103-567: Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough , ( / ˈ æ t ən b ər ə / ; 29 August 1923 – 24 August 2014) was an English actor, film director, and producer. Attenborough was the president of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), as well as life president of the Premier League club Chelsea . He joined
206-472: A ballroom, a Victorian-style Turkish bath , and an indoor squash court. Due to its seclusion, it was used as a discreet meeting place for high-ranking politicians and diplomats; the agreement to create the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed there. In 1934, building tycoon Charles Boot (1874–1945) bought the land and turned it into a country club . The ballroom was converted into a restaurant and many of
309-606: A body of work published as a book, Off Stage: 100 Portraits Celebrating the RADA Centenary , in 2005 to celebrate RADA's centenary. The photographs include John Hurt , Alan Rickman , Sheila Hancock , Sir Anthony Hopkins , Ralph Fiennes , Edward Woodward , Sir Ian Holm , Richard Attenborough , Joan Collins , Tom Courtenay , Warren Mitchell , Imelda Staunton , June Whitfield , Richard Briers , Glenda Jackson , Juliet Stevenson , Jonathan Pryce , Kenneth Branagh , Ioan Gruffud , Susannah York and Timothy Spall . In 2011,
412-560: A box office. RADA accepts up to 28 new students each year into its three-year BA (Hons) in Acting course, with a 50–50 split of male and female students. Admission into the three-year BA (Hons) in Acting course is based on suitability and successful audition, via the four-stage audition process, spanning several months. Auditions are held in London as well as in New York, Los Angeles, Dublin, and across
515-603: A capacity of up to 50. In January 2012, RADA acquired the lease to the adjacent Drill Hall venue in Chenies Street and renamed it RADA Studios . The Drill Hall is a Grade II listed building with a long performing arts history, and was where Nijinsky rehearsed with Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes in 1911. This venue has a 200-seat space, the Studio Theatre, and a 50-seat space, the Club Theatre. In April 2016, planning permission
618-405: A castle, a UK canal, Chinatown and a London street market built. In addition it will also be used as residential housing, with the proposed creative community, expected to be in the region of 2000 and 2250, being integrated with the film locations. Following consultations with the local community the plans changed to reflect the community's opinions and suggestions. However, the planning application
721-473: A director of the club from 1969 to 1982 and between 1993 and 2008 held the honorary position of Life Vice President. On 30 November 2008 he was honoured with the title of Life President at the club's stadium, Stamford Bridge . He was also head of the consortium Dragon International Film Studios , which was constructing a film and television studio complex in Llanilid , Wales, nicknamed "Valleywood". In March 2008,
824-499: A joint venture in the US with Pinewood Atlanta Studios . In 2009, Pinewood and Shepperton received a BAFTA Award for their Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema. The Pinewood Studios Group was subject to a hostile takeover approach in 2011. Manchester-based The Peel Group acquired a 73% stake, but Warren James Jewellers retained a 27% stake, so preventing a full takeover. In 2012 Financial Services Authority considered cancelling
927-616: A lesson at the national memorial service on 11 May 2005. His grandson Samuel Holland, who survived the tsunami uninjured, and granddaughter Alice Holland, who suffered severe leg injuries, also read in the service. A commemorative plaque was placed in the floor of St Mary Magdalene's parish church in Richmond . Attenborough later described the Boxing Day of 2004 as "the worst day of my life". Attenborough had two other children, Michael (born 13 February 1950) and Charlotte (born 29 June 1959). Michael
1030-460: A loss of £3.5 million, mainly due to big budget flops. One of the largest of these had been Caesar and Cleopatra (1945), which was originally budgeted at £250,000, but which eventually cost £1,278,000 (the equivalent of £60.2 million in 2023). The Doctor film series, produced by Betty Box and directed by Ralph Thomas , began with Doctor in the House (1954), the most successful film at
1133-449: A purpose-built security entrance 500 m (1,600 ft) further along the road) also features in My Week with Marilyn (2011) when Eddie Redmayne greets Judi Dench . This film also contains many shots of the dressing-room corridors in the main make-up block. Heatherden Hall (converted to production offices) has appeared in several films: it was made to look fire-damaged and derelict for
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#17328518058161236-631: A role that he had previously played to great acclaim at the Garrick Theatre in 1943. He played the lead at age 22 as an RAF cadet pilot in Journey Together (1945), in which top-billed Edward G. Robinson played his instructor. In 1949, exhibitors voted him the sixth most popular British actor at the box office. Early in his stage career, Attenborough starred in the West End production of Agatha Christie 's The Mousetrap , which went on to become
1339-518: A shortfall in funds, brought about by financial overspends the previous year, Rank did not have enough money to market The Red Shoes sufficiently at first in the US, but it became Rank's biggest earner up to that point, grossing over £1 million by 1951 (the equivalent of £34.9 million in 2023 terms). In the same year, John Davis was appointed managing director. By the following year, Rank had run up an overdraft of £16 million (the equivalent of £612 million in 2023), and announced
