Hermano del naturalista David Attenborough, con quien compartía el tratamiento de 'sir' -aunque él además era lord-, dedicó su vida a las artes y a promover la educación, al tiempo que fue presidente de numerosas instituciones en el Reino Unido, como la Real Academia de Arte Dramático, donde estudió, o el club de fútbol Chelsea, del que fue aficionado toda la vida.
Nacido en Cambridge el 29 de agosto de 1923, era el mayor de los tres hijos de Frederick Attenborough, rector del University College de Leicester (centro inglés), y Mary Clegg, familia de la que era el hermano pequeño John, exdirectivo de Alfa Romeo que murió en 2012.
La carrera cinematográfica de Richard Attenborough empezó en 1942 como marinero desertor en Sangre, sudor y lágrimas, pero la fama le llegó con Brighton Rock, donde interpretaba al joven gángster psicópata de la novela de Graham Greene. Tras servir en la Real Fuerza Aérea durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, se dedicó al cine británico durante los siguientes 30 años, con filmes como Estoy bien, Jack (1959), y, en el teatro, formó parte, con su esposa Sheila Sim, del reparto original de La ratonera de Agatha Christie, aún en cartel.
En 1963 debutó en Hollywood con La gran evasión y, en 1967 y 1968, obtuvo Globos de Oro al mejor actor secundario por El Yang-Tsé en llamas, con Steve McQueen, y El extravagante doctor Dolittle. Aunque en 1979 indicó que dejaba la interpretación, reapareció en 1993 como el excéntrico empresario John Hammond del Parque Jurásico de Steven Spielberg, tras lo que hizo algún que otro papel secundario.
Como director, Attenborough debutó con la película musical Oh! What a lovely war, aunque la fama mundial le llegó con su épica de 1982Gandhi, por la que consiguió sendos Oscar (la cinta obtuvo ocho en total) a mejor director y mejor película así como un Globo de Oro y dos Bafta británicos.
En 1992 dirigió Chaplin, con Robert Downey Jr., y de 1993 es Tierras de penumbra, protagonizada por el galés Anthony Hopkins, uno de sus actores preferidos. También firmó la versión cinematográfica del musicalA Chorus Line (1985), con Michael Douglas, y el impactante filme sobre la vida del activista surafricano antiapartheid Steve Biko Grita libertad(1987).
Richard Attenborough fue patrón de múltiples organizaciones solidarias como United World Colleges, que promueve el intercambio educativo internacional, y fundó en Suazilandia el Centro para el aprendizaje creativo Jane Holland, en memoria de su hija de ese nombre, que falleció en el tsunami de 2004 en Tailandia. Jane, que murió junto a una de sus niñas, Lucy, era la mayor de sus tres hijos, siendo los otros dos Michael, director teatral, y Charlotte, actriz.
En 1976 recibió el título de Caballero del imperio británico, con tratamiento de 'sir', y en 1993 accedió a la Cámara de los Lores con el título de barón Attenborough de Richmond-upon-Thames, el barrio donde vivió en Londres. Richard Attenborough fue una gran coleccionista de arte y desde los años 50 reunió cerámicas de Picasso así como obras de los británicos L.S. Lowry o Graham Sutherland.
En 2008, el actor y director, que fue amigo de la princesa Diana -a cuyo funeral asistió en 1997-, sufrió un ictus que le postró en una silla de ruedas. Tras vender parte de su colección de arte y sus propiedades en Londres y Escocia, en marzo de 2013 ingresó con su esposa en una residencia de ancianos londinense para antiguos artistas.
