"Richard Attenborough, the British actor and film director, has died at the age of 90. Lord Attenborough's son Michael confirmed that he died at lunchtime yesterday, just five days away from his 91st birthday. He was one of Britain's leading actors, before becoming a highly successful director. Prime Minister David Cameron said he 'was one of the greats of cinema'. He appeared in films including Brighton Rock, World War Two thriller The Great Escape and later in dinosaur blockbuster Jurassic Park. Lord Attenborough, who was born in Cambridge, was the older brother of Sir David Attenborough, the naturalist and broadcaster, and John Attenborough, who was an executive at Alfa Romeo before his death in 2012. In March last year, he moved into Denville Hall care home because of his failing health. His wife Sheila Sim, 92, who suffers from dementia, had been based at the home since June 2012. It was a specialist charity care home for elderly or sick entertainers in west London. Both Lord and Lady Attenborough helped to found the home and fundraised extensively to help its running. Lord Attenborough had struck up a friendship with Diana, Princess of Wales, after the Prince of Wales asked him to help her write speeches. He was well known within his wide circle of friends for his anecdotes and words of wisdom. After news of his death was announced on Sunday evening, tributes flooded in for the silver screen star. Mr Cameron said in a statement: 'His acting in Brighton Rock was brilliant, his directing of Gandhi was stunning - Richard Attenborough was one of the greats of cinema.' Comedian and actor Ricky Gervais tweeted: ‘RIP Richard Attenborough. One of the true greats of the silver screen.’ [SIZE=1.2em]Former tennis star Boris Becker said he was 'a true legend' while Little Britain star David Walliams wrote: ‘Richard Attenborough as Pinkie in Brighton Rock from 1947. One of the greatest film performances of all time.’[/SIZE] Actress Mia Farrow also tweeted: ‘Richard Attenborough was the kindest man I have ever had the privilege of working with. A Prince. RIP “Pa” – and thank you.’ Lord Attenborough, who won eight Oscars for his 1982 epic Gandhi, had been confined to a wheelchair since suffering a stroke six years ago. But his family said he never fully recovered and continued to struggle to communicate and move around. [SIZE=1.2em]Lord Attenborough was given a knighthood in 1976. In 1993 he became a life peer as Baron Attenborough of Richmond Upon Thames, accepting the labour whip. [/SIZE] The renowned actor - who was also a long-serving president of Bafta - met his wife, a fellow actress, when they were students at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) in London and co-starred in a play, The Lady With The Lamp. They married in 1945 and went on to have three children together: a son Michael, who became a theatre director, and Charlotte, 54, an actress. [SIZE=1.2em]Their elder daughter, Jane Holland, and her daughter Lucy died in the 2004 South Asian Boxing Day tsunami.[/SIZE] During his 60-year career, he gathered 74 acting credits after appearing in 1942 war film In Which We Serve, directed by Noel Coward. He also starred in Jurassic Park, Miracle on 34th Street, Elizabeth, Brighton Rock and Flight of the Phoenix. [SIZE=1.2em]He made his directorial debut with 1969 musical Oh! What a Lovely War, following it up with Oscar-winning epic Gandhi in 1982.[/SIZE] His 1987 film Cry Freedom, starring Denzel Washington, told the story of anti-apartheid leader Steve Biko. During the Second World War, Lord Attenborough served with the Royal Air Force, and was seconded to the newly-formed RAF film unit at Pinewood Studios after initial pilot training. [SIZE=1.2em]He appeared in the 1943 propaganda film Journey Together before qualifying as a sergeant and flying on missions all over Europe filming the outcome of Bomber Command sorties.[/SIZE] He and Miss Sim, who married in 1945, co-starred in the original West End production of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap in 1952." http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2733312/BREAKING-NEWS-Actor-film-director-Richard-Attenborough-dies-aged-90.html#ixzz3BMDEUJEV
You know you're getting old when all the actors that you care about are disappearing. Always enjoyed his work, but fortunately we will always have that same work to remind us of one of the truly memorable actors of his time.
Heading the thread "Lord Richard Attenborough" implies that he was not a peer, but, so far as nobility is concerned, was merely the younger son of an unspecified Marquis or Duke. In fact, he had no inherited courtesy title and was himself a peer of the realm, with the life peerage Baron Attenborough. He therefore could be styled, "Richard Attenborugh", "Lord Attenborough", "Richard, Lord Attenborough", or even "Lord (Richard) Attenborough", but the one improper way to style him is "Lord Richard Attenborogh". The posted mini-obit was courteous enough to style him correctly. The heading should extend to him the same courtesy.
His "A Bridge Too Far" is (as far as I'm concerned) the finest war film ever made. A truly gifted man.
