John mortimer, barrister and writer who created rumpole, dies at 85

Retrieved 9 April He combined his careers as barrister and dramatist for several decades, successfully defending Oz magazine against charges of obscenity in He often used his legal exploits to fuel his writing, and his most famous courtroom creation was Rumpole of the Bailey.

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London, UK. Dragon School Harrow School. In a lengthier version, the play became a stage success — first at Greenwich Theatre with Dignam, then in at the Theatre Royal Haymarket with Alec Guinness. He was patron of the Burma Campaign UK , the London-based group campaigning for human rights and democracy in Burma and president of the Royal Court Theatre , having been the chairman of its board from to Most Popular Now 56, people are reading stories on the site right now.

Later writing career [ edit ]. Rumpole's creator Mortimer dies 16 Jan 09 Entertainment.

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London: Viking. Paul, Newcastle. Early writing career [ edit ]. Sir John Mortimer used his legal career to inspire his best-loved works Sir John Mortimer, who has died aged 85, was a celebrated barrister, author and raconteur. The Daily Telegraph. Zsa Zsa Gabor taken to hospital. Penelope Fletcher —; divorced Penelope Gollop —; his death. Mortimer developed his career as a dramatist by rising early to write before attending court.

Notes and references [ edit ]. Your memories of Sir John. He first came to the public eye when he successfully defended Oz magazine against charges of obscenity in Sir John was the quintessential champagne socialist, a champion for reform and permissiveness, who nevertheless lived in the wealthy Chilterns and backed the monarchy and fox-hunting.

For the first and, in fact, the only time in my life I was, thanks to Laurie Lee, earning my living entirely as a writer. In , Mortimer managed to defend the editors of the satirical paper Oz against a charge of "conspiracy to corrupt and debauch the morals of the young of the Realm", which might have carried a sentence of 12 years' hard labour. Mortimer is best remembered for creating a barrister named Horace Rumpole , inspired by his father Clifford, [ 19 ] whose speciality is defending those accused in London's Old Bailey.

John Mortimer. In Mortimer's memoirs, Clinging to the Wreckage , he wrote of "enjoying my mid-thirties and all the pleasures which come to a young writer. The Dock Brief