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Dateline: 23rd July, 2002

Leo McKern (1920 - 2002)

Actor Leo McKern has died, aged 82.

He is best known for his portrayal of John Mortimer's much loved barrister Rumpole of the Bailey, a part he played first in 1975 and which continued as a popular TV series for another fifteen years. Rumpole's name for his wife - "she who must be obeyed" - has now become part of the English language!

McKern was Australian by birth - he was born in Sydney - and wanted to be an engineer but lost an eye when he was 15 and so became an actor. In 1946 he met the actress Jane Holland when they both worked for the same company in Australia. She left for England, she followed, and they were married two weeks later.

He worked with the RSC and at the Old Vic but moved into film in the sixties although he continued to appear onstage. His best know film role was as Thomas Cromwell in A Man for All Seasons (1966).

His last stage appearance was in Hobson's Choice in the West End two years ago.

He had two children (Abigail and Harriet) and one grandchild.

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©Peter Lathan 2001