Actor, director, producer. b. August 29, 1923, in Cambridge, England. He started acting at the age of 12. Attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and made his professional stage debut at 18. At 19 he made his feature film debut in In Which We Serve and made a highly successful move to directing with Oh! What a Lovely War.


It was his life ambition to direct Gandhi (1982). He reprised his Jurassic Park (1993) character, John Hammond, for Universal Studio's Jurassic Park: The Ride attraction. He appears in a short film at the beginning of the ride telling you that the NEW Jurassic Park (the ride you're on) is completely safe, and that there will never be another incident like that at Costa Rica in 1993. 1952: Was the first to star in Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap", now the longest-running play in the world. Appointed a CBE in 1967, knighted in 1976 and created a life peer in 1993. 1971-94: Vice-president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). 1993: Fellow of King's College, London. 12/02: Said he would go back on his claim to never appear in front of the camera again for one role only: that of Professor Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films. Former father-in-law of actress Jane Seymour 2003: Was made President of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), a role that had been vacant since the death of Princess Diana in 1997. He was trained at RADA (The Royal Acadamy of Dramatic Arts), where he later became Chairman. Often casts Anthony Hopkins. Steven Spielberg has named him as an influence. Has been involved in some form with the University of Sussex since 1970; he was elected Chancellor of the University on March 20, 1998, replacing the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, who had held that post since 1985. He was a close friend of the English actor Sir John Mills for many years, and gave the eulogy at his funeral in April 2005. Godfather of Emma Forbes. 1978: Officially retired from acting. He agreed to make a return to acting in Jurassic Park (1993), saying he was a huge admirer of Steven Spielberg and always felt bad that Gandhi (1982) had won the best picture award instead of E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982).. Originally considered for the role of Harry in The Ladykillers (1955) by director Alexander Mackendrick. The role eventually went to Peter Sellers. He was made a Fellow of the British Film Institute in recognition of his outstanding contribution to film culture. Was hospitalised in August 2008 when his heart stopped beating for a time, and again in December 2008 when he went into a coma for several days after suffering a fall.