Filmography
- Silver Ghost (details only on IMDbPro)
Actor:
- Tres en el camino (2004) (voice)
... aka "Within the Way Without" - International (English title) - Puckoon (2002) .... Writer-Director
- Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story (2001) (TV) .... Magog, Arbiter of Justice Great Council of Mac Slec
- "Masterpiece Theatre" .... The Old Gentleman (1 episode, 2000)
... aka "ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theatre" - USA (new title)
... aka "Masterpiece" - USA (new title)
... aka "Masterpiece Classic" - USA (new title)
... aka "Mobil Masterpiece Theatre" - USA (alternative title)
- The Railway Children (2000) TV episode .... The Old Gentleman - The Railway Children (2000) (TV) .... The Old Gentleman
- Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1999) (V) ....Jacob
... aka "Great Performances: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" - USA (series title) - Elizabeth (1998) .... Sir William Cecil
... aka "Elizabeth: The Virgin Queen" - USA (closing credits title) - "Tom and Vicky" (1998) TV series (voice)
- Trespasser (1998) (VG) (voice) .... John Hammond
... aka "The Lost World: Trespasser" - USA (promotional title) - The Lost World: Jurassic Park - Chaos Island (1997) (VG) (voice) .... John Hammond
- The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) .... John Hammond
- Hamlet (1996) .... English Ambassador
... aka "William Shakespeare's Hamlet" - USA (complete title) - E=mc2 (1996) .... The Visitor
... aka "Wavelength" - USA (video title) - Jurassic Park: The Ride - Pre-Show Video (1996) (V) ....Professor John Hammond
- Miracle on 34th Street (1994) .... Kris Kringle
- Jurassic Park (1993) .... John Hammond
... aka "JP" - USA (promotional abbreviation)
... aka "Jurassic Park 3D" - USA (3-D version) - The Human Factor (1979) .... Colonel John Daintry
- A Bridge Too Far (1977) (uncredited) .... Lunatic Wearing Glasses
- Shatranj Ke Khilari (1977) .... General Outram
... aka "The Chess Players" - India (English title) (alternative title), International (English title) (imdb display title) - Conduct Unbecoming (1975) .... Maj. Lionel E. Roach
- Rosebud (1975) .... Edward Sloat
- Brannigan (1975) .... Cmdr. Swann
- Ein Unbekannter rechnet ab (1974) .... Judge Arthur Cannon
... aka "And Then There Were None" - UK (English title) (imdb display title) - 10 Rillington Place (1971) .... Christie
... aka "The Strangler of Rillington Place" - Hong Kong (English title) (première title) - A Severed Head (1970) .... Palmer Anderson
- Loot (1970) .... Inspector Truscott
- The Last Grenade (1970) .... Gen. Charles Whiteley
- David Copperfield (1969) (TV) .... Mr. Tungay
- The Magic Christian (1969) .... Oxford Coach
- The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom (1968) .... Robert Blossom
- Only When I Larf (1968) .... Silas
- Doctor Dolittle (1967) .... Albert Blossom
- The Sand Pebbles (1966) .... Frenchy Burgoyne
- The Flight of the Phoenix (1965) .... Lew Moran
- Guns at Batasi (1964) .... Regimental Sgt. Major Lauderdale
- Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1964) .... Billy
- The Third Secret (1964) .... Alfred Price-Gorham
- The Great Escape (1963) .... Bartlett 'Big X'
- The Dock Brief (1962) .... Herbert Fowle the Accused Murderer
... aka "Trial and Error" - USA - All Night Long (1962) .... Rod Hamilton
- Only Two Can Play (1962) .... Gareth L. Probert
- Whistle Down the Wind (1961) (uncredited) .... Man with Sack
- Upgreen - And at 'Em (1960)
- The League of Gentlemen (1960) .... Lt. Richard Lexy
- The Angry Silence (1960) .... Tom Curtis
- SOS Pacific (1959) .... Whitey Mullen
... aka "S.O.S. Pacific" - USA (poster title) - Jet Storm (1959) .... Ernest Tilley
