British actor and director Richard Attenborough has died at the age of 90, his son has announced.

In a career that spanned six decades, Lord Richard Attenborough appeared in movies including Brighton Rock, World War Two prisoner of war thriller The Great Escape and later in dinosaur blockbuster Jurassic Park.

As a director Richard Attenborough was perhaps best known for Gandhi, which won him two Oscars.

Richard Attenborough had been in a nursing home with his wife for a number of years.

He had also been in a wheelchair since falling down stairs six years ago.

As a director Richard Attenborough was perhaps best known for Gandhi, which won him two Oscars (photo Getty Images)

Richard Attenborough died at lunchtime on August 24.

His family is expected to make a full statement on Monday.

Along with his naturalist brother David, Richard Attenborough was one of Britain’s best-known screen celebrities.

He started acting at the age of just 12, making his professional stage debut aged 18.

He married his wife Sheila in 1945. They had three children.

Richard Attenborough was appointed a CBE in 1967 and knighted nine years later in 1976, before being made a life peer in 1993.

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