Lord Attenborough was one of Britain’s leading actors, before becoming a highly successful director.
In a career that spanned six decades, he appeared in films including Brighton Rock, World War Two prisoner of war thriller The Great Escape and later in dinosaur blockbuster Jurassic Park.
As a director he was perhaps best known for Gandhi, which won him two Oscars.
Lord Attenborough had been in a nursing home with his wife for a number of years, BBC arts editor Will Gompertz said.
He had also been in a wheelchair since falling down stairs six years ago, our correspondent added.
His son told the BBC that Lord Attenborough died at lunchtime on Sunday.
His family is expected to make a full statement on Monday.
Fine actor, good director, insufferable when he talked politics.
R.I.P.
As a college attending anti-war protester Oh! What a lovely war, made a life lasting impression on me.
Lord Attenborough? When did he get a Baronetcy?
Bob
The Great Escape is one of my all-time fave movies.
he’s with Mike Brown and Robin Williams and James Foley now
smoking swishers and laughing their heads off
>The Great Escape is one of my all-time fave movies.<
was he the semi blind guy james garner helped?
A baronet is addressed/referred as “Sir.” If he was a Lord it’s because he got a peerage. Probably a life peerage — a baron is the least to be called “Lord” and those are either hereditary or lifetime — like Thatcher and Olivier.
Thanks, McGehee. I’m still trying to figure out why an Earl’s wife is a Countess…
and how do you address Duke of Earl?
Shadowlands, a fine film directed by Attenborough; he acted in the original The Flight of the Phoenix, which I enjoy a lot more than the remake. Top bloke.
and how do you address Duke of Earl?
I was to go scuba diving with a duchess many years ago, and seeking to get the two of us acquainted, I told her my name and asked what I should call her in return.
“Your Grace”, I was informed.
“Say goodnight, Gracie.”
An earl is the counterpart of a count. I could go into why the English adopted “earl” for that rank, but you would be bleeding from the eyes by the nineteenth paragraph.
I do have an excuse, though, for knowing about baronets: my Clan chief is one.
Darleen: Agreed. The Great Escape is his best acting performance. ‘Big X’, indeed.
Shadowlands is a damn fine bit of directing. Tough movie to watch, though.