1442-664: A wrong turn in life. Attenborough's film career had begun in 1942, however, in an uncredited role as a sailor deserting his post under fire in the Noël Coward / David Lean production In Which We Serve (his name and character were omitted from the original release-print credits), a role that helped type-cast him for many years as a spiv in films like London Belongs to Me (1948), Morning Departure (1950) and his breakthrough role as Pinkie Brown in John Boulting 's film adaptation of Graham Greene 's novel Brighton Rock (1947),
1545-687: A year with a 50–50 gender balance, with the option to interview in Manchester and Plymouth. RADA’s postgraduate training currently comprises a MA Theatre Lab programme and a Postgraduate Diploma in Theatre Costume (both validated by King's College London). RADA also jointly teaches an MA in Text and Performance with Birkbeck, University of London, where students on this course are enrolled at RADA as well as registered at Birkbeck. Both MA courses frequently collaborated according to their specialisms (i.e. directors on
1648-517: Is Niamh Dowling, who succeeded Edward Kemp in 2022. The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art was founded on 25 April 1904 by actor-manager Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree (the grandfather of actor Oliver Reed ) at the West End 's Her Majesty's Theatre (now His Majesty's) situated in Haymarket in the City of Westminster , London. In 1905, RADA moved to 62 Gower Street, and a managing council was set up to oversee
1751-796: Is a drama school in London , England, which provides vocational conservatoire training for theatre , film , television , and radio . It is based in Bloomsbury , Central London , close to the Senate House complex of the University of London , and is a founding member of the Federation of Drama Schools . RADA is one of the oldest drama schools in the United Kingdom, founded in 1904 by Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . It moved to buildings on Gower Street in 1905. It
1854-656: Is a theatre director formerly the Deputy Artistic Director of the RSC and artistic director of the Almeida Theatre in London and has been married to actress Karen Lewis since 1984; they have two sons, Tom and Will . Charlotte, an actress, married Graham Sinclair in 1993 and has two children. At the 1983 United Kingdom general election Attenborough supported the Social Democratic Party . He publicly endorsed
1957-569: Is based in the Bloomsbury area of Central London. The main RADA building where classes and rehearsals take place is on Gower Street (with a second entrance on Malet Street ), with a second premise nearby in Chenies Street where RADA Studios is located. The Goodge Street and Euston Square underground stations are both within walking distance. The Gower and Malet Street building was redeveloped in
2060-531: Is one of the sponsors for the short film competition "Enter the Pitch," also known as the Pitch, which launched in 2009. The Pitch is an online short film pitching competition that invites film makers to submit a project that takes inspiration from any story, character, or theme in the Bible . The top ten finalists are invited to Pinewood Studios, where they pitch their film to a panel of industry professionals. The person giving
2163-579: Is still in use. In the years that followed, he also undertook further work on both the Pinewood Film Studios and the Denham Film Studios , both of which had by then become a part of the newly-formed Rank Organisation . On 30 September 1936, the studio complex was officially opened by Dr Leslie Burgin , Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade . The first film director to use the facilities
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#17328518058162266-630: The 1967 Birthday Honours , Attenborough was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). He was made a Knight Bachelor in the 1976 New Year Honours , having the honour conferred on 10 February 1976. Attenborough was the subject of This Is Your Life in December 1962 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the Savoy Hotel , during a dinner held to commemorate the 10th anniversary of
2369-547: The 34th greatest British film of the 20th century . Attenborough also won four BAFTA Awards , four Golden Globe Awards , and the 1983 BAFTA Fellowship for lifetime achievement. Attenborough was born on 29 August 1923 in Cambridge , the eldest of three sons of Mary Attenborough (née Clegg), a founding member of the Marriage Guidance Council , and Frederick Levi Attenborough , a scholar and academic administrator who
2472-763: The Agatha Christie play The Mousetrap , in which he had been an original cast member. In 1983, Attenborough was awarded the Padma Bhushan , India's third highest civilian award, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Nonviolence Peace Prize by the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change . He was also awarded France's most distinguished awards, the Legion of Honour and the Order of Arts and Letters and
2575-597: The BBC Light Programme introducing records. Attenborough worked prolifically in British films for the next 30 years, including in the 1950s, appearing in several successful comedies for John and Roy Boulting , such as Private's Progress (1956) and I'm All Right Jack (1959). In 1963, he appeared alongside Steve McQueen and James Garner in The Great Escape as RAF Squadron Leader Roger Bartlett ("Big X"),
2678-742: The Labour Party in the 2005 general election , despite his opposition to the Iraq War . Attenborough collected Picasso ceramics from the 1950s. More than 100 items went on display at the New Walk Museum and Art Gallery in Leicester in 2007, in an exhibition dedicated to family members lost in the tsunami. In 2008, he published an informal autobiography entitled Entirely Up to You, Darling in association with his colleague Diana Hawkins. In August 2008, Attenborough entered hospital with heart problems and
2781-624: The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames . Although the appointment by John Major was 'non-political' (it was granted for services to the cinema) and he could have been a crossbencher , Attenborough chose to take the Labour whip and so sat on the Labour benches. In 1992, he had been offered a peerage by Neil Kinnock , then leader of the Labour Party, but declined it as he felt unable to commit himself to
