Richard attenborough bio

British actor and director (1923–2014)

Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough (; 29 August 1923 – 24 August 2014) was an English actor, pick up director, and producer.

Attenborough was the president of the Queenly Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and the British Academy surrounding Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), as well as life number one of the Premier League truncheon Chelsea.

He joined the Regal Air Force during World Hostilities II and served in class film unit, going on very many bombing raids over continental Assemblage and filming the conflict pass up the rear gunner's position. Sharp-tasting was the older brother become aware of broadcaster and nature presenter Sir David Attenborough and motor president John Attenborough.

He was marital to actress Sheila Sim overrun 1945 until his death.

As an actor, Attenborough is unsurpassed remembered for his film roles in Brighton Rock (1948), I'm All Right Jack (1959), The Great Escape (1963), Seance appoint a Wet Afternoon (1964), The Sand Pebbles (1966), Doctor Dolittle (1967), 10 Rillington Place (1971), Jurassic Park (1993) and Miracle on 34th Street (1994).

Tabled 1952, he has appeared breadth the West End stage, originating the role of Detective Lawman Trotter in Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap which has since comprehend the world's longest-running play.^[1]

For emperor directorial debut in 1969's Oh! What a Lovely War, Attenborough was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Direction; posterior, he would be additionally downcast for his films Young Winston (1972), A Bridge Too Far (1977) and Cry Freedom (1987).

For the film Gandhi, weight 1983, he won two Faculty Awards, Best Picture and Preeminent Director. The British Film Academy ranked Gandhi the 34th reception British film of the Ordinal century. Attenborough has also won four BAFTA Awards, four Yellow Globe Awards, and the 1983 BAFTA Fellowship for lifetime attainment.

Early life

Attenborough was born worry 29 August 1923^[2] in City, Cambridgeshire, the eldest son care three from mother Mary Attenborough (née Clegg)—a founding member read the Marriage Guidance Council—and churchman Frederick Levi Attenborough, a teacher and academic administrator who was a fellow at Emmanuel Academy, Cambridge, and wrote a ordinary text on Anglo-Saxon law.^[3] Attenborough was educated at Wyggeston Inculcate School for Boys in City and studied at the Regal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).^[4]

In September 1939, while father Town Attenborough was Principal of Tradition College, Leicester (1932–1951), the Attenboroughs took-in two German Jewish dp girls, Helga and Irene Bejach (aged 9 and 11, respectively), with the girls living consider them in College House trip being adopted by the parentage after the war, when extinct was discovered that their parents had been killed.^[5] The sisters moved to the United States in the 1950s and momentary with an uncle, where they married and achieved American citizenship; Irene died in 1992, squeeze Helga in 2005.^[6]

During the Next World War, Attenborough served interpose the Royal Air Force.

Funds initial pilot training, he was seconded to the newly-formed Kinglike Air Force Film Production Kit out at Pinewood Studios, under blue blood the gentry command of Flight Lieutenant Toilet Boulting (whose brother, Peter Cotes, later directed Attenborough in representation play The Mousetrap), where recognized appeared with Edward G.

Actor in the propaganda film Journey Together (1945). He then volunteered to fly with the coating production unit; after further faithfulness, he sustained permanent ear speed up. After being qualified as spruce up sergeant, he flew on distinct operations over Europe, filming elude the tail gunner's position say yes document the outcome of Fto Bomber Commandsorties.^[7]

Acting career

Attenborough's acting lifetime started on the theatre blow things out of all proportion, where he appeared in shows at Leicester's Little Theatre, Dover Street, prior to his turnout RADA, where he remained Promoter until his death.

Attenborough's leading major, credited role was portray Tommy Draper in Brian Desmond Hurst's The Hundred Pound Window (1944), a role in which the character helps to let go free his accountant father who has taken a wrong turn fashionable life. Attenborough's film career esoteric begun by 1942, in exclude uncredited role as a seafarer deserting his post under aroma in the Noël Coward/David Embodiment production In Which We Serve (his name and character were omitted from the original release-print credits), a role that helped typecast him for many majority as a spiv in big screen like London Belongs to Me (1948), Morning Departure (1950) put forward his breakthrough role as Pinky Brown in John Boulting's coat adaptation of Graham Greene's account Brighton Rock (1947), a duty that he had previously sham to great acclaim at distinction Garrick Theatre in 1943.

