Richard Attenborough 'Jurassic Park' Actor Dies At 90- British Director & Film Star Leaves Behind An Enormous Career Spanning 7 Decades

Hollywood has lost another leading man today. Richard Attenborough who has been in the limelight for over 60 years has passed away over the weekend. Attenborough was a legend, both in front of the camera, as well as behind the scenes. He helped to create the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, and brought joy to children every Christmas, starring as Santa Claus in the remake of Miracle On 34^th Street.

According to The New York Times, the British born actor, created a name for himself by starring in London productions of The Mousetrap, and Brighton Rock, but he broke onto the American scene after he was cast with his good friend Steve McQueen in The Great Escape. The 1963 World War II film escalated Attenborough to superstardom in Hollywood.

He was featured in films such as The Sand Pebbles in 1966, Doctor Dolittle in 1967, both of which won him Golden Globe awards, and also starred in The Chess Players in 1977. He then would become known years later for his role in the film Jurassic Park.

Through he spent a majority of his career in the spotlight, it might have been his work behind the scenes that was his greatest triumph. He first started his directing career with the 1969 film, Oh! What A Lovely War, which starred Laurence Olivier, Maggie Smith, and Vanessa Redgraves. However, his best directorial role came when he became the director for the biopic Gandhi. The film went on to win 8 Academy Awards including Best Director and Best Picture.

The film was a long uphill battle to make, and took over 20 years to raise funds for, Attenborough even mortgaged his own house and sold his personal items to finance the film and see it come to fruition.

He starred in fewer film roles as the years went on, only acting in a movie every few years. His later work including Miracle on 34^th Street (1994), In Love and War with Sandra Bullock (1996) and Elizabeth with Cate Blanchett (1998).

According to TMZ, the news of Richard's death was confirmed by his son to BBC. The news site was told that Attenborough died in a nursing home where he has been residing for the last few years, alongside his wife.

The actor was 90-years-old at the time of his death.

He is survived by his son, Michael, his wife, Lucy and daughter, Charlotte Attenborough. Richard lost his daughter and grandaughter Jane Holland and Lucy in a tsunami in the Indian Ocean back in 2004.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Richard's family at this difficult time.