Sir Richard Attenborough, the Oscar-winning director of Gandhi and the actor who welcomed the world to the wonders of Jurassic Park, died on August 24, 2014 at the age of 90.
A veteran of stage and screen, Sir Richard Attenborough began his acting career in the 1940s and appeared in such classic films as The Great Escape (1963), The Flight of the Phoenix (1965), The Sand Pebbles (1966) and Jurassic Park (1993), a role which would define him to an entire generation of American moviegoers as a kindhearted and noble presence. His role in Jurassic Park led to a fine performance as Santa Claus in the otherwise mediocre 1994 remake of Miracle on 34th Street.
Related: 10 Reasons to Go Back to ‘Jurassic Park’
Sir Richard Attenborough also achieved acclaim behind the camera as the director the 1982 Best Picture winner Gandhi – which also earned him an Academy Award for Best Director – and for the respected World War II adventure A Bridge Too Far (1977), the creepy ventriloquism thriller Magic (1978), the South African apartheid expose Cry, Freedom (1987), the behind-the-scenes Hollywood drama Chaplin (1992) and the C.S. Lewis biopic Shadowlands (1993). His directorial career was characterized by his straightforward yet elegant approach to storytelling, getting out of the movie’s way and letting the characters live and breathe on the screen without much (if any) external comment from the filmmaker.
Repeatedly honored for his achievements in the arts and contributing to numerous philanthropic, Attenborough was one of the most celebrated and honored members of the entertainment community throughout his lengthy career. And with good cause: he was an indelible presence and he will be missed by many fans and admirers. CraveOnline extends our condolences to his friends and family.
William Bibbiani is the editor of CraveOnline’s Film Channel and the host of The B-Movies Podcast and The Blue Movies Podcast. Follow him on Twitter at @WilliamBibbiani.
