Legendary actor and director Richard Attenborough passed away today, presumably by natural causes at age 90. My generation may know him best as John Hammond in JURASSIC PARK or as Kris Kringle in MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET. The icon was one of Britain's leading actors, before becoming a highly successful director. His career spanned six decades having appeared in movies like BRIGHTON ROCK and THE GREAT ESCAPE. With directing duties, he was best known for GANDHI starring Ben Kingsley; which went on to win 8 Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director. It has been reported that Attenborough has been in a nursing home with his wife for a number of years, with deteriorating health.
I remember watching CHAPLIN so often as a kid that I thought Robert Downey Jr. was actually Charlie Chaplin. We watched GANDHI in school and for a few months after we all seemed to be inspired by the message of peace; that is what great movies do. It's not often you get a great talent behind and in front of the camera.
I'll never forget learning for the first time after watching JURASSIC PARK that Attenborough was responsible for so many great movies as well as letting dinosaurs run amuck; he truly was a creator. He will be greatly missed; thankfully his legacy will live on forever in the beautiful world of film.
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