Reginald "Leo" McKern AO (16 March 1920 – 23 July 2002) was an Australian actor who appeared in numerous British television programs and movies, and more than 200 stage roles.
McKern was born Reginald McKern in Sydney, New South Wales, the son of Vera (née Martin) and Norman Walton McKern. He was a direct descendant of a survivor of the Glencoe Massacre. After an accident at age 15 he lost his left eye. He first worked as an engineering apprentic...
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Reginald "Leo" McKern AO (16 March 1920 – 23 July 2002) was an Australian actor who appeared in numerous British television programs and movies, and more than 200 stage roles.
McKern was born Reginald McKern in Sydney, New South Wales, the son of Vera (née Martin) and Norman Walton McKern. He was a direct descendant of a survivor of the Glencoe Massacre. After an accident at age 15 he lost his left eye. He first worked as an engineering apprentice, then as an artist, followed by serving in the Australian Army during World War II. During the war, he made his first stage appearance in Sydney in 1944.
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...
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