Richard Attenborough dies

by Charlie Smith on August 24th, 2014 at 4:59 PM

1 of 2 2 of 2

The Oscar-winning director of Gandhi, Lord Richard Attenborough, has passed away at the age of 90.

When he accepted his award in 1983, he said he was "totally bowled over". The film, which starred Ben Kingsley in the title role, also won the Oscar for best picture.

"When he gave me the part of Gandhi it was with great grace and joy," Kingsley told the BBC. "He placed in me an absolute trust and in turn I placed an absolute trust in him and grew to love him."

Attenborough's best-known acting roles were as John Hammond in Jurassic Park and as a leader of Allied prisoners in The Great Escape.

British prime minister David Cameron tweeted: "His acting in 'Brighton Rock' was brilliant, his directing of 'Gandhi' was stunning - Richard Attenborough was one of the greats of cinema."

The British Labour Party issued a statement declaring that Attenborough's films "will be loved for generations to come".

"He believed passionately in social justice and the Labour Party and was a vocal campaigner against apartheid," the party noted. "He will be sadly missed."