Deaths 2022

Deaths 2021

Deaths 2020

Deaths 2019

Deaths 2018

Deaths 2017

Deaths 2016

Deaths 2015

Deaths 2014

Deaths 2013

Deaths 2012

Deaths 2011

Deaths 2010

Deaths 2009


Full list by date of death

Richard Attenborough

Actor/director

Born - 29 August 1923, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England
Died - 24 August 2014

Stocky, boyish, ambitious English actor (and later director), who remained at the heart of the British film industry for more than 50 years. First seen as cowardly or vicious youths, he blossomed into a genial leading man, then versatile character star, often attempting controversial roles. From 1969, he became the occasionally inspired director of daunting prestige subjects, before returning to acting with crusty character roles in the 1990s. After debuting as a frightened seaman in In Which We Serve (1942), and doing war service with the RAF, he ran up an impressive list of credits: A Matter of Life and Death (1945), Brighton Rock (1947), The Guinea Pig (1948), Morning Departure (1949), Gift Horse (1951), Eight O'Clock Walk (1953), Private's Progress (1955), Brothers-in-Law (1956), The Man Upstairs (1958), The League of Gentlemen (1959), The Angry Silence (1960), The Great Escape (1963), Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1963), Guns at Batasi (1964), The Flight of the Phoenix (1965), Dr Dolittle (1968), 10 Rillington Place (1970), Brannigan (1975), Jurassic Park (1993), Miracle on 34th Street (1994), Elizabeth (1998) and Puckoon (2004), his last. As director, he made Oh! What a Lovely War! (1969), Young Winston (1971), A Bridge Too Far (1977), Magic (1978), Gandhi (1981, and a best director Oscar), A Chorus Line (1985), Cry Freedom (1987), Chaplin (1992), Shadowlands (1993), In Love and War (1996) and Grey Owl (1998). He died a few days short of his 91st birthday and would have celebrated his 70th wedding anniversary to actress Sheila Sim in January 2015. He was knighted in 1975 and created Lord Attenborough in 1993.