Few people can be said to leave a legacy in the film industry that echoes through the generations, but that is certainly true of Richard Attenborough, who has died today at the age of 90.
Lord Attenborough could make us quiver in fear with a glance or a word, or laugh with delight via the twinkle in his eye. Born Richard Samuel Attenborough in Cambridge in August 1923, he grew up with his brothers John and David (who would go on to become the respected naturalist and broadcaster) and two adopted sisters. An early enthusiast in the theatrical arts, he was encouraged by his father to pursue acting provided he dedicated himself to the craft.
Following stage roles in his younger days, he served in the Royal Air Force during World War II, and after completing basic pilot training, he was recruited for the new RAF Film Unit at Pinewood Studios. He appeared in propaganda films and then flew with the unit, sustained permanent ear damage, qualified as a sergeant and still flew several bombing sorties.
His service did nothing to deter his artistic aims, and he attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. His time there had almost as much impact on his personal life as his professional; he met his future wife Sheila Sim. He began acting full time on the stage, appearing in shows such as The Mousetrap and Ah Wilderness! before starting to win small roles in films such as David Lean’s In Which We Serve, Journey Together, Secret Flight and Stairway To Heaven. He quickly began to establish himself as an actor of note: in 1949 exhibitors voted him the sixth most popular British actor at the box office, proving that such popularity contests are nothing new.
Attenborough’s breakthrough, though, truly came with John Boulting’s adaptation of Graham Greene’s novel Brighton Rock, which saw him bring the role of psychopathic hoodlum Pinkie Brown – one he’d played successfully on stage – to brain-searing life on screen. From there, his career truly took off, eventually spanning six decades and encompassing memorable performances such as in** I’m All Right Jack,** The Flight Of The Phoenix, The Great Escape, SOS Pacific, The Sand Pebbles, Doctor Dolittle, 10 Rillington Place, Miracle On 34th Street, Jurassic Park, Hamlet and Elizabeth.
Looking to stretch himself beyond acting even in the 1950s, Attenborough formed the production company Beaver Films with Bryan Forbes and began to become active as a producer for films such as The League Of Gentlemen, The Angry Silence and Whistle Down The Wind, before making his directorial debut with **Oh! What A Lovely War **in 1969. Though he continued to perform in front of it, he began to focus his attention behind the camera more often, crafting films including A Bridge Too Far, Magic, Chaplin, Cry Freedom, Shadowlands, In Love And War, Puckoon and Closing The Ring. His accomplished work in directing won him two Oscars for 1982’s Gandhi and a host of other awards, notably several BAFTAs and a Director’s Guild Award.
Outside film, Sir Richard was dedicated to giving back, serving as president of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign for 33 years, being patron of the United World Colleges movement, and, at different times, as president of RADA, vice president of BAFTA and many more. His wife and two of their children survive him.
“I believe we need heroes, I believe we need certain people who we can measure our own shortcomings by,” he once said. He certainly leaves us as a hero, and we won’t soon forget him.