Leo McKern with Australian actress Jane Holland, McKern moved to the United Kingdom to be with her; they married in 1946. He soon became a regular performer at London's Old Vic theatre and the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre (now the Royal Shakespeare Theatre) in Stratford-upon-Avon, despite the difficulties posed by his glass eye and Australian accent. McKern's most notable Shakespearean role was as Iago in "Othello", in 1952. In 1955 he appeared in "The Burnt Flower Bed" by Ugo Betti directed by Peter Hall at the Arts Theatre Club in London. He played Big Daddy in Peter Hall's production of "Cat on a
Howard McKern awarded First-Class Honours in Chemistry and Geology. McKern received a Diploma in Chemistry from the Sydney Technical College in 1942, while studying physiology, microbiology and botany. In 1957 he completed a Master of Science degree, by thesis, at the University of New South Wales. McKern worked from 1936 until 1945 in analytical and organic chemistry in the Parramatta chemical laboratory of Meggitt Limited, and during that time was promoted to Assistant Chemist. In July 1945, McKern joined the staff of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences as head of the Chemistry Department and was engaged in research on the