Rumpole of the Bailey star McKern dies age 82

TRIBUTES poured in yesterday for Rumpole of the Bailey actor Leo McKern, who has died at the age of 82.

McKern had been ill for some time and died at a nursing home near his home in Bath yesterday morning.

The Australian-born actor enjoyed a distinguished stage, film and TV career but was best known for playing the pugnacious barrister Rumpole.

Rumpole creator John Mortimer led the tributes: “He was a wonderful actor. He not only played the character Rumpole, he added to it, brightened it and brought it fully to life.”

Actress Patricia Hodge, who appeared in Rumpole of the Bailey as barrister Phyllida Trant, said: “Working with Leo was one of the greatest learning experiences I have ever had. The example he set was not just as an actor but as a man. In both he was a great listener and sublimely humorous.”

Peter Bowles, who played Guthrie Featherstone in the long-running series, said: “Leo was one of those rare actors who had no pomposity.

“He was extremely generous and funny, and was brilliant on the stage as well as on television. He was an inspiration to younger actors and will be deeply missed.”

Leading QCs also fondly remembered McKern for changing the British public’s perception of the legal profession. Geoffrey Robertson QC said: “His great achievement was to create a lawyer the world could love.” As John Mortimer’s Rumpole, “he embodied the independence of the Bar, infuriating governments, judges, policemen and all persons in authority”.

McKern suffered from diabetes and other health problems and was transferred to the nursing home a few weeks ago. He was married to actress Jane Holland and had two daughters, Abigail and Harriet. He had one grandchild. Born Reginald McKern in Sydney in 1920, he planned to become an engineer until he lost his left eye in an accident aged 15.

He turned to acting and met his future wife when they worked in the same stage company, following her to England in 1946 and marrying her two weeks later. He enjoyed spells at the Old Vic and the Royal Shakespeare Company and won critical acclaim for his role as Thomas Cromwell in the film version of A Man For All Seasons in 1966. A string of film roles followed. In 1975 he played Rumpole for the first time.

His portrayal of the crumpled defence barrister was a hit with viewers and his reference to wife Hilda as “she who must be obeyed” became part of viewing nations’ vocabulary.