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![]() John Mortimer was a prolific writer for the theatre, films (starting during World War II, when he wrote scripts for the Crown Film Unit), television and radio. He also writes fiction and was a trial attorney for more than 30 years. Arguably his most famous creation is Horace Rumpole, "barrister at law, 68 next birthday, Old Bailey hack, husband to Mrs Hilda Rumpole," the protagonist and narrator of dozens of stories. (The quotation comes from Rumpole and the Younger Generation.) On television, Leo McKern personified Rumpole for the better part of two decades.
Bio:
John Mortimer was a prolific writer for the theatre, films (starting during World War II, when he wrote scripts for the Crown Film Unit), television and radio. He also writes fiction and was a trial attorney for more than 30 years. Arguably his most famous creation is Horace Rumpole, "barrister at law, 68 next birthday, Old Bailey hack, husband to Mrs Hilda Rumpole," the protagonist and narrator of dozens of stories. (The quotation comes from Rumpole and the Younger Generation.) On television, Leo McKern personified Rumpole for the better part of two decades.
Tivia:
In September 2004, it was revealed that he had a second son, Ross Bentley, born in 1962 and the result of a short affair with Wendy Craig.He was the father of Sally Silverman and Jeremy Mortimer with his first wife, and Emily Mortimer and Rosie Mortimer with his second wife.He was the father-in-law of Alessandro Nivola.He became an Associate Member of RADA.Openly political, he described himself as a "champagne socialist".He represented actress Margaret Leighton in her divorce suit against Laurence Harvey.On the later Rumpole DVDs he provided a brief introduction to each story, giving the viewer background and context for each story.He was awarded the CBE in 1986 and knighted in the 1998 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to Literature.He successfully defended Oz magazine against charges of obscenity in 1971.He was the son of Clifford and Kathleen May Smith Mortimer.He attended Brasenose College at Oxford University in Oxford, England.He defended Wole Soyinka, fellow writer and Nobel Laureate, in Nigeria of criminal charges.He was played by Simon Callow in the television movie, The Trials of Oz (1991).In 1971, his play Bermondsey featured the first gay kiss seen on a West End stage (the actors were Denholm Elliott and Joss Ackland).Both his wives were called Penelope. The first - formerly Mrs. Penelope Dimont - was a well-known novelist and film critic and was five years his senior. The second, formerly Penelope Gollop, had a child by him before they married and was many years his junior.During his career as a barrister, Mortimer successfully defended the likes of Sex Pistols when they were arrested on obscenity charges over the release of their 1974 album "Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols." The prosecution's argument was that the word 'bollocks', as a derivative of 'testicles', was an offensive term. Virgin Records founder Richard Branson was also embroiled in the controversy for having the album boldly displayed in his store window. |
| Name: |
John Mortimer |
Type: |
Writer,Actor,Producer (IMDB) |
| Area: |
All World |
Platform: |
IMDB |
| Category: |
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Business scope: |
Writer,Actor,Producer |
| Products for sale: |
Writer,Actor,Producer |
| Last update: |
2024-07-01 03:27:48 |
| Biography: |
John Mortimer was a prolific writer for the theatre, films (starting during World War II, when he wrote scripts for the Crown Film Unit), television and radio. He also writes fiction and was a trial attorney for more than 30 years. Arguably his most |
| Trivia: |
In September 2004, it was revealed that he had a second son, Ross Bentley, born in 1962 and the result of a short affair with Wendy Craig.He was the father of Sally Silverman and Jeremy Mortimer with his first wife, and Emily Mortimer and Rosie Mortimer with his second wife.He was the father-in-law of Alessandro Nivola.He became an Associate Member of RADA.Openly political, he described himself as a "champagne socialist".He represented actress Margaret Leighton in her divorce suit against Laurence Harvey.On the later Rumpole DVDs he provided a brief introduction to each story, giving the viewer background and context for each story.He was awarded the CBE in 1986 and knighted in the 1998 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to Literature.He successfully defended Oz magazine against charges of obscenity in 1971.He was the son of Clifford and Kathleen May Smith Mortimer.He attended Brasenose College at Oxford University in Oxford, England.He defended Wole Soyinka, fellow writer and Nobel Laureate, in Nigeria of criminal charges.He was played by Simon Callow in the television movie, The Trials of Oz (1991).In 1971, his play Bermondsey featured the first gay kiss seen on a West End stage (the actors were Denholm Elliott and Joss Ackland).Both his wives were called Penelope. The first - formerly Mrs. Penelope Dimont - was a well-known novelist and film critic and was five years his senior. The second, formerly Penelope Gollop, had a child by him before they married and was many years his junior.During his career as a barrister, Mortimer successfully defended the likes of Sex Pistols when they were arrested on obscenity charges over the release of their 1974 album "Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols." The prosecution's argument was that the word 'bollocks', as a derivative of 'testicles', was an offensive term. Virgin Records founder Richard Branson was also embroiled in the controversy for having the album boldly displayed in his store window. |
| Quotes: |
As the son of a divorce barrister, I was fed, raised, educated and clothed entirely on the proceeds of adultery. If people had remained faithful, I would never have been sent to Harrow.
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[Speaking in 2006, on the prospect of his retiring] What else can I do? I can't play golf... Writing keeps me alive.
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[on David Niven] He was a model of how people who are famous and who enjoy the terrific privilege of stardom or public acclaim should behave.
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[on why he preferred defending murderers to handling divorce cases] Matrimonial clients hate each other so much and use their children to hurt each other in beastly ways. Murderers have usually killed the one person in the world that was bugging them and they're usually quite peaceful and agreeable.
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No brilliance is require in law. Just common sense and relatively clean fingernails. |
| Job title: |
Writer,Actor,Producer |
| Others works: |
"Clinging to the Wreckage: A Part of Life," 1982.
"Murderers and Other Friends: Another Part of Life," 1994
Novel: "The Trials of Rumpole," 1979.
Novel: "Rumpole for the Defence," 1981.
Novel: "Rumpole and |
| Spouse: |
Penny Mortimer (1972 - January 16, 2009) (his death, 2 children)Penelope Mortimer (1949 - 1972) (divorced, 2 children) |
| Children: |
Emily Mortimer |
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