Sir John Mortimer Dies at 85

Mortimer, who also made his living as a barrister (lawyer), wrote a number of well-regarded radio plays including Like Men Betrayed, The Dock Brief, What Shall We Tell Caroline? His most famous achievement, the autobiogrphical A Voyage Round My Father began life as a radio play, was televised by the BBC, and later played in the West End with Alec Guinness in the lead and was remade for British television starring Laurence Olivier and Alan Bates. His sole Broadway credit was as translator for the 1992 production of A Little Hotel on the Side.

Mortimer also wrote a film version of Feydeau’s A Flea in Her Ear, along with the screenplays for Bunny Lake is Missing, John and Mary, and Tea With Mussolini.

He is survived by his wife and his five children, including the actress Emily Mortimer.