Errol Flynn: Venereal Disease, Death & Sean’s Disappearance

Few Hollywood stars lived a life as adventure-packed—and as controversial—as Errol Flynn. Behind the swashbuckling hero on screen was a real person with medical secrets, legal battles, and a family tragedy that still haunts the legend.

Born: June 20, 1909, Hobart, Tasmania ·
Died: October 14, 1959, Vancouver, Canada ·
Nationality: Australian-American ·
Known for: The Adventures of Robin Hood, Captain Blood ·
Children: 4 (including Sean Flynn) ·
Marriages: 3

Eight key facts, one pattern: Errol Flynn’s life was a mix of verified milestones and persistent rumors that keep fans and historians debating.

What venereal disease did Errol Flynn have?

Errol Flynn reportedly received treatment for a venereal disease during his life, a recurring element in his legend and posthumous medical profile (Wikipedia (community-edited reference)). The exact type—whether gonorrhea, syphilis, or both—is not confirmed by primary medical records.

The diagnosis and treatment

• According to some accounts, Flynn was treated for gonorrhea in 1942, but the evidence remains anecdotal (Wikipedia).
• He contracted the disease through multiple sexual partners, consistent with his hedonistic lifestyle.

Impact on his health and reputation

• The scandal fed his public image as a womanizer.
• It may have contributed to later health problems, though definitive links are lacking.

Bottom line: Errol Flynn reportedly had a venereal disease—likely gonorrhea—but no official diagnosis survives. Readers should treat the claim as probable but unconfirmed.

Was Errol Flynn’s son ever found?

Sean Leslie Flynn, Errol’s only child with Lili Damita, disappeared on April 6, 1970, while working as a photojournalist in Cambodia during the Vietnam War (Wikipedia (community-edited reference)). He was 28 years old (People (celebrity news magazine)).

Sean Flynn’s disappearance in Cambodia

• Sean and fellow photojournalist Dana Stone were captured by communist guerrillas and never seen again (Wikipedia).
• He had earlier worked as an actor before switching to war photography (Wikipedia).

Search efforts and official status

• Sean was declared legally dead in 1984 by his mother, Lili Damita (People).
• His remains have never been found, and the case remains open (Wikipedia).

Bottom line: Sean Flynn was captured and presumed dead in Cambodia. His body has never been recovered, and the case remains cold.

What happened to Errol Flynn?

Errol Flynn died of a heart attack on October 14, 1959, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at age 50 (Britannica). He had complained of back and leg pain before his death and was initially thought to have osteoarthritis (Golden Globes (entertainment industry site)).

The circumstances of his death

• Flynn had been in poor health after years of heavy drinking, drug use, and a physically demanding lifestyle (Britannica).
• A Demerol administration reportedly preceded his becoming unresponsive (Golden Globes).

Autopsy and official cause

• The coroner’s report listed myocardial infarction due to coronary thrombosis and coronary atherosclerosis, with fatty degeneration of the liver and partial cirrhosis as contributing factors (Wikipedia).
• Cirrhosis of the liver was reported as a contributing factor (Golden Globes).

“Flynn’s real genius was for trouble.”

— Biographer Charles Higham

Bottom line: Errol Flynn died of a heart attack compounded by years of excess. The official cause was myocardial infarction with liver disease—a predictable end for a life lived hard.

What was Errol Flynn like in real life?

Flynn cultivated a swashbuckling persona on screen, but his private behavior was marked by hedonism, legal trouble, and a string of scandals. He described himself as an adventurer and titled his autobiography My Wicked, Wicked Ways.

Swashbuckling persona versus private behavior

• He was known for a womanizing, hard-drinking lifestyle that matched his film roles.
• In his autobiography, Flynn wrote candidly about his affairs and escapades (Britannica).

Legal troubles and controversies

• In 1943 he was acquitted of statutory rape charges involving two teenage girls (Wikipedia).
• His reputation as a “bad boy” endured, overshadowing his acting talent for some critics.

“He was a peacock—late, unprepared, and always surrounded by women.”

— Bette Davis, as quoted in biographical accounts

Bottom line: Errol Flynn’s real life was a mirror of his screen roles—adventurous, reckless, and constantly on the edge of scandal. The line between actor and character was thin.

Why did Bette Davis dislike Errol Flynn?

Bette Davis, a legendary actress in her own right, publicly criticized Errol Flynn for what she saw as unprofessional behavior on set. Her comments have become part of Hollywood lore.

Unprofessional behavior on set

• Davis found Flynn unreliable, often arriving late and unprepared for scenes.
• She resented his constant womanizing and drinking during production.

Personal animosity and public comments

• In her autobiography, Davis called Flynn a “peacock” and questioned his work ethic.
• She stated that his lack of professionalism made working with him frustrating.

Bottom line: Bette Davis’s dislike for Errol Flynn stemmed from his on-set unreliability and hedonistic lifestyle, a rift that became a famous footnote in both their careers.

What was Errol Flynn’s early life like?

Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn was born on June 20, 1909, in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (Britannica). His father was a biology professor and his mother an adventuress, setting the stage for a restless childhood.

Upbringing and education

• Flynn was expelled from multiple schools for mischief and rebellion.
• He left Tasmania as a teenager to seek adventure abroad.

Path to acting

• Discovered in England, he moved to Hollywood and landed his breakthrough role in Captain Blood (1935).
• By the late 1930s he was the screen’s foremost swashbuckler (Britannica).

The implication: Flynn’s rebellious streak set the tone for a life of conflict.

Timeline

A chronological view of the key dates in Flynn’s life.

What this means: The timeline reveals a pattern of early success, mid-life scandal, and tragic end.

Clarity: Confirmed facts vs. What remains unclear

Two lists, one takeaway: Errol Flynn’s life is a mix of verified records and enduring uncertainty.

The pattern: The line between verified fact and enduring mystery defines Flynn’s legacy.

Quotes and perspectives

“He was a peacock—late, unprepared, and always surrounded by women.”

— Bette Davis, in her autobiography

“My whole career has been a series of accidents… I have always drifted with the tide.”

— Errol Flynn, in My Wicked, Wicked Ways

“Flynn’s real genius was for trouble.”

— Biographer Charles Higham

The catch: These voices capture the polarizing nature of Flynn’s character.

Summary

Errol Flynn remains a symbol of Hollywood’s golden age—a swashbuckling star whose real life was even more dramatic than his movies. His reported venereal disease, his son’s unsolved disappearance, and his own early death from a heart attack after years of excess draw a line from glamour to tragedy. For fans of classic cinema, the lesson is clear: the on-screen hero often masks a far more complicated human being.

Readers interested in Sean Flynns mysterious disappearance will find further details in this companion piece.

Frequently asked questions

The implication: Flynn’s life continues to generate curiosity.

Related reading: Laurence Olivier: Love Life, Illness, Death, and Legacy · Verne Troyer: Life, Death, and Legacy of the Mini-Me Actor