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  "path": "/entertainment/2026/05/08/david-attenborough-celebrates-100th-birthday-a-look-back-at-his-legendary-career/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-08T20:33:43.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.deseret.com",
  "tags": [
    "Time magazine",
    "BBC",
    "Dick Van Dyke turns 100 — and he’s still dancing",
    "This 94-year-old naturalist just set a record for the fastest time to gain 1 million Instagram followers",
    "View this post on Instagram",
    "audio message",
    "https://t.co/qxtlTkoZCC",
    "May 8, 2026",
    "Even as little as 10 minutes in nature can relieve mental illness symptoms, study finds",
    "The trail of Utah wildlife murals, where art and nature converge into adventure",
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    "May 7, 2026",
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    "@TheCinesthetic",
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  "textContent": "Sir David Attenborough, the “Voice of Nature” who has guided generations through the wild, celebrated his 100th birthday on Friday.\n\nDescribed by Prince Harry in Time magazine as the U.K.’s “secular saint,” Attenborough has become a global treasure. Through his smooth narration and breathless enthusiasm, he has spent decades advocating for the protection of the planet’s most vulnerable habitats and species.\n\nHe didn’t just show the world nature; he invited everyone into it, capturing the attention and hearts of audiences of all ages.\n\nThe England native’s illustrious career began in 1949 at an educational publishing house following a two-year stint in the Royal Navy. By 1969, he was the director of television programming for the BBC, though that didn’t last too long, according to BBC. The call of the wild was too strong for Attenborough, and just a few years later, he went freelance to write and produce the award-winning “Life” series.\n\nThe “Life” series includes:\n\n  * “Life on Earth” (1979)\n  * “The Living Planet” (1984)\n  * “The Trials of Life” (1990)\n  * “Life in the Freezer” (1993)\n  * “The Private Life of Plants” (1995)\n  * “The Life of Birds” (1998)\n  * “The Life of Mammals” (2002-03)\n  * “Life in the Undergrowth” (2005)\n  * “Life in Cold Blood” (2008)\n\n\n\nAttenborough’s work reached a fever pitch with 2006’s “Planet Earth,” and even in his 90s, momentum didn’t slow. In 2025, he became the oldest Daytime Emmy winner in history for “Secret Lives of Orangutans” and released his latest production, “Ocean with David Attenborough.”\n\nDick Van Dyke turns 100 — and he’s still dancing\n\nThis 94-year-old naturalist just set a record for the fastest time to gain 1 million Instagram followers\n\n### A global birthday bash\n\nThe world is throwing quite the party for Attenborough. The BBC hosted a gala at the Royal Albert Hall, cinemas are screening his greatest hits and Lego even updated its boxes — adjusting the age limit to “4-100+” in his honor.\n\n>        View this post on Instagram            \n\nDespite the fanfare, Attenborough remains humble.\n\n“He’s always been very clear to all of us that work with him: ‘Remember, the animals are the stars, I’m not,’” Alastair Fothergill, the producer of some of Attenborough’s documentaries and director of Silverback Films, told The Associated Press. “So, yes, surprisingly for one of the most famous men on the planet, he doesn’t like being famous at all.”\n\nIn an audio message released Thursday, the broadcaster said he was “completely overwhelmed” by the flood of birthday greetings.\n\n“I simply can’t reply to each of you separately, but I’d like to thank you all most sincerely for your kind messages,” he said.\n\n> It makes me sad that he’s been ringing the alarm of climate disaster for decades and everyone is just like ‘aw what a sweet old national treasure’ and ignoring him https://t.co/qxtlTkoZCC\n>\n> — Leah Dionne (@leahdionne__) May 8, 2026\n\nEven as little as 10 minutes in nature can relieve mental illness symptoms, study finds\n\nThe trail of Utah wildlife murals, where art and nature converge into adventure\n\n### Bugs and tributes\n\nIt would be difficult to celebrate Attenborough’s birthday without naming a new species after the global icon. A new parasitic wasp has officially been named “Attenboroughnculus tau,” according to National Geographic.\n\nThe creature joins a list of more than 50 species named after Attenborough, according to National Geographic.\n\nGavin Broad, a principal curator at the London Natural History Museum, noted that Attenborough “sent a very nice handwritten note” saying “he’s very complimented.”\n\n> A newly discovered parasitic wasp from Chile has been named after Sir David Attenborough ahead of his 100th birthday, one of several tributes marking the broadcaster’s influence on natural history, conservation and environmental awareness. pic.twitter.com/2g6KEnINfe\n>\n> — The Associated Press (@AP) May 8, 2026\n\nSocial media reactions were mixed after learning of the new tribute to the Voice of Nature. While one user on X called it a “fitting tribute to a legend,” another was more skeptical: “Of all the creatures to have named after oneself, a parasitic wasp? Wow.”\n\nFrom the royal family to the Earthshot Prize council — including Prince William and Robert Irwin — people around the globe are wishing a happy 100th to the man who taught the world to love their home.\n\n> Wishing Sir David Attenborough a very happy 100th birthday. Enjoy your special celebration this evening! 🎈🦍🐆🦅🌿\n>\n> Tune in to ‘David Attenborough's 100 Years on Planet Earth’ at 8.30pm on BBC One and @BBCiPlayer. pic.twitter.com/uqyspgVz5X\n>\n> — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 8, 2026\n\n> David Attenborough turns 100 today.\n>\n> Still can’t believe Sir David Attenborough casually pulled off one of the greatest dolly shots in cinematic history. pic.twitter.com/RUxalBPAdv\n>\n> — cinesthetic. (@TheCinesthetic) May 7, 2026\n\n>        View this post on Instagram            \n\n> Happy 100th Birthday to the great Sir David Attenborough.. the second most beloved public figure in Britain. Seen here with the first. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/gjrpDRFdaL\n>\n> — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 8, 2026",
  "title": "David Attenborough celebrates a century of living"
}