- I'm All Right Jack (1959) .... Sidney De Vere Cox
- Danger Within (1959) .... Capt. 'Bunter' Phillips
... aka "Breakout" - USA - Sea of Sand (1958) .... Brody
... aka "Desert Patrol" - USA - The Man Upstairs (1958) .... The Man Upstairs
- Dunkirk (1958) .... Holden
- The Scamp (1957) .... Stephen Leigh
... aka "Strange Affection" - USA - Brothers in Law (1957) .... Henry Marshall
- The Baby and the Battleship (1956) .... Knocker White
- Private's Progress (1956) .... Private Cox
- The Ship That Died of Shame (1955) .... George Hoskins
... aka "PT Raiders" - USA - Eight O'Clock Walk (1954) .... Tom Manning
- Father's Doing Fine (1952) .... Dougall
- Gift Horse (1952) .... Able Seaman 'Dripper' Daniels
... aka "Glory at Sea" - USA
... aka "The Gift Horse" - International (English title) (informal title) - The Magic Box (1951) .... Jack Carter
- Hell Is Sold Out (1951) .... Pierre Bonnet
- "BBC Sunday-Night Theatre" .... Falder (1 episode, 1950)
- Justice (1950) TV episode .... Falder - Morning Departure (1950) .... Stoker Snipe
... aka "Operation Disaster" - USA - Boys in Brown (1949) .... Jackie Knowles
- The Lost People (1949) .... Jan
- The Guinea Pig (1948) .... Jack Read
... aka "The Outsider" - USA - London Belongs to Me (1948) .... Percy Boon
... aka "Dulcimer Street" - UK (alternative title), USA - Brighton Rock (1947) .... Pinkie Brown
... aka "Young Scarface" - USA - Dancing with Crime (1947) .... Ted Peters
- The Man Within (1947) .... Francis Andrews
... aka "The Smugglers" - USA - School for Secrets (1946) .... Jack Arnold
... aka "Secret Flight" - USA - A Matter of Life and Death (1946) .... An English Pilot
... aka "Stairway to Heaven" - USA (video title), USA - Journey Together (1945) .... David Wilton
- Think It Over (1945) .... I.O.Z.
- The Hundred Pound Window (1944) .... Tommy Draper
- Schweik's New Adventures (1943) .... Railway worker
... aka "It Started at Midnight" - UK (reissue title), USA - In Which We Serve (1942) .... Young Stoker
Producer:
- Closing the Ring (2007) (producer)
... aka "Richard Attenborough's Closing the Ring" - International(English title) (poster title) - Grey Owl (1999) (producer)
- In Love and War (1996) (producer)
- Shadowlands (1993) (producer)
- Chaplin (1992) (producer)
- Cry Freedom (1987) (producer)
- Gandhi (1982) (producer)
... aka "Richard Attenborough's Film: Gandhi" - USA (complete title) - Young Winston (1972) (producer) (uncredited)
- Oh! What a Lovely War (1969) (producer)
- Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1964) (producer)
- The L-Shaped Room (1962) (producer)
- Whistle Down the Wind (1961) (producer)
- The Angry Silence (1960) (producer)
Director:
- Closing the Ring (2007)
... aka "Richard Attenborough's Closing the Ring" - International(English title) (poster title) - Grey Owl (1999)
- In Love and War (1996)
- Shadowlands (1993)
- Chaplin (1992)
- Cry Freedom (1987)
- A Chorus Line (1985)
- Gandhi (1982)
... aka "Richard Attenborough's Film: Gandhi" - USA (complete title) - Magic (1978)
- A Bridge Too Far (1977)
- Young Winston (1972)
- Oh! What a Lovely War (1969)
Soundtrack:
- Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1999) (V) (performer: "Joseph's Coat", "One More Angel", "Those Canaan Days")
... aka "Great Performances: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" - USA (series title) - Doctor Dolittle (1967) (performer: "I've Never Seen Anything Like It")
Academy Awards, USA
1983 | Won Oscar | Best Picture Gandhi (1982) |
Best Director Gandhi (1982) |
Golden Globes, USA
1988 | Nominated Golden Globe | Best Director - Motion Picture Cry Freedom (1987) |
1986 | Nominated Golden Globe | Best Director - Motion Picture A Chorus Line (1985) |
