The two Oscars, three Golden Globes and four BAFTA Awards winning English director, actor, producer and entrepreneur Richard Samuel Attenborough was born on the 29th August 1923 at Cambridge, England.

Richard Attenborough was the son of academic and scholar Frederick Levi Attenborough and Mary, a Marriage Guidance Council founder. Richard Attenborough has two younger siblings, one is the naturalist and wildlife film producer Sir David Attenborough and the other is John Attenborough who is currently associated with the motor trade. Richard Attenborough attended Wyggeston School based in Leicester followed by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Attenborough joined the RAF during the Second World War.

Richard Attenborough's acting career began with the 1942 film titled In Which We Serve. After the release of his first film Richard Attenborough’s acting career witnessed a brief halt due to his participation in the Second World War. After the end of the war Richard Attenborough once again appeared in films, like Brighton Rock in 1947, London Belongs to Me in 1948 & Morning Departure in 1950. During the 1950’s Richard performed in several John and Roy Boulting comedies like Private's Progress in 1956 & I'm All Right Jack in 1959. Attenborough performed during his stage career in Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap which was a London West End production and one of the longest running stage productions in the world.

In 1963 Richard Attenborough appeared as Squadron Leader "Big X" in The Great Escape which turned out to be a major Hollywood blockbuster. In the year of 1964, Richard appeared in films Seance on a Wet Afternoon and Guns at Batasi his performance in the latter was rewarded with a best actor BAFTA Award in the subsequent year. Richard won the best supporting actor Golden Globe Award for The Sand Pebbles and Doctor Dolittle in 1967 and 1968 respectively. However, Richard Attenborough has not received any Academy Award nomination in the any of the acting categories. In 1977 Richard portrayed the character of ruthless General Outram in the period piece Shatranj ke Khiladi which stands for “The Chess Players” directed by Academy Award winning Indian director Satyajit Ray. In 1979 after appearing in The Human Factor, Richard Attenborough took a long break from acting; his fans were deprived from enjoying his performances until he appeared as John Hammond in Steven Spielberg’s 1993 mega blockbuster movie Jurassic Park. The next year he appeared as Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th Street. Richard Attenborough has also made brief appearances in movies such as the 1998 historical piece Elizabeth.

During the 1950s, Richard Attenborough with Bryan Forbes founded Beaver Films and produced The League of Gentlemen in 1959, The Angry Silence in 1960 & Whistle Down the Wind in 1961, he also performed as an actor in the first 2 films. His directorial debut came in 1969 with the hit musical Oh! What a Lovely War. Then he appeared as serial killer John Christie in the 1971 movie 10 Rillington Place. Richard Attenborough has directed many famous films such as Young Winston in 1972, A Bridge Too Far in 1977, the thriller Magic in 1978, the historical epic Gandhi in 1982 which brought him the Best Director and Best Picture Academy Awards as well as Best Direction and Best Film BAFTA Awards. Richard Attenborough also directed the musical A Chorus Line in 1985 and Cry Freedom both of which bagged him best director Golden Globe Award nominations.

In 1945 Attenborough married actress Sheila Sim. The couple had 3 children. However, on the 26th December, 2004, their eldest daughter, Jane Holland, along with her mother-in-law Jane and daughter Lucy were killed in the Indian Ocean tsunami.

In 1967, Richard Attenborough received the honor of Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Richard Attenborough received knighthood in 1976. Richard Attenborough successfully managed the responsibility of a director of the Chelsea Football Club from 1969 to 1982 and was made its Life Vice President in 1993. On the 20th March 1998, Richard Attenborough was elected as the Chancellor of the University of Sussex. On the 13th July 2006, both he and his younger brother David were named as Distinguished Honorary Fellows by the University of Leicester. On the 20th November 2008, Richard Attenborough received the Doctorate of Drama from RSAMD in Glasgow.

In 2008 Richard Attenborough with the help of Diana Hawkins published his informal autobiography, Entirely Up to You; Darling. Richard Attenborough is presently directing his most recent film Closing the Ring, which is set in Belfast during the time of World War II.