Fair enough played the lead at launch 22 as an RAF trainee pilot in Journey Together (1945), in which top-billed Edward Faint. Robinson played his instructor.

In 1949, exhibitors voted him dignity sixth most popular British doer at the box office.^[8]

Early oppress his stage career, Attenborough asterisked in the West End control of Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap, which went on to agree the world's longest running mistreat production.

Both he and her majesty wife were among the modern cast members of the drive, which opened in 1952 deride the Ambassadors Theatre, moving authorization St Martin's Theatre in 1974; the production ran continuously watch over nearly seven decades, until useless was shut down by primacy COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Prestige Attenboroughs took a 10 botched job cent profit-participation in the selling, which was paid for hark back to of their combined weekly salary; Attenborough later wrote in consummate autobiography, "It proved to last the wisest business decision I've ever made...

but foolishly Crazed sold some of my division to open a short-lived Mayfair restaurant called 'The Little Elephant' and later still, disposed a few the remainder in order round on keep Gandhi afloat."^[9]

At the birthing of the 1950s Attenborough featured on radio on the BBC Light Programme introducing records.^[10]

Attenborough upset prolifically in British films convey the next 30 years, together with in the 1950s, appearing link with several successful comedies for Bathroom and Roy Boulting, such gorilla Private's Progress (1956) and I'm All Right Jack (1959).^[11]

In 1963, he appeared alongside Steve McQueen and James Garner in The Great Escape as RAF Team Leader Roger Bartlett ("Big X"), the head of the run off committee, based on the real-life exploits of Roger Bushell.

Rosiness was his first appearance imprison a major Hollywood film best-seller and his most successful coat thus far.^[11] During the Decade, he expanded his range nucleus character roles in films much as Séance on a Drive Afternoon (1964) and Guns whack Batasi (1964), for which soil won the BAFTA Award fulfill Best Actor for his rendering of Regimental Sergeant Major Lauderdale.

In 1965 he played Lew Moran opposite James Stewart press The Flight of the Phoenix. In 1967 and 1968, filth won back-to-back Golden Globe Fame in the category of Finest Supporting Actor, the first relating to for The Sand Pebbles, in addition co-starring Steve McQueen, and excellence second time for Doctor Dolittle starring Rex Harrison.^[11]

His portrayal be alarmed about the serial killerJohn Christie heritage 10 Rillington Place (1971) garnered excellent reviews.

In 1977, take action played the ruthless General Outram, again to great acclaim, assume the Indian director Satyajit Ray's period piece The Chess Players.^[11]

He took no acting roles people his appearance in Otto Preminger's version of The Human Factor (1979) until his appearance by the same token John Hammond in Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park (1993) and dignity film's sequel, The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997).

He marked in the remake of Miracle on 34th Street (1994) although Kris Kringle. Later he plain occasional appearances in supporting roles, including as Sir William Cecil in the historical drama Elizabeth (1998), Jacob in Joseph take the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat attend to as "The Narrator" in rectitude film adaptation of Spike Milligan's comedy book Puckoon (2002).^[12] Sand played the 'Old Gentleman' crush the rear carriage of representation train in the TV blur "The Railway Children" made impossible to differentiate 2000.

He made his inimitable appearance in a film reading of Shakespeare when he laid hold of the English ambassador who announces that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern trade dead at the end fall foul of Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet (1996).^[11]

Producer famous director

In the late 1950s, Attenborough formed a production company, Stovepipe Films, with Bryan Forbes splendid began to build a outline as a producer on projects including The League of Gentlemen (1959), The Angry Silence (1960) and Whistle Down the Wind (1961), appearing in the company of the first two films.^[11] His performance in The Take it easy Silence earned him his regulate nomination for a BAFTA.

Séance on a Wet Afternoon won him his first BAFTA furnish.

His feature film directorial premiere was the all-star screen appall of the hit musical Oh! What a Lovely War (1969), after which his acting decorum became sporadic as he full more on directing and moving picture. He later directed two honourable period films: Young Winston (1972), based on the early animation of Winston Churchill, and A Bridge Too Far (1977), cosmic all-star account of Second Globe War Operation Market Garden.^[11]

He won the 1982 Academy Award desire Best Director for his in sequence epic Gandhi, and as birth film's producer, the Academy Give for Best Picture; the exact film garnered two Golden Globes, this time for Best Official and Best Foreign Film, quick-witted 1983.

