Flynn, Errol
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==Early Life== | ==Early Life== | ||
| − | Flynn was born in [[Hobart]], [[Tasmania]], to Marelle Young and Theodore Thomas Flynn. | + | Flynn was born in [[Hobart]], [[Tasmania]], to Marelle Young and Theodore Thomas Flynn. His family moved to [[Sydney, New South Wales]] when Flynn was a young child. Here he met his first love, the [[ocean]]. His father, [[Theodore Thomson Flynn]], was a [[biology|biologist]] and a professor at the [[Queen's University of Belfast]] in [[Northern Ireland]] for the latter part of his career. Flynn was a very athletic person, however he did not excel at his studies. He was expelled from two private schools for fighting. When he was 20 years old, he moved to [[New Guinea]] where he bought a [[tobacco]] [[plantation]]. Unfortunately the business failed. His next attempt at business, a [[copper]] mining venture in the hills near the [[Laloki Valley]] near [[Port Moresby]] also failed. |
| − | In the early 1930s, Flynn left for Britain and got an acting job with | + | In the early 1930s, Flynn left for [[Great Britain]] and got an [[acting]] job with the Northampton Repertory Company, where he worked for seven months. There, he starred in the American film [[In the Wake of the Bounty]] directed by [[Charles Chucker]] in 1933. According to [[Gerry Connelly]]'s biography ''Errol Flynn in Northampton'', Flynn also performed at the 1934 [[Great Malvern|Malvern]] Festival, in [[Glasgow]], and in [[London]]'s [[West End theatre|West End]]. He was discovered by a [[Warner Bros.]] executive, signed to a contract and shipped to America as a contract [[actor]]. In 1942, he became a [[naturalized]] citizen of the [[United States]]. |
==Acting career== | ==Acting career== | ||
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==Marriages== | ==Marriages== | ||
| − | Flynn was married three times, to actress [[Lili Damita]] from 1935 until 1942 (one son, [[Sean Flynn]]); to [[Nora Eddington]] from 1943 until 1948 (two daughters, [[Deirdre Flynn|Deirdre]] and [[Rory Flynn|Rory]]); and to actress [[Patrice Wymore]] from 1950 until his death (one daughter, Arnella Roma). In Hollywood he tended to refer to himself as [[Ireland|Irish]] rather than Australian. Flynn lived with Wymore in [[Port Antonio]], [[Jamaica]] in the 1950s. He was largely responsible for developing tourism to this area, for a while owned the Titchfield Hotel, decorated by the artist [[Olga Lehmann]], and popularized raft trips down rivers on bamboo rafts.<ref>[http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/pages/history/story0033.html The History of Jamaica ] Retrieved September 20, 2007.</ref> | + | Flynn was married three times, to actress [[Lili Damita]] from 1935 until 1942 (one son, [[Sean Flynn]]); to [[Nora Eddington]] from 1943 until 1948 (two daughters, [[Deirdre Flynn|Deirdre]] and [[Rory Flynn|Rory]]); and to actress [[Patrice Wymore]] from 1950 until his death (one daughter, Arnella Roma). In Hollywood he tended to refer to himself as [[Ireland|Irish]] rather than Australian. Flynn lived with Wymore in [[Port Antonio]], [[Jamaica]] in the 1950s. He was largely responsible for developing [[tourism]] to this area, for a while owned the Titchfield Hotel, decorated by the artist [[Olga Lehmann]], and popularized [[raft]] trips down rivers on [[bamboo]] rafts.<ref>[http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/pages/history/story0033.html The History of Jamaica] Retrieved September 20, 2007.</ref> |
==Later Life== | ==Later Life== | ||
| − | Flynn decided to leave [[California]] in 1952 after purchasing a yacht named "Zaca" with his third wife. He had become bored with [[Hollywood]] and felt he was not being offered promising roles. | + | Flynn decided to leave [[California]] in 1952 after purchasing a yacht named "Zaca" with his third wife. He had become bored with [[Hollywood]] and felt he was not being offered promising roles. Flynn stated that being on the [[ocean]] made him feel comfortable and at home. In his later years he started writing. |
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Flynn wrote the following books: | Flynn wrote the following books: | ||
*''Beam Ends'' (1937) | *''Beam Ends'' (1937) | ||
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*''My Wicked, Wicked Ways'' (1959) | *''My Wicked, Wicked Ways'' (1959) | ||
| − | While at a friend house, Flynn suffered a [[heart attack]] and died on October 14, 1959. He is interred in Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale, California. | + | While at a friend house in [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]] Flynn suffered a [[heart attack]] and died on October 14, 1959. He is interred in Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale, [[California]]. |
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 22:52, 20 September 2007
| Errol Flynn | |
 Errol Flynn c.1940 | |
| Birth name: | Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: | June 20 1909 |
| Birth location: |  Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
|
| Date of death: | October 14 1959 (aged 50) |
| Death location: |  Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
|
| Spouse: | Lili Damita) Nora Eddington) Patrice Wymore) |
Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn (June 20, 1909 – October 14, 1959) was an Australian film actor, writer, producer and director. He has become most famous for his romantic swashbuckler roles in Hollywood films and his flamboyant lifestyle. He is remembered as one of Hollywood's legendary figures, having starred in over 60 movies during his short 50 years of life.