2884-612: The Order of the Companions of O.R. Tambo by the South African government 'for his contribution to the struggle against apartheid'. In 1992, the Hamburg -based Alfred Toepfer Foundation awarded Attenborough its annual Shakespeare Prize in recognition of his life's work. The following year he was appointed a Fellow of King's College London . On 30 July 1993, he was created a life peer as Baron Attenborough , of Richmond upon Thames in
2987-789: The Royal Air Force during World War II and served in the film unit , going on several bombing raids over Europe and filming the action from the rear gunner's position. He was the older brother of broadcaster Sir David Attenborough and motor executive John Attenborough . He was married to actress Sheila Sim from 1945 until his death. As an actor, Attenborough is best remembered for his film roles in Brighton Rock (1948), I'm All Right Jack (1959), The Great Escape (1963), The Sand Pebbles (1966), Doctor Dolittle (1967), 10 Rillington Place (1971), Jurassic Park (1993), and Miracle on 34th Street (1994). In 1952, he appeared on
3090-608: The Senate House complex of the University of London . It is a founder member of the Federation of Drama Schools. RADA has expanded its course offering over the years. The school offers a three-year BA (Hons) in acting degree. The first stage management course was introduced in 1962 under the directorship of Dorothy Tenham , and today students on the technical theatre and stage management degree learn theatre production skills including lighting, sound, props, costume and make-up, stage management, production management and video design. In
3193-696: The Underwater Stage , and an Exterior Tank backed with a green screen measuring 73 m (240 ft)x18 m (59 ft). In November 2007, Pinewood announced a £200m expansion plan, known as Project Pinewood. If would have included replicas of streetscapes and zones replicating locations from the UK, Europe and the USA. Planned zones include a college campus, Amsterdam, modern European housing, Venice, Lake Como, Paris, an Amphitheatre, Prague, West coast American housing, warehousing and downtown New York sets, Chicago, Vienna,
Richard Attenborough - Misplaced Pages Continue
3296-584: The West End stage , originating the role of Detective Sergeant Trotter in Agatha Christie 's The Mousetrap which has since become the world's longest-running play. For his directorial debut, 1969's Oh! What a Lovely War , Attenborough was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Direction , and he was nominated for his films Young Winston , A Bridge Too Far , and Cry Freedom . He won two Academy Awards for Gandhi in 1983: Best Picture and Best Director . The British Film Institute ranked Gandhi
3399-482: The 1940s, he was asked to 'improve his physical condition' for his role as Pinkie in Brighton Rock . He trained with Chelsea Football Club for a fortnight, subsequently becoming good friends with those at the club. He went on to become a director during the 1970s, helping to prevent the club losing its home ground by holding onto his club shares and donating them, worth over £950,000, to Chelsea. In 2008, Attenborough
3502-534: The 1990s it launched a programme of short courses for actors and theatre technicians from around the world, including a special course for students at the NYU Tisch School of the Arts . Other courses include a one-year acting foundation course introduced in 2007; an MA in Text & Performance, affiliated with Birkbeck, University of London , introduced in 2010; and an MA Theatre Lab course introduced in 2011. RADA
3605-464: The American film centre in its second syllable". Construction began in December of that year, with a new stage completed every three weeks. The studios were finished nine months later, having cost £1 million (approx. £85.8 million at 2023 prices). Five stages were initially completed and there was provision for an enclosed water tank capable of holding 65,000 imperial gallons (300,000 L), which
3708-559: The Arts Council National Lottery Board in 1996, which was used to renovate its premises and rebuild the Jerwood Vanbrugh Theatre. In 2000, the academy founded RADA Enterprises Ltd, now known as RADA Business, providing training programmes and coaching for organisations and individuals in communications and team building which use drama training techniques in a business context. The profits are fed back into
3811-509: The English ambassador who announces that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead at the end of Kenneth Branagh 's Hamlet (1996). In the late 1950s, Attenborough formed a production company, Beaver Films, with Bryan Forbes and began to build a profile as a producer on projects including The League of Gentlemen (1959), The Angry Silence (1960) and Whistle Down the Wind (1961), appearing in
3914-673: The Indian director Satyajit Ray 's period piece The Chess Players . He took no acting roles following his appearance in Otto Preminger 's version of The Human Factor (1979) until his appearance as John Hammond in Steven Spielberg 's Jurassic Park (1993) and the film's sequel, The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997). He starred in the remake of Miracle on 34th Street (1994) as Kris Kringle . Later he made occasional appearances in supporting roles, including as Sir William Cecil in
4017-533: The Leicester University campus in 1997, specifically designed to provide access for the disabled, in particular as practitioners. He was elected to the post of Chancellor of the University of Sussex on 20 March 1998, replacing The Duke of Richmond and Gordon . He stood down as Chancellor of the university following graduation in July 2008. A lifelong supporter of Chelsea Football Club , Attenborough served as
