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Leo McKern, AO ( March 16 , 1920 – July 23 , 2002 ) was an Australian Actor who appeared in numerous British Television programs, Movies and in over 200 Stage roles. He was appointed an Officer of the Order Of Australia in 1983 . BIOGRAPHY Early life McKern was born Reginald McKern in during World War II . During the war, he made his first stage appearance in Sydney in 1944. Career Having fallen in love with actress Jane Holland, McKern moved to the United Kingdom to be with her and they married in 1946. He soon became a regular performer at London's Old Vic theatre and the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre (now called the Royal Shakespeare Theatre ) in Stratford-upon-Avon , despite the difficulties posed by his Glass Eye and Australian accent. In 1949, he played Forester in '' Love's Labours Lost '' at the Old Vic. His most notable Shakespearean role was as Iago to Anthony Quayle 's '' Othello '' in 1952. On the West End in London, McKern originated the role of the Common Man for Robert Bolt 's '' A Man For All Seasons '' in 1960, but for the show's Broadway production, he was shifted to the role of Thomas Cromwell , which he would reprise in the film version. He also memorably played Subtle in Ben Jonson 's '' The Alchemist '' in 1962. McKern's film debut came in 1952's '' Murder In The Cathedral ''. His other notable film appearances included the Beatles film '' Help! '' (1965), the Academy Award -winning adaptation of '' A Man For All Seasons '' (1966), '' Ryan's Daughter '' (1970), and '' The French Lieutenant's Woman '' (1981). He was given the Australian Film Institute Award For Best Actor In A Leading Role for '' Travelling North '' (1987). In '' Monsignor Quixote '' (1989), he co-starred as Sancho Zancas with Alec Guinness as Father Quixote. McKern was one of several or a Heart Attack (accounts differ), forcing production to stop for a time. In 1975, he made his first appearance as his most famous character, Horace Rumpole , whom he played in '' Rumpole Of The Bailey '' for seven series on television until 1992. John Mortimer , the writer and creator of the show, created the part with McKern in mind and had to persuade the actor to continue playing the character. McKern enjoyed the role but had shown concern regarding the fame and how much his life was becoming intertwined with Rumpole's. In the later series, his daughter Abigail McKern joined the cast as Liz Probert. McKern became an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1983. He told his daughter Abigail that he suffered from '' (1999) and on stage in 2000. Suffering from Diabetes and other health problems, he was moved to a Nursing Home near Bath, Somerset in 2002. He died there a few weeks later at the age of 82. McKern was survived by his wife Jane, daughters Abigail and Harriet, and a grandchild. ACTING ROLES
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