Early Life
Flynn was born in Hobart, Tasmania, to Marelle Young and Theodore Thomas Flynn. His family moved to Sydney, New South Wales when Flynn was a young child. Here he met his first love, the ocean. His father, Theodore Thomson Flynn, was a biologist and a professor at the Queen's University of Belfast in Northern Ireland for the latter part of his career. Flynn was a very athletic person, however he did not excel at his studies. He was expelled from two private schools for fighting. When he was 20 years old, he moved to New Guinea where he bought a tobacco plantation. Unfortunately the business failed. His next attempt at business, a copper mining venture in the hills near the Laloki Valley near Port Moresby also failed.
In the early 1930s, Flynn left for Great Britain and got an acting job with the Northampton Repertory Company, where he worked for seven months. There, he starred in the American film In the Wake of the Bounty directed by Charles Chucker in 1933. According to Gerry Connelly's biography Errol Flynn in Northampton, Flynn also performed at the 1934 Malvern Festival, in Glasgow, and in London's West End. He was discovered by a Warner Bros. executive, signed to a contract and shipped to America as a contract actor. In 1942, he became a naturalized citizen of the United States.
Acting career
Flynn became an overnight sensation with his first starring role, Captain Blood, in 1935. He became typecast as a swashbuckler and made a host of such films, including The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), The Dawn Patrol (1938) with his close friend David Niven, Dodge City (1939), The Sea Hawk (1940), and Adventures of Don Juan (1948).
Flynn played opposite Olivia de Havilland in eight films, including Captain Blood, The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936), The Adventures of Robin Hood, Dodge City, Santa Fe Trail (1940), and They Died with their Boots On (1941). The Adventures of Robin Hood was Flynn's first in Technicolor.
During the shooting of The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939), Flynn and co-star Bette Davis had some legendary off-screen fights, with Davis striking him harder than necessary while filming a scene. Their relationship was always strained, but Warner Brothers teamed them up twice. Their off-screen relationship was later reconciled. A contract was even presented to lend them out as Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind but the teaming failed to materialize.
Flynn won acclaim as a drunken ne'er-do-well in The Sun Also Rises (1957). His colorful autobiography, My Wicked, Wicked Ways, was published just months after his death and contains humorous anecdotes about Hollywood. Flynn wanted to call the book In Like Me, but the publisher refused. In 1984, CBS produced a television mini-series based on Flynn's autobiography, starring Duncan Regehr as Flynn.
In the 1950s, Flynn tried his hand as a novelist, penning the adventure novel Showdown, which was published in 1952.
Marriages
Flynn was married three times, to actress Lili Damita from 1935 until 1942 (one son, Sean Flynn); to Nora Eddington from 1943 until 1948 (two daughters, Deirdre and Rory); and to actress Patrice Wymore from 1950 until his death (one daughter, Arnella Roma). In Hollywood he tended to refer to himself as Irish rather than Australian. Flynn lived with Wymore in Port Antonio, Jamaica in the 1950s. He was largely responsible for developing tourism to this area, for a while owned the Titchfield Hotel, decorated by the artist Olga Lehmann, and popularized raft trips down rivers on bamboo rafts.[1]
Later Life
Flynn decided to leave California in 1952 after purchasing a yacht named "Zaca" with his third wife. He had become bored with Hollywood and felt he was not being offered promising roles. Flynn stated that being on the ocean made him feel comfortable and at home. In his later years he started writing.
Flynn wrote the following books:
- Beam Ends (1937)
- Showdown (1946)
- My Wicked, Wicked Ways (1959)
While at a friend house in Vancouver, British Columbia Flynn suffered a heart attack and died on October 14, 1959. He is interred in Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale, California.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- ↑ The History of Jamaica Retrieved September 20, 2007.
External links
- Errol Flynn at the National Film and Sound Archive
- Errol Flynn at the Internet Movie Database
- Map of where Errol died in Vancouver
- Profile for Errol Flynn at Find A Grave
- Errol Flynn on CBC's Front Page Challenge
- The Pirate's Daughter by Margaret Cezair-Thompson
- Wu Ming's "In Like Flynn" at Chicago Review
- Errol Flynn Resource Website Flynn resource website, filmography & photographs.
- Profile @ Turner Classic Movies
Credits
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