Errol Flynn

Dashing Errol Flynn with Pepi the monkey in the 1940 swashbuckler THE SEA HAWK. Flynn was born on 20 June 1909 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. After an unhappy childhood that included physical and mental abuse by his mother, Flynn ran away to New Guinea where for several years he lived a life of adventure as a copra plantation overseer, constable, gold miner and guide up the dangerous Sepik River. In 1933, back in Australia, he was cast in a low-budget film, "In the Wake of the Bounty," which gave him the idea of becoming an actor. He drifted to England where he landed work as a bit player with the Northampton Repertory Theater and, after appearing in one film, "Murder at Monte Carlo," was discovered by a Warner Brothers talent scout. Coming to America in 1934, Flynn was cast in two insignificant films before Warner Brothers took a chance on an unknown and starred him in "Captain Blood" (1935). Flynn shot to stardom overnight, and throughout the 1930s achieved worldwide fame for his romantic swashbuckler roles, as well as frequent partnerships with Olivia de Havilland. His striking good looks and screen charisma won him millions of fans. Flynn also became as famous for his hedonistic lifestyle as for his swashbuckling movie roles. His penchant for alcohol, drugs and brawling aged him prematurely and by 1950 his best days were behind him both professionally and personally. Dropped by Warner Brothers in 1952, Flynn roamed the world in his yacht making substandard films abroad, as well as one short-lived television show, "The Errol Flynn Theater." Near the end of his life he returned to Hollywood where he was rediscovered; playing drunks and washed out bums, he brought a poignancy to his performances that had not been there during his glamorous heyday. Flynn, who was married three times, died in Vancouver, British Columbia, on October 14, 1959, of a heart attack.

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