A life in pictures: Sir John Mortimer

Creator of Rumpole of the Bailey, lawyer and writer Sir John Mortimer at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in 2006 Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Mortimer, aged about 25, during his time in the Crown Film Unit Photograph: Rex Features

Mortimer and his first wife, the writer Penelope Fletcher, were something of an 'it' couple, and were often photographed by a curious press with their children and stepchildren. This picture shows (left to right) Deborah, Madelon, Penelope, Jeremy, John, Julia, Caroline, Sally in 1959. Taken from A Voyage Round John Mortimer, the authorised biography by Valerie Grove, Published by Penguin Photograph: PR

Mortimer pursued an influential career at the bar, defending free speech in a series of high-profile cases Photograph: Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS

Mortimer with his wife Penelope and their daughter, future fim actress Emily Mortimer, aged 18 months, in 1973 Photograph: Potter/Getty Images

Actor Leo McKern, right, poses with Mortimer as his most popular creation Rumpole Of The Bailey Photograph: Evening Standard/Getty Images

Mortimer at his home near Henley-on-Thames, in 2006 Photograph: Sophia Evans/Sophia Evans

Michael Hordern in Mortimer's ITV drama Paradise Postponed (1986), a satirical vision of Thatcher's Britain Photograph: FremantleMedia Ltd/Rex Features

The stage adaptation of Mortimer's autobiographical A Voyage Round My Father, starring (l to r) Joanna David , Derek Jacobi, Natasha Little and Dominic Rowan at the Donmar Warehouse in 2006 Photograph: Tristram Kenton/Tristram Kenton

Mortimer at his home near Henley-on-Thames Photograph: Eamonn McCabe

Leo McKern as Mortimer's most famous character, Rumpole of the Bailey Photograph: FremantleMedia Ltd /Rex Features

Mortimer at the Everyman Theatre during the Cheltenham Literature Festival Photograph: Adrian Sherratt/Rex Features

Mortimer with his daughter, actress Emily Mortimer, at the aftershow party following the UK premiere of Match Point in 2005 Photograph: Dave Hogan/Getty Images

Mortimer at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in 2003 Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/Murdo MacLeod