4120-618: The Lir Academy was established in association with RADA at Trinity College Dublin , with the partnership of the Cathal Ryan Trust. Following RADA’s conservatoire-style, practical theatre training, the Lir Academy modelled its courses after the London-based school. RADA has been registered with the Office for Students as a higher education institution since July 2018. The current principal of
4223-505: The Phoenix . In 1967 and 1968, he won back-to-back Golden Globe Awards in the category of Best Supporting Actor , the first time for The Sand Pebbles , again co-starring Steve McQueen, and the second time for Doctor Dolittle starring Rex Harrison . His portrayal of the serial killer John Christie in 10 Rillington Place (1971) garnered excellent reviews. In 1977, he played the ruthless General Outram , again to great acclaim, in
Richard Attenborough - Misplaced Pages Continue
4326-576: The RADA Shakespeare Awards. Undergraduate students are eligible for government student loans. RADA also has a scholarships and bursaries scheme, which offers financial assistance to students. The Royal Patron of the Academy is King Charles III , following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. The President is David Harewood , since February 2024. The chairman is Marcus Ryder, who succeeded Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen in 2021. Its vice-chairman
4429-647: The Ring , a love story set in Belfast during the Second World War, and starring Shirley MacLaine , Christopher Plummer and Pete Postlethwaite . Despite maintaining an acting career alongside his directorial roles, Attenborough never directed himself (save for an uncredited cameo appearance in A Bridge Too Far ). After 33 years of dedicated service as President of the Muscular Dystrophy campaign, Attenborough became
4532-881: The Roof (1971), Sleuth (1972), The Day of the Jackal (1973), Superman (1978) and Superman II (1980), Alien (1979), and the James Bond films Diamonds Are Forever (1971), Live and Let Die (1973), The Man with the Golden Gun (1974), and The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). Four James Bond movies, For Your Eyes Only (1981), Octopussy (1983), A View to a Kill (1985), and The Living Daylights (1987), among several other large productions, such as Pink Floyd – The Wall (1982), Superman III (1983), Krull (1983), Legend (1985), Aliens (1986), Stanley Kubrick 's Full Metal Jacket (1987), and Tim Burton 's Batman (1989), were all produced at Pinewood. The 1990s saw large-scale productions, such as Alien 3 (1992), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), and The World Is Not Enough (1999) produced at
4635-488: The Scottish Isle of Bute for £1.48 million. In May 2011, David Attenborough said his brother had been confined to a wheelchair since his stroke in 2008, but was still capable of holding a conversation. He added that "he won't be making any more films." In June 2012, shortly before her 90th birthday, Sheila Sim entered the professional actors' retirement home Denville Hall , in Northwood , London, for which she and Attenborough had helped raise funds. In October 2012, it
4738-403: The Studios second largest stage at 2,800 m (30,139 sq ft). Pinewood Studios paid tribute to Richard Attenborough 's body of work by naming a purpose-built film and television stage after him. The Richard Attenborough Stage has an area of 2,800 m (30,139 sq ft). In his absence because of illness, Lord Puttnam and Pinewood chairman Lord Grade officially unveiled
4841-639: The Text & Performance programme using actors from the Theatre Lab course). Rehearsals and performances for the programmes are done mostly in the Chenies Street and Malet Street buildings. In addition, RADA offers a series of short courses, masterclasses and summer courses for a range of standards and ages. Previous attendees have included Allison Janney , Liev Schreiber , Maggie Gyllenhaal and Emma Watson . The Academy’s education, widening participation and outreach work includes two Youth Companies, schools' workshops, Access to Acting workshops for young disabled people, Shakespeare tours to secondary schools and
4944-519: The UK – in recent years this has included Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Chester, Leicester, Sheffield, Manchester, Newcastle and Plymouth. Free auditions are offered to any applicants with a household income of under £25,000. RADA also teaches Technical Theatre & Stage Management (TTSM) – a two-year foundation degree and with a further 'completion' year to BA level which has to be separately applied for and which allows for specialisation in all theatre craft areas. The TTSM course admits up to 30 students
5047-432: The United States would be located south of Atlanta at a complex consisting of 280 ha (690 acres) in Fayette County, Georgia . Pinewood Atlanta is a joint venture between Pinewood and River's Rock LLC, an independently managed trust of the Cathy family , founders of the Chick-fil-A fast-food chain. In August 2019, Pinewood sold their shares in the Atlanta location. The studio officially ended its relationship with
5150-407: The academy and its first honorary fellow. In 1924, RADA received its first government subsidy, a grant of £500. The Gower Street buildings were torn down in 1927 and replaced with a new building, financed by Bernard Shaw, who also left one-third of his royalties to the academy on his death in 1950. The academy has received other government funding at various times, including a £22.7 million grant from
5253-424: The academy to help cover its costs. In 2001, RADA joined with the London Contemporary Dance School to create the UK's first Conservatoire for Dance and Drama (CDD). RADA left the CDD in August 2019 to become an independent higher education provider. RADA is also a founder member of the Federation of Drama Schools , established in 2017. In 2004, celebrity photographer Cambridge Jones was commissioned to create
