddington (1943–1949), Patrice Wymore (1950–1959)
Children	4, including Sean Flynn

Errol Flynn. An Australian-born actor who became one of Hollywood's most iconic stars of the 1930s and 1940s, renowned for his swashbuckling roles in adventure films. His dashing persona and notorious off-screen life of scandal and excess cemented his status as a legendary, if controversial, figure in Golden Age cinema. Flynn's career was defined by major successes at Warner Bros., but later marred by legal battles and personal decline.

Early life and career

Born in Hobart, the son of a prominent marine biologist, Flynn was educated at several private schools in Australia and England, including Shore School in Sydney. His youthful restlessness led him to a series of itinerant jobs across the South Pacific, including plantation manager in New Guinea and a brief, unsuccessful stint with the Papua New Guinea constabulary. He entered the film industry in 1933 after being cast in the Australian production In the Wake of the Bounty, directed by Charles Chauvel. Seeking greater opportunity, he traveled to England and performed in minor theatrical roles before securing a contract with Warner Bros. after being noticed by a studio executive.

Hollywood stardom

Flynn's breakthrough came with his starring role as the titular hero in the 1935 adventure film *Captain Blood*, which established his charismatic screen persona and successful partnership with director Michael Curtiz and co-star Olivia de Havilland. This led to a string of highly successful swashbucklers, including *The Adventures of Robin Hood* in 1938, often cited as his definitive performance, and later films like *The Sea Hawk* and They Died with Their Boots On. During this period, he also starred in notable westerns such as *Dodge City* and *Santa Fe Trail*, often alongside actors like Alan Hale Sr. and Ronald Reagan.

Legal troubles and scandals

Flynn's carefully cultivated image was severely damaged in 1942 when he was charged with the statutory rape of two teenage girls, Betty Hansen and Peggy Satterlee. The highly publicized 1943 trial, held at the Los Angeles County Superior Court, resulted in his acquittal but permanently tarnished his reputation. The case popularized the phrase "in like Flynn" and fueled his public persona as a libertine. Further scandals followed, including a 1952 paternity suit filed by Beverly Aadland's mother and frequent clashes with the Internal Revenue Service over unpaid taxes.

Later career and decline

Following World War II, Flynn's popularity waned as he faced typecasting and his health deteriorated due to chronic alcoholism. He attempted more serious roles in films like *The Sun Also Rises* and *Too Much, Too Soon*, but his performances were often uneven. He turned to self-parody in low-budget adventures like The Adventures of Captain Fabian and began working in European cinema. His final years included a notorious, inebriated television interview on The Tonight Show and a venture into Cuba just before the Cuban Revolution.

Personal life and death

Flynn was married three times: to actress Lili Damita, to Nora Eddington, and finally to actress Patrice Wymore, who survived him. He had four children, including his son Sean Flynn, who became a photojournalist and disappeared in Cambodia. Flynn's lifelong hedonism, involving heavy drinking, drug use, and numerous affairs, took a severe toll on his health. On October 14, 1959, he died of a heart attack in Vancouver while visiting a friend; the autopsy revealed advanced atherosclerosis and signs of cirrhosis.

Legacy and cultural impact

Errol Flynn remains a defining icon of the swashbuckling film genre, with his performance in *The Adventures of Robin Hood* preserved in the National Film Registry. His life inspired numerous biographies and the semi-autobiographical film My Wicked, Wicked Ways. The phrase "in like Flynn" endures in popular culture, and his rakish persona influenced later actors like John Barrymore and Burt Lancaster. Despite his personal notoriety, his films for Warner Bros. and director Michael Curtiz are celebrated as classics of Hollywood adventure cinema.

Category:1909 births Category:1959 deaths Category:Australian male film actors