1983 | Won Golden Globe | Best Director - Motion Picture Gandhi (1982) |
1968 | Won Golden Globe | Best Supporting Actor Doctor Dolittle (1967) |
1967 | Won Golden Globe | Best Supporting Actor The Sand Pebbles (1966) |
BAFTA Awards
1994 | Won Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film | Shadowlands (1993) |
Nominated David Lean Award for Direction | Shadowlands (1993) | |
Nominated BAFTA Film Award | Best Film Shadowlands (1993) | |
1988 | Nominated BAFTA Film Award | Best Direction Cry Freedom (1987) |
Best Film Cry Freedom (1987) | ||
1983 | Won Academy Fellowship | |
Won BAFTA Film Award | Best Direction Gandhi (1982) | |
Best Film Gandhi (1982) | ||
1978 | Nominated BAFTA Film Award | Best Direction A Bridge Too Far (1977) |
1970 | Nominated BAFTA Film Award | Best Direction Oh! What a Lovely War (1969) |
1965 | Won BAFTA Film Award | Best British Actor Guns at Batasi (1964) Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1964) |
1963 | Nominated BAFTA Film Award | Best British Actor The Dock Brief (1962) |
1961 | Nominated BAFTA Film Award | Best British Actor The Angry Silence (1960) |
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
1995 | Nominated Saturn Award | Best Supporting Actor Miracle on 34th Street (1994) |
Berlin International Film Festival
1997 | Nominated Golden Berlin Bear | In Love and War (1996) |
1988 | Won Peace Film Award - Honorable Mention | Cry Freedom (1987) |
Won Berlinale Camera |
British Film Institute Awards
1992 | Won BFI Fellowship |
Chicago International Film Festival
2000 | Won Lifetime Achievement Award |
David di Donatello Awards
1983 | Won David | Best Foreign Film (Miglior Film Straniero) Gandhi (1982) |
Best Foreign Producer (Migliore Produttore Straniero) Gandhi (1982) | ||
Won European David | Gandhi (1982) |
Directors Guild of America, USA
1983 | Won DGA Award | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Gandhi (1982)
|
1970 | Nominated DGA Award | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Oh! What a Lovely War (1969) |
European Film Awards
1988 | Won Award of Merit |
For special achievements.
|
Evening Standard British Film Awards
1984 | Won Special Award | |
1978 | Won Evening Standard British Film Award | Best Film A Bridge Too Far (1977) |
Fantasporto
1993 | Nominated International Fantasy Film Award | Best Film Chaplin (1992)
Festival title: Charlie.
|
Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival
1999 | Won Lifetime Achievement Award |
Guild of German Art House Cinemas
1985 | Won Guild Film Award - Gold | Foreign Film (Ausländischer Film) Gandhi (1982) |
Heartland Film Festival
1994 | Won Studio Crystal Heart Award | Shadowlands (1993) |
Irish Film and Television Awards
2008 | Nominated IFTA Award | Best Film Closing the Ring (2007) |
Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists
1983 | Won Silver Ribbon | Best Foreign Director (Regista del Miglior Film Straniero) Gandhi (1982) |
London Critics Circle Film Awards
1995 | Won Dilys Powell Award |
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
1982 | 2nd place LAFCA Award | Best Director Gandhi (1982) |
Moscow International Film Festival
1993 | Nominated Golden St. George | Chaplin (1992) |
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
1982 | 3rd place NYFCC Award | Best Director Gandhi (1982) |
1969 | 2nd place NYFCC Award | Best Director Oh! What a Lovely War (1969) |
San Sebastián International Film Festival
1964 | Won Prize San Sebastián | Best Actor Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1964)
Tied with Maurice Biraud for Les aventures de Salavin (1964).
|
1960 | Won Zulueta Prize | Best Actor The League of Gentlemen (1960) |