Biography
Leo McKern (16 March 1920 – 23 July 2002) was an Australian-born actor who appeared in numerous British, Australian and American films and television programmes, as well as more than 200 stage roles.
Born Reginald McKern in Sydney, he moved to England in 1946 and became established in the theatre, performing with the Old Vic and the Royal Shakespeare Company. His screen credits include Thomas Cromwell in A Man for All Seasons (1966), roles in Help! (1965), Ryan's Daughter (1970), The Omen (1976) and The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981), and Carl Bugenhagen in Damien: Omen II (1978). He played Former Number Two in the 1967 television series The Prisoner.
McKern is best known for portraying Horace Rumpole in the long-running series Rumpole of the Bailey (1978–1992). He received the Order of Australia and won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor for Travelling North (1986).
