The Untold Truth Of Errol Flynn

Unlike many of his contemporaries in Hollywood, Errol Flynn never fought in World War II. There have been a few explanations for why he was never in the army. Some have speculated that Flynn simply didn't care about the war. As stated in "You Must Remember This," several of Flynn's friends believed he was intentionally avoiding service, either because he was afraid or because he didn't seem to care very much about the war in general. One of Flynn's closest friends, David Niven (known for starring in many films, including as James Bond in 1967's "Casino Royale"), described Flynn as having no loyalty whatsoever.

At 33, Flynn was not too old to be in the military, but he was declared unfit for service for health reasons. Many, including J. Edgar Hoover, were suspicious of Flynn's medical status, and some suggested that the studio may have gotten Flynn exempted from military service so they wouldn't lose their star. One reason for this is that he was a beloved action hero, so it was hard for people to believe that he was unfit for service.

In reality, Flynn's medical conditions were genuine, and he sometimes collapsed while filming. According to the Los Angeles Times, Flynn was declared unfit for service in any branch of the military because of serious medical issues, including a heart condition, recurrent malaria, chronic tuberculosis, multiple STDs, and chronic pain.

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