Why Jurassic Park Made Richard Attenborough Come Out Of Acting Retirement - Screen Rant

If a representative of Jurassic Park had not run interference, the late Richard Attenborough would have stayed in acting retirement instead of appearing in the role of John Hammond. By the time of his unforgettable stint in the 1993 Jurassic Park blockbuster, Attenborough had already boasted an extensive career in Hollywood. After serving in the Royal Air Force in the Second World War, the young Attenborough would go on not only to act, but to produce, direct, and head drama schools and associations.

His performance as Jurassic Park's wealthy CEO may be one of Attenborough's most recognizable roles, but he is also well remembered for his parts in Doctor Doolittle, The Sand Pebbles, The Great Escape, and countless more. Alongside building a notable acting career, Attenborough forged his own production company and would later proceed to direct several nominated/award-winning movies, at which point his interest in acting gradually subsided. By the time Jurassic Park was in its earliest stages, Attenborough had taken a 14-year acting break to focus exclusively on directing and producing - however, Attenborough would eventually return to the big screen once again due to one eager Jurassic Park visionary.

Richard Attenborough Came Out Of Retirement Because Of Steven Spielberg

Apparently, when Steven Spielberg has his heart set on something, he has the clout to get it. At least, this was the case when he was considering actors for Jurassic Park's flawed character Hammond. Spielberg wanted Attenborough in the role and despite Attenborough's nearly 15-year acting hiatus at the time, the director was able to pull Attenborough out of acting retirement specifically for Jurassic Park thanks to his charms.

Spielberg's ability to draw a legendary actor out of retirement might seem shocking, but the sequence of events was far from unusual for Attenborough. As a matter of fact, an interview recounted by Patheos reveals Attenborough confirmed he came out of such a long-acting break because Spielberg had "the charm of the devil." Whether it was pure charm, convincing creative vision, or both, Spielberg successfully rallied for and filled the role of Hammond with his preferred choice.

Spielberg Was Right To Court Attenborough For Jurassic Park

Attenborough may have preferred the benefits of acting retirement, even more so because it'd allow him to focus on furthering himself as a director and producer, but Spielberg was right to court him for the cast of Jurassic Park. For one, Attenborough still established himself as a prominent director and producer, winning Golden Globe, Academy, and BAFTA awards for his producing/directing endeavors through the course of that part of his career.

On principle though, Spielberg was right to poach Attenborough for the role because he fits perfectly into the role of Hammond. It's hard to imagine anyone else as the iconic Jurassic Park character, and it's become one of Attenborough's signature roles. Jurassic Park also introduced Attenborough to a whole new generation, furthering his already impressive career and allowing his legacy to live on.

Source: Patheos