Who was Errol Flynn?
Errol Flynn was an Australian-born Hollywood actor famous for swashbuckling roles in the 1930s and 1940s, including The Adventures of Robin Hood. He became one of the biggest movie stars of his era.
Flynn was born in Hobart, Tasmania, in 1909. His father was a biologist at the University of Tasmania. As a young man, Flynn traveled to New Guinea and worked in various jobs.
He began acting in Britain and then moved to Hollywood, where he was cast in Captain Blood in 1935. The film made him a star.
Swashbuckling star
Flynn starred in many adventure films, including The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Sea Hawk and The Charge of the Light Brigade, often alongside Olivia de Havilland.
He was famous for his charm, good looks and adventurous lifestyle. His off-screen life included legal troubles, gambling and heavy drinking, giving rise to the phrase in like Flynn.
Flynn became an American citizen in 1942. He died in 1959 in Vancouver, Canada, at the age of 50. Hobart has honored him with plaques and exhibitions.