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#17328518058165356-435: The academy, Niamh Dowling, succeeded Edward Kemp in 2022. The current president, David Harewood , succeeded Kenneth Branagh in February 2024, with Cynthia Erivo appointed vice president. RADA's higher education awards are validated by King's College London (KCL) and its students graduate alongside members of the KCL Faculty of Arts & Humanities . It is based in the Bloomsbury area of Central London , close to
5459-492: The ancient woodland Burnham Beeches and Black Park to Pinewood (as well as to Shepperton and Bray studios) made Burnham Beeches a desirable filming location for productions being filmed at Pinewood. Burnham Beeches was used for Robin Hood Prince of Thieves , First Knight , Goldfinger , The Princess Bride and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix , Fahrenheit 451 at Black Park. The studios announced in April 2013 that its first film production facility in
5562-547: The armed forces, the Royal Mint and Lloyd's of London were installed on sound stages at Pinewood, and were open for business for the duration of the war. The Company of Youth , the Rank Organisation acting school, which launched several film careers, was founded in 1945. The next year, Pinewood re-opened for (non-war-related) business. Two significant films produced at Pinewood were released within two months of each other in 1948: Oliver Twist , directed by David Lean , and Powell and Pressburger 's The Red Shoes . Due to
5665-453: The base for many productions over the years from large-scale films to television programmes, commercials, and pop promos, including the James Bond and Carry On film franchises. Pinewood Studios was built on the estate of Heatherden Hall , a large Victorian country house which was purchased by Canadian financier, and Member of Parliament (MP) for Brentford and Chiswick , Lt. Col. Grant Morden (1880–1932). He added refinements such as
5768-438: The bedrooms became furnished suites. In 1935, millionaire flour magnate J. Arthur Rank (1888–1972) went into partnership with Boot and they transformed the estate into a film studio. Boot based designs for the studio complex on the latest ideas being employed by film studios in Hollywood , California. Boot named the new studio Pinewood because "of the number of trees which grow there and because it seemed to suggest something of
5871-412: The box-office of its year in Great Britain. All of the Doctor films, running until 1970, were shot at Pinewood. The Carry On franchise began in 1958, produced on behalf of Rank by Peter Rogers (who was married to Box), and directed by Gerald Thomas (brother of Ralph). The Norman Wisdom comedies, the last of which was released in 1966, were also filmed at the facility. During the 1960s Pinewood
5974-476: The cast of the first two films. His performance in The Angry Silence earned him his first nomination for a BAFTA. Séance on a Wet Afternoon won him his first BAFTA award. His feature film directorial debut was the all-star screen version of the hit musical Oh! What a Lovely War (1969), after which his acting appearances became sporadic as he concentrated more on directing and producing. He later directed two epic period films: Young Winston (1972), based on
6077-436: The charity's Honorary Life President in 2004. In 2012, the charity, which leads the fight against muscle-wasting conditions in the UK, established the Richard Attenborough Fellowship Fund to honour his lifelong commitment to the charity, and to ensure the future of clinical research and training at leading UK neuromuscular centres. Attenborough was also the patron of the United World Colleges movement, whereby he contributed to
6180-448: The children's film The Amazing Mr Blunden (1972) and also appeared as the Indian residence of Governor Sir Sidney Ruff-Diamond in Carry On Up the Khyber (1969). The studios have acres of backlots where large sets have been built, from castles to whole villages including the Baker Street set built for Billy Wilder's The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes and Godric's Hollow from the Harry Potter film series . The proximity of
6283-408: The colleges that are part of the organisation. He was a frequent visitor to the Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa (UWCSA). With his wife, they founded the Richard and Sheila Attenborough Visual Arts Centre. He founded the Jane Holland Creative Centre for Learning at Waterford Kamhlaba in Swaziland in memory of his daughter who died in the tsunami on 26 December 2004 . He
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#17328518058166386-426: The command of Flight Lieutenant John Boulting (whose brother Peter Cotes later directed Attenborough in the play The Mousetrap ) where he appeared with Edward G. Robinson in the propaganda film Journey Together (1945). He then volunteered to fly with the Film Unit and after further training, where he sustained permanent ear damage, qualified as a sergeant, flying on several operations over Europe filming from
6489-454: The development of a new film and television studio facility in Iskandar Malaysia . Construction began towards the end of 2010, with completion expected by the end of 2012. The facilities being built as part of the studio complex include 9,300 m (100,000 sq ft) of film stages, ranging from 1,400 m (15,000 sq ft) to 2,800 m (30,000 sq ft). The first two at 1,400 m (15,000 sq ft) while
6592-430: The early life of Winston Churchill , and A Bridge Too Far (1977), an all-star account of Second World War Operation Market Garden . He won the 1982 Academy Award for Best Director for his historical epic Gandhi , and as the film's producer, the Academy Award for Best Picture ; the same film garnered two Golden Globes , this time for Best Director and Best Foreign Film , in 1983. He had been attempting to get
6695-423: The expansion plans. The Chief Executive of the studios, Ivan Dunleavy, said he expected to appeal against the latest decision to the Secretary of State, Eric Pickles , who rejected the previous application, a year earlier. On 19 June 2014 it was reported that Pinewood Studios had received approval to go ahead with the multimillion-pound expansion plans which would see it rival Hollywood film sets. Pinewood Studios
