Richard Attenborough

Richard Attenborough was born on August 29, 1923, in Cambridge, England to parents Frederick Levi Attenborough (1887-1973) and Mary Clegg (1896-1961). His family later moved to Leicester, where his father, Frederick, became the principal of the University College, Leicester. He attended Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys in Leicester during his formative years and went on to pursue his passion for acting by enrolling at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. During World War II, Richard Attenborough served in the Royal Air Force as part of the RAF Volunteer Reserve, joining in 1941. Initially assigned to the RAF Film Unit, he worked on documentary films to boost morale and disseminate information. Richard Attenborough's acting career flourished as he gained acclaim for performances on both stage and screen, with notable roles in films such as "Brighton Rock" (1947), "The Great Escape" (1963), and the iconic role of Santa Claus in the 1994 film "Miracle on 34th Street," a remake of the 1947 classic.