Rumpole of the Baileystar Leo McKern died today at the age of 82.
The Australian-born actor became a household name playing the pugnacious barrister Rumpole and also enjoyed a distinguished stage career.
He had been ill for some time and died at a nursing home near his home in Bath. 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 Seasonsin 1966.
A string of film roles followed, including an appearance in Ryan's Daughter.
In 1975 he played Rumpole for the first time in a TV play based on the John Mortimer novels. His portrayal of the crumpled defence barrister was a hit with British viewers and his reference to wife Hilda as "she who must be obeyed" become part of the Britain’s vocabulary. The ITV series continued for 15 years.
McKern last appeared in the West End two years ago in the play Hobson's Choice. His last film role was as a bishop in period drama The Story of Father Damien, released in 1999.
PA