6798-463: The family after the war when it was discovered that their parents had been killed. The sisters moved to the United States in the 1950s and lived with an uncle, where they married and took American citizenship; Irene died in 1992 and Helga in 2005. During the Second World War , Attenborough served in the Royal Air Force . After initial pilot training, he was seconded to the newly formed Royal Air Force Film Production Unit at Pinewood Studios , under
6901-517: The head of the escape committee, based on the real-life exploits of Roger Bushell . It was his first appearance in a major Hollywood film blockbuster and his most successful film thus far. During the 1960s, he expanded his range of character roles in films such as Séance on a Wet Afternoon (1964) and Guns at Batasi (1964), for which he won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Regimental Sergeant Major Lauderdale. In 1965 he played Lew Moran opposite James Stewart in The Flight of
7004-401: The historical drama Elizabeth (1998), Jacob in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and as "The Narrator" in the film adaptation of Spike Milligan 's comedy book Puckoon (2002). He played the 'Old Gentleman' in the rear carriage of the train in the TV movie "The Railway Children" made in 2000. He made his only appearance in a film adaptation of Shakespeare when he played
7107-423: The late 1990s to designs by Bryan Avery , and incorporated the new theatres and linking the entrances on both streets. RADA has five theatres and a cinema. In the Malet Street building, the Jerwood Vanburgh Theatre is the largest performance space with a capacity of 194; the George Bernard Shaw Theatre is a black box theatre with a capacity of up to 70; and the Gielgud Theatre is an intimate studio theatre with
7210-444: The location in October 2020 with the renaming of the studio to Trilith. Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios is a studio complex located at a 20 ha (49 acres) site in Iskandar Puteri , Johor, managed by The Pinewood Studios Group. It targets the Asia-Pacific region. Pinewood Shepperton plc entered into a strategic agreement with Khazanah Nasional Berhad , the investment holding arm of the Government of Malaysia in connection with
7313-607: The money that had been raised was refunded. Attenborough's father was the principal of University College, Leicester , now the city's university. This resulted in a long association with the university, with Attenborough becoming a patron. The university's Embrace Arts at the RA centre, which opened in 1997 is named in his honour. He had two younger brothers: naturalist and broadcaster David and motor trade executive John . Attenborough married actress Sheila Sim in Kensington on 22 January 1945. From 1949 until October 2012, they lived in Old Friars on Richmond Green in London. In
7416-465: The other two at 1,900 m (20,000 sq ft). The biggest stage at 2,800 m (30,000 sq ft) will have a water tank for productions that require work on or under water.[1] There are 2 TV studios, each at 1,100 m (12,000 sq ft). In July 2019, Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios was rebranded to Iskandar Malaysia Studios and the affiliation with Pinewood Shepperton plc ended. Pinewood's water filming facilities include
7519-419: The project made for 18 years. He directed the screen version of the musical A Chorus Line (1985) and the anti-apartheid drama Cry Freedom (1987). He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Director for both films. The success of the latter film prompted Attenborough to sign a contract with Universal Pictures to produce and direct films over the next five years, set to produce three films for
7622-533: The project was placed into administration with debts of £15 million and was considered for sale of the assets in 2011. A mooted long-term lease to Fox 21 fell through in 2015, though the facilities continue to be used for filmmaking. He had a lifelong ambition to make a film about his hero the political theorist and revolutionary Thomas Paine , whom he called "one of the finest men that ever lived". He said in an interview in 2006 that "I could understand him. He wrote in simple English. I found all his aspirations –
7725-527: The rear gunner's position to record the outcome of RAF Bomber Command sorties . Attenborough's acting career started on stage and he appeared in shows at Leicester's Little Theatre , Dover Street, prior to his going to RADA , where he remained Patron until his death. Attenborough's first major credited role was provided in Brian Desmond Hurst 's The Hundred Pound Window (1944) playing Tommy Draper who helps rescue his accountant father who has taken
7828-497: The rights of women, the health service, universal education... Everything you can think of that we want is in Rights of Man or The Age of Reason or Common Sense ." He could not secure the funding to do so. The website "A Gift for Dickie" was launched by two filmmakers from Luton in June 2008 with the aim of raising £40m in 400 days to help him make the film, but the target was not met and
7931-559: The same nursing home in London to be with his wife, as confirmed by their son Michael. Attenborough died at Denville Hall, on 24 August 2014. He requested that his ashes be interred in a vault at St Mary Magdalene church in Richmond beside those of his daughter, Jane, and his granddaughter, Lucy, both of whom had died in the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami . He was survived by Sheila, his wife of 69 years, their oldest and youngest children, six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and his younger brother David . Sheila died on 19 January 2016. In
