The biography I read (yes I read a book) said he was Australian and left because he was allegedly charge with running a ship full of aboriginal people from one island to another, The boat sank, he swam to shore and abandoned his cargo. Honestly I don't believe it, if this was they case it wouldn't be hard to find him.
Guess that is what I get for liking a man who died before I was born.
Yup, he got in lots of South Pacific trouble before his Hollywood days. He details, with some embellishment, these in 'My Wicked, Wicked Ways.' Also wrote an earlier book about sailing (something 'Last' or 'Ends').
/His father was a quiet, respected marine biologist at the Uni in Hobart. Must have been mortified.