Born Aug. 29, 1923, in Cambridge, England, son of a college administrator, Richard Attenborough got his start as a popular juvenile actor of stage and screen. Beginning with 1942's In Which We Serve, he was often typecast as a nervous or cowardly youth; he was especially memorable as a young hoodlum in Brighton Rock.Attenborough tackled character roles in such U.S. productions as The Great Escape and The Sand Pebbles before making his directorial debut with 1969's Oh! What a Lovely War. He fulfilled a lifelong dream in 1982 with Gandhi, winning Oscars as both producer and director.
Hollywood directing jobs followed, with A Chorus Line, Chaplin and others. In 1993, Steven Spielberg coaxed Attenborough back into acting for Jurassic Park. Subsequently, he has alternated sides of the camera, directing Shadowlands (1993) and appearing in Miracle on 34th Street (as Santa) and Elizabeth.
Nature: Big CatsThese two episodes from the popular nature documentary series celebrate the glories of wildcats. In "Jaguar: Year of the Cat," filmmakers manage to capture on 35mm film the elusive, fast-paced creature gamboling around on a specially designed set in Belize. "Chasing Cats," narrated by Academy Award... Read More
Guns at BatasiRichard Attenborough won a British Academy Award, and Mia Farrow took home a Golden Globe for her performance in this drama depicting the decolonization of Africa. When the British colony under Sgt. Lauderdale's (Attenborough) charge declares its independence, he must maintain order during the... Read More
