The passing of the English actor Richard Attenborough brought out, as so often, the misheard memorials of social networks, with many assuming that Attenborough’s brother David, a well-known broadcaster, had in fact died. Such mix-ups are not uncommon – witness the tributes to the singer Robbie Williams earlier this month when the actor Robin Williams was found dead – but made worse when, at a time when Richard Attenborough’s substantial body of work should have been celebrated, that of his better-known brother was instead.
The Attenboroughs are not alone. Having a more famous family member is never easy to bear, especially when both are in the public eye. See how Beyoncé’s singer sister Solange handled it this week at the MTV Awards, slipping out before her sister took to the stage.
Perhaps there is some comfort in watching those in the limelight fall out. That could be how former president George H Bush now feels. His son George W Bush led America for eight years, although many historians now consider Bush Senior, who lasted four years in the White House, to have been the better leader.
We are sure Richard Attenborough, by all accounts a gentleman to the last, never felt such pangs over David.
