Leo McKern, who was told as a young man that his glass eye and ugly face left him no chance as an actor, died yesterday after nearly 50 years of success, acclaim and affection from audiences.

The news drew heartfelt gratitude from the legal profession for his "great achievement" in creating, with his long-running television character Rumpole of the Bailey, a lawyer the world could love.

McKern, regarded as one of the great British character actors since the second world war, died at a nursing home near his home in Bath. He was 82.

He was moved there some weeks ago after a period of illness with diabetes.

His last London West End stage appearance was in Hobson's Choice two years ago. His last of many films was as a bishop in The Story of Father Damien (1999).

In a tribute yesterday, the QC Geoffrey Robertson said: "As John Mortimer's Rumpole, he embodied the independence of the bar, infuriating governments, judges, policemen and all persons in authority.

"Rumpole of the Bailey was TV's first and perhaps only truly Dickensian character."

A Bar Council spokeswoman said: "Leo McKern's character brought a touch of humanity, colour and life to the way the legal profession is seen on TV... presenting a side to the legal profession that is often missing on most television portrayals of lawyers."

Rumpole's creator, the novelist and playwright Sir John Mortimer said: "He was a wonderful actor. He not only played the character Rumpole, he added to it, brightened it and brought it fully to life."

McKern longed to be remembered for his performance as Ibsen's Peer Gynt at the Old Vic in 1962. The late Lord Olivier praised him as definitive in Chekhov's Uncle Vanya. But he was resigned to being obituarised as Rumpole, a role he began in 1977, aged 57.

"I suppose old Rumpers is a universal sort of character," he said in an interview. "It's rather nice that the oldies, the crumblies, the wrinklies - and I'm one of them - have a hero who isn't young."

Born in Sydney, Australia, McKern lost an eye in an accident as an engineering apprentice.

He fell in love with a professional actress Jane Holland and followed her to London, where, despite discouragement from agents, he began to act professionally while her career subsided.

His first film was Murder in the Cathedral (1952). Among his more noted cinema work was Time Without Pity, directed by Joseph Losey, A Man for All Seasons and The French Lieutenant's Woman.

He leaves his wife, Jane, and their two daughters.