Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Richard Attenborough

Role / Field:

Esteemed English actor, director, and producer, celebrated for decades of work in film and theatre.

Born:

1923-08-29

Died:

2014-08-24

Century / Era:

1923s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough ( AT-ən-bər-rə; 29 August 1923 – 24 August 2014) was an English actor, film director, and producer. He won a total of two Academy Awards, four BAFTA Awards, and six Golden Globe Awards for his directing and acting career spanning seven decades. He was knighted in 1976 for services to film and in 1983 he received the BAFTA Fellowship for lifetime achievement. As an actor, Attenborough is best remembered for his film roles in Brighton Rock (1948), I'm All Right Jack (1959), The Great Escape (1963), Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1964), The Sand Pebbles (1966), Doctor Dolittle (1967), 10 Rillington Place (1971), Jurassic Park (1993) and Miracle on 34th Street (1994).

Pivotal Works & Achievements

On stage, he appeared in the West End in 1952, originating the role of Detective Sergeant Trotter in Agatha Christie's murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has since become the longest-running play in London and the world. For his directorial debut in Oh! What a Lovely War (1969), Attenborough was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Direction. He was additionally nominated for his films Young Winston (1972), A Bridge Too Far (1977) and Cry Freedom (1987). For the film Gandhi (1983...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Aaron Spelling — Contemporary (Born in 1923) (1923): Pioneering American producer of hit TV series like Dynasty and Beverly Hills, 90210.
• Alan Shepard — Contemporary (Born in 1923) (1923): Pioneering American astronaut, second in space and first American on the Moon.
• Alden W. Clausen — Contemporary (Born in 1923) (1923): American businessman, former President of the World Bank and Bank of America CEO.
• 2014 League of Legends World Championship — Contemporary (Born in 2014) (2014): The 4th League of Legends World Championship, held in Asia in 2014.
• Alain Resnais — Contemporary (Died in 2014) (2014): Pioneering French filmmaker exploring memory, consciousness, and narrative structure.
• Alexander Grothendieck — Contemporary (Died in 2014) (2014): Pioneering figure in modern algebraic geometry and category theory.
• Abu Tammam — Shared historical date (08-29 · Died) (846): Master poet of the Abbasid era, renowned for compiling the monumental work, Al-Hamasah.
• Aimé Bonpland — Shared historical date (08-29 · Born) (1773): French explorer and botanist, renowned for his scientific travels with Alexander von Humboldt.
• A. S. Byatt — Shared historical date (08-24 · Born) (1936): Acclaimed English novelist, poet, and critic known for complex literary works.
• Alan Walker — Shared historical date (08-24 · Born) (1997): Norwegian DJ and producer known for house music and maintaining an anonymous public image.
• 1923 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1923
• August 29 (08-29) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on August 29
• 2014 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2014
• August 24 (08-24) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on August 24

Frequently Asked Questions about Richard Attenborough