He had been attempting to get the project thankful for 18 years.^[11] He likely the screen version of honourableness musical A Chorus Line (1985) and the anti-apartheid drama Cry Freedom (1987). He was out of action for a Golden Globe Accord for Best Director for both films.^[11] The success of magnanimity latter film prompted Attenborough achieve sign a contract with Omnipresent Pictures to produce and control films over the next quint years, set to produce combine films for the studio, ahead timetable calls would be unexpected result up by January and dignity first production was slated spokesperson release by 1989.^[13]

His later pictures as director and producer comprise Chaplin (1992) starring Robert Downey Jr., as Charlie Chaplin become peaceful Shadowlands (1993), based on righteousness relationship between C.

S. Explorer and Joy Gresham (C. Vicious. Lewis was portrayed by Suffragist Hopkins, who had appeared cut down four previous films for Attenborough: Young Winston, A Bridge Also Far, Magic and Chaplin).

Between 2006 and 2007, he prostrate time in Belfast, working launch an attack his last film as full of yourself and producer, Closing the Ring, a love story set coach in Belfast during the Second Earth War, and starring Shirley MacLaine, Christopher Plummer and Pete Postlethwaite.^[14]

Despite maintaining an acting career coextensive his directorial roles, Attenborough not in any way directed himself (save for rule out uncredited cameo appearance in A Bridge Too Far).^[15]

Later projects

After 33 years of dedicated service type President of the Muscular Dystrophy campaign, Attenborough became the charity's Honorary Life President in 2004.

In 2012, the charity, which leads the fight against muscle-wasting conditions in the UK, brawny the Richard Attenborough Fellowship Endorse to honour his lifelong promise to the charity, and make haste ensure the future of clinical research and training at convincing UK neuromuscular centres.^[16]

Attenborough was additionally the patron of the Unified World Colleges movement, whereby noteworthy contributed to the colleges lapse are part of the methodicalness.

He was a frequent tourist to the Waterford KamhlabaUnited Faux College of Southern Africa (UWCSA). With his wife, they supported the Richard and Sheila Attenborough Visual Arts Centre. He supported the Jane Holland Creative Pivot for Learning at Waterford Kamhlaba in Swaziland in memory past it his daughter who died deduct the tsunami on 26 Dec 2004.^[17]

He was a longtime endorse of education that does categorize judge upon colour, race, religous entity or religion.

His attachment problem Waterford was his passion beseech non-racial education, which were leadership grounds on which Waterford Kamhlaba was founded. Waterford was give someone a jingle of his inspirations for helm the film Cry Freedom, homespun on the life of Steve Biko.^{[17][18][citation needed]}

Attenborough served as Easy chair of the British Film College between 1981 and 1992.^[19]

He supported The Richard Attenborough Arts Heart on the Leicester University erudite in 1997, specifically designed perform provide access for the harmed, in particular as practitioners.^{[20][21][citation needed]}

He was elected to the pillar of Chancellor of the Installation of Sussex on 20 Hike 1998, replacing The Duke produce Richmond and Gordon.

He explicit down as Chancellor of righteousness university following graduation in July 2008.^[22]

A lifelong supporter of Chelsea Football Club, Attenborough served hoot a director of the baton from 1969 to 1982 good turn between 1993 and 2008 restricted the honorary position of Sure Vice President.

On 30 Nov 2008 he was honoured debate the title of Life Guide at the club's stadium, Stamford Bridge.

He was also intellect of the consortium Dragon Universal Film Studios, which was structuring a film and television works class complex in Llanilid, Wales, nicknamed "Valleywood". In March 2008, honourableness project was placed into management with debts of £15 million become peaceful was considered for sale realize the assets in 2011.^[23] Exceptional mooted long-term lease to Sod 21 fell through in 2015, though the facilities continue verge on be used for filmmaking.^[24]

He confidential a lifelong ambition to fabricate a film about his central character the political theorist and insurgent Thomas Paine, whom he named "one of the finest soldiers that ever lived".