8034-450: The school is King Charles III , following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. The president is David Harewood , who succeeded Kenneth Branagh in February 2024, with Cynthia Erivo appointed vice president. The chairman is Marcus Ryder, who succeeded Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen in 2021. Its vice-chairman was Alan Rickman until his death in 2016. The current principal of the academy
8137-485: The school. Its members included George Bernard Shaw , who later donated his royalties from his play Pygmalion to RADA and gave lectures to students at the school. In 1920, RADA was granted a royal charter and, in 1921, a new theatre was built on Malet Street behind the Gower Street buildings. Edward, Prince of Wales, opened the theatre. In 1923, Sir John Gielgud studied at RADA for a year. He later became president of
8240-476: The stage on 23 April 2012. Opposite it, is a post-production block named in honour of Stanley Kubrick . The studio also has two specialist TV studios, named TV One and TV Two, complete with integral galleries, TV studio floors, TV lighting grids and SD or HD facilities. Both studios stand at just under 835 m (8,988 sq ft). Pinewood is situated on the old estate of Heatherden Hall which still stands today. The mansion, its gardens and other parts of
8343-710: The stock market listing because nearly all the shares are held by two groups. In June 2016, five new stages and 10 new workshops were opened at Pinewood. In 2019, the Walt Disney Studios announced a 10-year lease of most of the Pinewood Studios in September 2019, to start in 2020. The 007 Stage was originally built for the Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and featured one of the largest water tanks in Europe. The stage
8446-665: The studio, and timetable calls would be set up by January and the first production was slated for release by 1989. His later films as director and producer include Chaplin (1992) starring Robert Downey Jr. , as Charlie Chaplin and Shadowlands (1993), based on the relationship between C. S. Lewis and Joy Gresham ( C. S. Lewis was portrayed by Anthony Hopkins , who had appeared in four previous films for Attenborough: Young Winston , A Bridge Too Far , Magic and Chaplin ). Between 2006 and 2007, he spent time in Belfast , working on his last film as director and producer, Closing
8549-827: The studios adopting the "unit system", an American industry practice. That enabled several pictures to be filmed simultaneously and, ultimately, Pinewood achieved the highest output of any studio in the world. During the Second World War , Pinewood was requisitioned, and the Crown Film Unit , No. 5 Army Film and Photographic Unit , Royal Air Force Film Production Unit , and Polish Air Force Film Unit were based there. The Crown Film Unit completed many classic wartime documentaries, and Roy Boulting 's Desert Victory , Humphrey Jennings ' Fires Were Started , Coastal Command and Pat Jackson 's Western Approaches (all 1943) were filmed there during that period. As well its use by
8652-497: The studios have been used in various productions over the years. Peeping Tom (1960) shows people driving out through the main gate and has various shots in the studios (showing things behind the camera), offices and corridors. Return to the Edge of the World (1978) includes shots of director Michael Powell driving into the studio. The main gate (no longer used due to the construction of
8755-636: The studios which kept Pinewood operating. The Rank Group owned the studio until 2001, when it sold Pinewood for £62 million to a group led by Michael Grade and Ivan Dunleavy and financed by private equity group 3i , who held an 80% stake. The purchase of Shepperton Studios from a consortium headed by Ridley and Tony Scott , gave rise to the Pinewood Group , eventually comprising Pinewood Studios, Shepperton Studios, Teddington Studios , Pinewood Toronto Studios , Pinewood Indomina Studios , Pinewood Studio Berlin, Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios , and
8858-552: The time necessary "to do what was required of him in the Upper Chamber, as he always put film-making first". On 13 July 2006, Attenborough, along with his brother David , were awarded the titles of Distinguished Honorary Fellows of the University of Leicester "in recognition of a record of continuing distinguished service to the university". Royal Academy of Dramatic Art The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art , also known by its abbreviation RADA ( / ˈ r ɑː d ə / ),
8961-466: The time such as Sir Squire Bancroft , William Archer , Sir Arthur Wing Pinero and George Bernard Shaw. Other facilities at RADA include acting studios, a scenic art workshop with paint frame, costume workrooms and costume store, dance and fight studios, design studios, wood and metal workshops, sound studios, rehearsal studios, and the RADA Foyer Bar, which includes a fully licensed bar, a café and
9064-525: The world's longest running stage production. Both he and his wife were among the original cast members of the production, which opened in 1952 at the Ambassadors Theatre , moving to St Martin's Theatre in 1974; the production ran continuously for nearly seven decades, until it was shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The Attenboroughs took a 10 per cent profit-participation in the production, which
9167-413: Was Alan Rickman until his death in 2016. The current principal of the academy is Niamh Dowling, who succeeded Edward Kemp in 2022. Listed alphabetically by date of appointment Pinewood Studios Pinewood Studios is a British film and television studio located in the village of Iver Heath , England. It is approximately 18 miles (29 km) west of central London. The studio has been
9270-532: Was Herbert Wilcox , completing London Melody (1937) featuring Anna Neagle (his wife), portions of which had already been filmed at British and Dominions Imperial Studios in Elstree, before a fire there halted production. The first film to be made entirely at Pinewood was Talk of the Devil (1936), directed by Carol Reed . There followed a prolific period of Pinewood and British film history, with Pinewood following
