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Tributes paid to film icon Richard Attenborough

The actor and director Richard Attenborough has died aged 90. He was president of BAFTA, a former chairman of Capital Radio, president of RADA and a longtime Chelsea FC supporter.

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Chelsea Football Club to honour Lord Attenborough

Players will hold a minute's silence on Saturday Credit: Chelsea F.C.

The passing of our much-loved Life President Lord Attenborough has greatly affected everyone, and Chelsea Football Club fully appreciates our supporters’ emotions at this time and your wish to pay tribute to the important part he played in our history.

At our next home game, against Swansea City on Saturday 13th September, there will be a minute’s appreciation prior to kick-off in honour of a great Chelsea fan who also served as a club director for 13 years. There will be tributes on the big screens and in the matchday programme.

A lasting memorial to Lord Attenborough’s support of Chelsea is also appropriate. In consultation with Lord Attenborough's family, the club will carefully consider the possibilities and suggestions for this to ensure the most suitable option is taken.

– Chelsea Football Club

Chelsea tribute recalls actor's history with the club

Richard Attenborough with Jose Mourinho in 2004 Credit: Ian Nicholson/PA Archive/Press Association Images

Chelsea F.C. has paid tribute to Richard Attenborough, in a statement on the club's website.

Chelsea Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our Life President Lord Attenborough, CBE at the age of 90.

He led a long and successful life and always found time for the things in life he loved most, one of which was Chelsea FC.

Renowned throughout the world for his work in cinema which honoured him with awards for acting, directing and producing, football - and Chelsea in particular - was never far from his thoughts.

His personality was woven into the tapestry of the club over seven decades. He was a consistent force for good at the club, even in dark times.

He was a club director during the glamorous, trophy-winning seasons of the early 1970s and a decade later helped keep the club at Stamford Bridge when our stadium came under serious threat from property development.

In the late 1940s he had been selected for the role of young gangster Pinkie in the film Brighton Rock. Asked to improve his physical condition, he was given the choice of training with either the Chelsea players or with Fulham for a fortnight. To our everlasting good fortune he chose the Pensioners and soon became friends with Tommy Lawton, the most revered centre-forward in English football at the time, and others, and was given tickets to matches by them.

– Chelsea F.C. statement

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Spielberg: Attenborough 'passionate about everything'

Spielberg and Attenborough at the premiere of Jurassic Park. Credit: PA Wire

Steven Spielberg says Richard Attenborough was "passionate about everything in life" after his fellow filmmaker died aged 90.

The Jurassic Park director, who chose Lord Attenborough to be "the perfect ringmaster to bring the dinosaurs back to life" in the films, said he is just one person in a long line of "Dickie's" fans.

Dickie Attenborough was passionate about everything in his life - family, friends, country and career.

He made a gift to the world with his emotional epic Gandhi and he was the perfect ringmaster to bring the dinosaurs back to life as John Hammond in Jurassic Park.

He was a dear friend and I am standing in an endless line of those who completely adored him.

– Steven Spielberg
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Kingsley on Attenborough: 'I will miss him dearly'

Richard Attenborough, the director of Gandhi, Ben Kingsley and John Mills ahead of the premiere for Gandhi in 1982. Credit: PA

Sir Ben Kingsley, star of Richard Attenborough's Oscar-winning epic Gandhi, has revealed his sadness at the death of the filmmaker.

"He placed in me an absolute trust and in turn I placed an absolute trust in him and grew to love him," said Sir Ben.

"I along with millions of others whom he touched through his life and work will miss him dearly."

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