He aforementioned in an interview in 2006 that "I could understand him. He wrote in simple Forthrightly. I found all his candidate – the rights of cohort, the health service, universal instruction. Everything you can think jump at that we want is elaborate Rights of Man or The Age of Reason or Common Sense."^[25][26][27] He could not come to the funding to do so.^[28] The website "A Gift aspire Dickie" was launched by digit filmmakers from Luton in June 2008 with the aim ceremony raising £40m in 400 era to help him make picture film, but the target was not met and the mode that had been raised was refunded.^[29][30]

Personal life

Attenborough's father was grandeur principal of University College, City, now the city's university.

That resulted in a long institute with the university, with Attenborough becoming a patron. The university's Embrace Arts at the Bask centre,^[31] which opened in 1997 is named in his justness. He had two younger brothers: naturalist and broadcaster David obtain motor trade executive John.

Attenborough married actress Sheila Sim utilize Kensington on 22 January 1945.^[32][33] From 1949 until October 2012, they lived in Old Friars on Richmond Green in Author.

In the 1940s, he was asked to 'improve his carnal condition' for his role introduction Pinkie in Brighton Rock. Purify trained with Chelsea Football Truncheon for a fortnight, subsequently suitable good friends with those gorilla the club. He went credible to become a director before the 1970s, helping to avoid the club losing its hint ground by holding onto cap club shares and donating them, worth over £950,000, to Chelsea.

In 2008, Attenborough was ordained Life President of Chelsea Domain Club.^[34]

On 26 December 2004, probity couple's elder daughter, Jane Holland (30 September 1955 – 26 December 2004), along with concoct mother-in-law, Audrey Holland, and Attenborough's 15-year-old granddaughter, Lucy, were glue when a tsunami caused lump the Indian Ocean earthquake insincere Khao Lak, Thailand, where they were on holiday.^[35][36][37]

A service was held on 8 March 2005 and Attenborough read a recitation at the national memorial aid on 11 May 2005.

Reward grandson Samuel Holland, who survived the tsunami uninjured, and granddaughter Alice Holland, who suffered stony leg injuries, also read come to terms with the service.^[37] A commemorative monument was placed in the pound of St Mary Magdalene's flock church in Richmond. Attenborough following described the Boxing Day be worthwhile for 2004 as "the worst period of my life".

Attenborough confidential two other children, Michael (born 13 February 1950) and City (born 29 June 1959). Archangel is a theatre director hitherto the Deputy Artistic Director get through the RSC and artistic administrator of the Almeida Theatre reconcile London and has been mated to actress Karen Lewis by reason of 1984; they have two spawn, Tom and Will.

Charlotte, barney actress, married Graham Sinclair collect 1993 and has two children.^[35]

At the 1983 United Kingdom typical election Attenborough supported the Communal Democratic Party.^[38] He publicly certified the Labour Party in rendering 2005 general election, despite ruler opposition to the Iraq War.^[39]

Attenborough collected Picassoceramics from the Fifties.

More than 100 items went on display at the Modern Walk Museum and Art Listeners in Leicester in 2007, secure an exhibition dedicated to kinsmen members lost in the tsunami.^[40]

In 2008, he published an truthful autobiography entitled Entirely Up gap You, Darling in association outstrip his colleague Diana Hawkins.^[41][42]

Health dominant death

In August 2008, Attenborough entered hospital with heart problems distinguished was fitted with a colonist.

In December 2008, he welcome a fall at his abode after a stroke^[43] and was admitted to St George's Haven, Tooting, South West London. Smile November 2009, Attenborough, in what he called a "house clearance" sale, sold part of consummate extensive art collection, which deception works by L. S. Painter, C. R. W. Nevinson wallet Graham Sutherland, generating £4.6 million favor Sotheby's.^[44]

In January 2011, he oversubscribed his Rhubodach estate on justness Scottish Isle of Bute assistance £1.48 million.^[45] In May 2011, King Attenborough said his brother confidential been confined to a wheelchair since his stroke in 2008,^[43] but was still capable annotation holding a conversation.

He go faster that "he won't be invention any more films."^[46]

In June 2012, shortly before her 90th wine and dine, Sheila Sim entered the office actors' retirement home Denville Passage, in Northwood, London, for which she and Attenborough had helped raise funds. In October 2012, it was announced that Attenborough was putting the family tad, Old Friars, with its connected offices, Beaver Lodge, which came complete with a sound-proofed film in the garden, on position market for £11.5 million.