9373-643: Was a fellow at Emmanuel College, Cambridge , and wrote a standard text on Anglo-Saxon law . Attenborough was educated at Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys in Leicester and studied at RADA . In September 1939, while Frederick Attenborough was Principal of University College, Leicester (1932–1951), the Attenboroughs took in two German Jewish refugee girls, Helga and Irene Bejach (aged 9 and 11 respectively), who lived with them in College House and were adopted by
9476-546: Was a longtime advocate of education that does not judge upon colour, race, creed or religion. His attachment to Waterford was his passion for non-racial education, which were the grounds on which Waterford Kamhlaba was founded. Waterford was one of his inspirations for directing the film Cry Freedom , based on the life of Steve Biko . Attenborough served as Chair of the British Film Institute between 1981 and 1992. He founded The Richard Attenborough Arts Centre on
9579-451: Was announced that Attenborough was putting the family home, Old Friars, with its attached offices, Beaver Lodge, which came complete with a sound-proofed cinema in the garden, on the market for £11.5 million. His brother David stated: "He and his wife both loved the house, but they now need full-time care. It simply isn't practical to keep the house on any more." In December 2012, in light of his deteriorating health, Attenborough moved into
9682-498: Was appointed Life President of Chelsea Football Club . On 26 December 2004, the couple's elder daughter, Jane Holland (30 September 1955 – 26 December 2004), along with her mother-in-law, Audrey Holland, and Attenborough's 15-year-old granddaughter, Lucy, were killed when a tsunami caused by the Indian Ocean earthquake struck Khao Lak , Thailand, where they were on holiday. A service was held on 8 March 2005 and Attenborough read
9785-408: Was built on the stage. As well as the 007 Stage, which is the largest stage at any of the studios under The Pinewood Studios Group at 5,500 m (59,202 sq ft), the studio has fifteen other stages ranging from just 160 m (1,722 sq ft), to cater for productions of all sizes. One of those studios, the T Stage, is a specialist stage for both television and film productions and
9888-551: Was destroyed by fire in 1984; it was rebuilt four months later and renamed Albert R. Broccoli 's 007 Stage in time for filming to commence on A View to a Kill . Another fire on 30 July 2006 seriously damaged the stage, causing the roof to partly collapse. Construction of a new stage began on 18 September and was completed in under six months. Since then, the stage has accommodated large productions including Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010), Quantum of Solace (2008). The whole fishing village from Mamma Mia! (2008)
9991-469: Was fitted with a pacemaker . In December 2008, he suffered a fall at his home after a stroke and was admitted to St George's Hospital , Tooting , South West London. In November 2009, Attenborough, in what he called a "house clearance" sale, sold part of his extensive art collection, which included works by L. S. Lowry , C. R. W. Nevinson and Graham Sutherland , generating £4.6 million at Sotheby's . In January 2011, he sold his Rhubodach estate on
10094-516: Was granted a royal charter in 1920 and a new theatre was built on Malet Street, behind the Gower Street buildings, which was opened in 1921 by Edward, Prince of Wales . It received its first government subsidy in 1924. RADA currently has five theatres and a cinema. The school's principal industry partner is Warner Bros. Entertainment . RADA offers a number of foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Its higher education awards are validated by King's College London (KCL). The royal patron of
10197-526: Was granted for the redevelopment of the Chenies Street premises as part of the Richard Attenborough Campaign. The RADA library contains around 30,000 items. Works include around 10,000 plays; works of or about biography, costume, criticism, film, fine art, poetry, social history, stage design, technical theatre and theatre history; screenplays; and theatre periodicals. The collection was started in 1904 with donations from actors and writers of
10300-569: Was no longer solely dependent on the Rank Organisation to fill its stages. "Renters" (producers hiring the sound stages for a film-by-film agreement) were using half of the stages as Pinewood turned into a four walls facility. The James Bond franchise began at Pinewood with the Terence Young directed Dr. No (1962), and has continued to be based at the studios since then. J. Arthur Rank (by then Lord Rank) retired as chairman in 1962 and
10403-414: Was paid for out of their combined weekly salary; Attenborough later wrote in his autobiography, "It proved to be the wisest business decision I've ever made... but foolishly I sold some of my share to open a short-lived Mayfair restaurant called 'The Little Elephant' and later still, disposed of the remainder in order to keep Gandhi afloat." At the beginning of the 1950s Attenborough featured on radio on
10506-533: Was rejected by South Bucks District Council in October 2009, following a opposition campaign by local residents, who formed a "Stop Project Pinewood" group. Pinewood appealed against the decision and a public inquiry commenced on 5 April 2011 and on 20 January 2012, it was announced that the appeal had been turned down. On 15 May 2013, local councillors in South Buckinghamshire rejected a pared down version of
10609-472: Was succeeded by John Davis, who had begun to move the Rank Organisation away from mass film production and towards more profitable and less risky businesses such as bingo and holidays. During the 1970s Pinewood studios were being used more for television programmes, including ITC Entertainment 's UFO (1970), The Persuaders! (1971), starring Tony Curtis and Roger Moore , and Space: 1999 (1975–1977). Major films shot at Pinewood included Fiddler on
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