He died at lunchtime on Sunday, his son told the BBC.
Lord Attenborough enjoyed success as one of Britain’s leading actors, before becoming a successful director.
His career highlights included directing 1982 film Gandhi and appearing in 1993 blockbuster Jurassic Park.
Prime Minister David Cameron paid tribute to Lord Attenborough in a statement which read: “His acting in Brighton Rock was brilliant, his directing of Gandhi was stunning - Richard Attenborough was one of the greats of cinema.”