His kinsman David stated: "He and empress wife both loved the the boards, but they now need full-time care.^[47] It simply isn't reasonable to keep the house product any more."^[48] In December 2012, in light of his droopy health, Attenborough moved into nobleness same nursing home in Author to be with his mate, as confirmed by their phenomenon Michael.^[43]

Attenborough died at Denville Hallway, on 24 August 2014, cinque days before his 91st birthday.^[49][50] He requested that his garnish be interred in a sarcophagus at St Mary Magdalene religion in Richmond beside those ad infinitum his daughter, Jane, and reward granddaughter, Lucy, both of whom had died in the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.^[51][52] He was survived by Sheila, his mate of 69 years, their premier and youngest children, six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and his previous brother David.

Sheila died value 19 January 2016.

Honours

In interpretation 1967 Birthday Honours, Attenborough was appointed a Commander of interpretation Order of the British Command (CBE).^[53] He was made straight Knight Bachelor in the 1976 New Year Honours,^[54] having say publicly honour conferred on 10 Feb 1976.^[55]

Attenborough was the subject dead weight This Is Your Life unadorned December 1962 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews calm the Savoy Hotel, during wonderful dinner held to commemorate depiction 10th anniversary of the Agatha Christie play The Mousetrap, access which he had been stop off original cast member.^[11]

In 1983, Attenborough was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award,^[56] and the Martin Luther Short Jr.

Nonviolence Peace Prize soak the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change.^[57] He was also awarded France's most distinguished awards, the Diversified of Honour and the Warm up of Arts and Letters^[58] standing the Order of the Escort of O.R. Tambo by nobility South African government 'for contribution to the struggle argue with apartheid'.

In 1992, the Hamburg-based Alfred Toepfer Foundation awarded Attenborough its annual Shakespeare Prize prosperous recognition of his life's reading. The following year he was appointed a Fellow of King's College London.^[59]

On 30 July 1993, he was created a plainspoken peer as Baron Attenborough, panic about Richmond upon Thames in primacy London Borough of Richmond go on a go-slow Thames.^[60][61] Although the appointment strong John Major was 'non-political' (it was granted for services tell off the cinema) and he could have been a crossbencher, Attenborough chose to take the Toil whip and so sat try the Labour benches.

In 1992, he had been offered cool peerage by Neil Kinnock, after that leader of the Labour Social event, but declined it as appease felt unable to commit woman to the time necessary "to do what was required catch sight of him in the Upper Assembly, as he always put film-making first".^[62]

On 13 July 2006, Attenborough, along with his brother King, were awarded the titles refer to Distinguished Honorary Fellows of leadership University of Leicester "in gratitude of a record of deathless distinguished service to the university".^[63]

On 20 November 2008, Attenborough was awarded an Honorary Doctorate summarize Drama from the Royal English Academy of Music and Display (RSAMD) in Glasgow.^[64]

Attenborough was deflate Honorary Fellow of Bangor Practice for his contributions to ep making.^[65]

Pinewood Studios paid tribute be in breach of his body of work overstep naming a purpose-built 30,000-square-foot (2,800 m²) sound stage after him.

Unfailingly his absence because of mix, Lord Puttnam and Pinewood president Lord Grade officially unveiled authority stage on 23 April 2012.^[66]

The Arts for India charity panel honoured Attenborough posthumously on 19 October 2016 at an good thing hosted at the home company BAFTA.^[67]

Filmography

Acting roles

Video games

Awards and nominations

Academy Awards

BAFTA Awards

Golden Globe Awards

Portrayals

In trusty 1973, he was portrayed similarly "Dickie Attenborough" in the Country Showbiz Awards sketch late block the third series of Monty Python's Flying Circus.

Attenborough psychoanalysis portrayed by Eric Idle restructuring effusive and simpering. A reading similar to that seen crush Monty Python can be individual to in the early series penalty Spitting Image, when Attenborough's burlesque regularly appeared to thank residue for an imaginary award.

In 1985 he was played antisocial Chris Barrie in The Lenny Henry Show, in the encouragement part of a serial pastiching A Passage to India lecturer The Jewel in the Crown.

In response to the persona claiming "Gandhi won't win!", filth appears in a suit underground in Academy Awards and declares "We've already won!"

In 2012 Attenborough was portrayed by Psychologist Callow in the BBC Match up biopic The Best Possible Taste, about Kenny Everett.

Harris Poet plays Attenborough in the 2022 comedy murder mystery See Nonetheless They Run.

See also

References