Emmett J. Flynn

{{Infobox person

| name = Emmett J. Flynn

| image = Emmett J Flynn - Jul 1919 EH.jpg

| caption = Flynn in the Motion Picture Herald, 1919

| birth_name = Emmett John Flynn

| birth_date = 1882

| birth_place = Denver, Colorado, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|1937|6|4|1882}}

| death_place = Hollywood, California, U.S.

| education = Sacred Heart College

| spouse = {{marriage|Genevieve|1914|1930|reason=divorce}}
{{marriage|Nita Baker|1933}}
{{marriage|Margaret Shelby|1937|1937|reason=annulled}}

| children = 1

}}

Emmett John Flynn (1882 – June 4, 1937) was an American director, screenwriter, actor, and producer.

Early life

Emmett John Flynn{{citation needed |date=May 2025}} was born in Denver, Colorado, in 1882.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/los-angeles-evening-citizen-news-death-s/172339205/ |title=Death Strikes Emmett Flynn |date=1937-06-04 |newspaper=Hollywood Citizen-News |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2025-05-13}}{{Open access}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-flynn-former-director-of-fil/172339669/ |title=Flynn, Former Director of Films, Dies |date=1937-06-05 |newspaper=Daily News |page=5 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2025-05-13}}{{Open access}} He graduated from Sacred Heart College of Denver.

Career

In 1907, Flynn came to Hollywood. He had a short stage career.

Flynn was assistant director to Mary Pickford. He directed Rudolph Valentino and Norman Kerry.

Personal life

Flynn lived on Carlton Way in Los Angeles. Flynn married Genevieve in 1914. They had a daughter Mary Gene. They divorced in 1930.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-oakland-post-enquirer-e-j-flynn-m/172341762/ |title=E. J. Flynn, Movie Director, Divorced |date=1930-12-17 |newspaper=Oakland Post-Enquirer |page=30 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2025-05-14}}{{Open access}} He was arrested on May 7, 1930, on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-director-held-in-l/172341541/ |title=Director Held in Liquor Case |date=1930-05-08 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |page=30 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2025-05-14}}{{Open access}} On March 16, 1932, he was imprisoned for failure to pay child support.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-emmett-j-flynn-lo/172341703/ |title=Emmett J. Flynn Lodged in Jail |date=1932-03-17 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |page=18 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2025-05-14}}{{Open access}} In June 1932, he was sentenced to a road camp for excessive drinking while on probation.

Flynn was sentenced to 150 days in prison at Riverside Jail for drunkenness. He escaped jail on November 10, 1933.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee-ex-film-director-emmett-j/172338693/ |title=Ex-Film Director Emmett J. Flynn Dies After Fall |date=1937-06-04 |newspaper=The Fresno Bee |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2025-05-13}}{{Open access}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/los-angeles-evening-citizen-news-emmett/172341889/ |title=Emmett Flynn Said Married in Florida |date=1933-12-21 |newspaper=Los Angeles Evening Citizen News |page=7 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2025-05-14}}{{Open access}} He married Nita Baker, a nurse, on December 20, 1933, in Miami, Florida.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-long-beach-sun-first-wife-goes-to-se/172338438/ |title=First Wife Goes to Second's Aid in Court Action |date=1937-04-27 |newspaper=Morning Sun |page=7 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2025-05-13}}{{Open access}} He was arrested a few hours after his wedding on a fugitive warrant from Riverside. For leaving Riverside early, he was subsequently sentenced to five years at San Quentin Prison. He served one year of that term.

Flynn married Margaret Shelby, sister of actress Mary Miles Minter, of Laguna Beach on March 16, 1937, in Yuma, Arizona. They were arrested in Glendale a few days later on March 19 for drunkenness.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/los-angeles-evening-citizen-news-taxicab/172337290/ |title=Taxicab Elopers Take Taxi Home |date=1937-03-17 |newspaper=Citizen-News |page=13 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2025-05-13}}{{Open access}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-jail-halts-honeymo/172337551/ |title=Jail Halts Honeymoon |date=1937-03-20 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2025-05-13}}{{Open access}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pasadena-star-news-film-director-third/172337963/ |title=Film Director, Third Bride Face Charges |date=1937-03-22 |newspaper=Los Angeles City News |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2025-05-13}}{{Open access}} Within a couple weeks, his new wife filed for annulment citing he was still married to his second wife. The annulment was granted in April 1937.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee-film-director-gets-thirty/172338151/ |title=Film Director Gets Thirty-Day Sentence |date=1937-03-28 |newspaper=The Fresno Bee |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2025-05-13}}{{Open access}} He was arrested again for drunkenness on May 4, 1937, in Beverly Hills.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/los-angeles-evening-citizen-news-ex-dire/172338535/ |title=Ex-Director Flynn to Face 'Habitual' Charge |date=1937-05-04 |newspaper=Hollywood Citizen-News |page=17 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2025-05-13}}{{Open access}}

Flynn was found unconscious in his apartment by his landlady on June 4, 1937. According to the paper, he had reportedly fallen and an officer relayed he had been taking "sleeping potions". He died later that day at the Hollywood Receiving Hospital. His death was later attributed to alcoholism.