Over the course of his 70-year career acting and directing, Richard Attenborough won two Oscars, six BAFTAs, and four Golden Globes. You might remember him best for his role as eccentric billionaire John Hammond in Jurassic Park, or as Kris Kingle in Miracle on 34th Street, but away from the screen Richard's family life is equally mesmerising. From the children that followed in his footsteps, to the devastating tragedy that shaped his later years, read on for Richard's family life...
© Getty ImagesRichard met his future wife Sheila Sim while they were both at Rada together, and they fell in love while acting opposite each other in a production of The Lady with the Lamp – the first of many occasions where the couple shared stage or screen.
The duo tied the knot in 1945 and went on to welcome three children. While Sheila's acting career took a back seat as she raised their young brood, Richard's went from strength to strength, although it was often so successful that he was pulled away from his family. When Prince Charles requested that Richard aid Princess Diana in public speaking, for example, it might have been difficult to prioritise being home for dinner.
© Getty ImagesHe mentioned "guilt" around his absence, explaining: "I adore my family, they are my joy. However, I am committed to my work. If on a Saturday morning when I was ostensibly going to be with the children and something arose at RADA or at Unicef or at the orphanage or whatever, I would allow the other pressures to take precedent. Now I have a guilt…"
Michael Attenborough CBE
His father may have expressed a penchant for being both on and off screen, but Richard's firstborn child Michael remains firmly in the latter camp, having established himself as a successful director. Born in 1950, Michael's directing credits include stage performances of Macbeth, As You Like It, and Someone Who'll Watch Over Me. Such was his directing prowess that Michael was made a Commander of the British Empire in 2013 for services to theatre.
© Mirrorpix via Getty ImagesIn his personal life, Michael was married to the actress Jane Seymour for two years in 1971. She was just 20 years old, and told The Times that her career blossomed shortly after. "Then I got the Bond film [1973's Live and Let Die], and he was working in the theatre and he sort of decided that wasn’t the world he wanted and he met someone else.
“I think Michael and I realised we were too young. We grew up together. I grew up with his sisters. We all shared rooms together. And we're still very close friends."
Jane Holland
Richard and Sheila's second child, Jane, shied away from a life in front of an audience, unlike her siblings and parents. Despite this, throughout her career she remained close to creativity, working for the Royal Academy of Dance, the Arts Council of Great Britain and the Rambert Dance Company, facilitating artistic participation for others if not joining in herself.
© Getty ImagesLike her parents, Jane welcomed three children with spouse Michael Holland, but tragedy occurred in 2004 when the Indian Ocean tsunami struck their villa on the coast of Thailand on Boxing Day, killing Jane, her mother-in-law and her 15-year-old daughter Lucy. The tsunami left Jane's other daughter, Alice, with serious injuries, while Michael and their son survived.
Speaking to The Guardian, Richard reflected how the loss had resulted in "a total inability to overcome it." He added: "I regret that my commitment to my work, to the charities, to whatever, allowed me to spend more time away from the children than, in retrospect, I would have wished. I miss Jane and Lucy desperately. I remember saying to myself, 'Oh, I'll do it next week', or 'I'll find time on the holiday', and of course I didn't spend as much time with Jane... I long for her to walk through the door now."
© Getty ImagesJane was described as a "generous spirit, [with] integrity, wisdom and involvement".
Charlotte Attenborough
© PA Images via Getty ImagesRichard and Sheila's youngest child, Charlotte, was born in 1959 and became the second Attenborough child to work in entertainment. Like her father, Charlotte trained at RADA, and worked in both film and theatre. She made a cameo appearance in Oh! What a Lovely War, directed by Richard, and went on to appear in various films and television series, including Jane Eyre and An Inspector Calls.
© PA Images via Getty Images
