Here is the biography of Richard Attenborough:
Richard Attenborough, Baron Attenborough of Richmond-upon-Thames, was born in Cambridge, England, to Mary (née Clegg) and Frederick Levi Attenborough, a scholar and academic administrator. His family later moved to Leicester, where his father was appointed Principal of the university. Attenborough was educated at Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys in Leicester and at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).
He began his film career with a role in "In Which We Serve" (1942) and went on to appear in numerous British films throughout the 1950s and 1960s. He won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Regimental Sergeant Major in "Guns at Batasi" (1964) and won back-to-back Golden Globe Awards for his performances in "The Sand Pebbles" (1966) and "Doctor Dolittle" (1967).
Attenborough formed a production company, "Beaver Films", with Bryan Forbes and began to build a profile as a producer on projects such as "The League of Gentlemen" (1960),"The Angry Silence" (1960),and "Whistle Down the Wind" (1961). He made his feature film directorial debut with "Oh! What a Lovely War" (1969) and went on to direct several other films, including "Young Winston" (1972),"A Bridge Too Far" (1977),and "Gandhi" (1982),for which he won the Academy Award for Directing and Best Picture.
Attenborough has been married to English actress Sheila Sim since 1945 and has three children. His daughter, Jane Holland, was killed in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, along with her daughter Lucy and her mother-in-law, also named Jane. A memorial service was held on March 8, 2005, and Attenborough read a lesson at the national memorial service on May 11, 2005.
Attenborough has been a patron of the University of Leicester and has been associated with the university throughout his life. He has also been a patron of the United World Colleges movement and has contributed to the development of non-racial education. He has been a director of Chelsea Football Club and has been involved in various other charitable and educational initiatives throughout his career.
