Famed British actor Richard Attenborough has passed away days short of his 91st birthday. He was created Lord Attenborough in 1993, after previously being created a Knight Baronet, and a Commander of the British Empire (CBE.)
Lord Attenborough was born August 29th, 1923 in Cambridge, United Kingdom to Frederick Levi and Mary Attenborough. He was the eldest of sons, his brothers being broadcaster and naturalist David Attenborough, and John Attenborough, businessman.
Lord Attenborough started in the early 194os, appearing in his first movie in 1942. One of his early successes was being a member of the original cast of Agatha Christie’s, the Mousetrap, which is still running in London’s West End.
Lord Attenborough would go on to have a long career in movies, including: Eight O’Clock Walk, Father’s Doing Fine, Private’s Progress, Dunkirk, The Man Upstairs, I’m All Right Jack, The Great Escape, Guns at Batasi, The Flight of the Phoenix, Doctor Dolittle, The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom, Brannigan, Jurassic Park, and Miracle on 34th Street.
Lord Attenborough became a director and producing, when he co-founded Beaver Films along with Bryan Forbes. Movies produced and/or directed by Lord Attenborough include: Whistle Down the Wind, Séance on a Wet Afternoon, Oh! What a Lovely War, Young Winston, A Bridge Too Far, Gandhi, A Chorus Line, and Chaplin.
He would win many awards over the years, including two Academy Awards for Gandhi (Best Picture and Best Director), Four Golden Globe Awards (two Best Supporting Actor Awards for Doctor Doolittle and the Sand Pebbles, and then a Best Director Award and Best Foreign Film Award for Gandhi), and four BAFTA Awards (Best Actor Award for Guns at Batasi, an Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film for Shadowlands, and two awards for Gandhi – Best Direction, and Best Film.)
He would suffer poor health over the last few years, including a stroke.
Lord Attenborough was married to Sheila Sim, who survives him. Together they had three children.
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