This page will contain additional articles about David Niven, as they become available.David NivenDavid Niven, born James David Graham Niven (March 1, 1910 - July 29, 1983), was an English actor who achieved the unusual distinction of success in both the British and the Hollywood film industry. He was born in London, England, the son of William Edward Graham Niven and Henrietta Julia de Gacher. His father died during the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915 and his mother remarried Sir Thomas Comyn-Platt. After attending Stowe as a boy Niven trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, which gave him the "officer and gentleman" bearing that was to be his trademark. Niven often claimed that he was born in Kirriemuir in Scotland which he believed sounded more romantic than London. Arriving in Hollywood during the 1930s, he first worked as an extra in westerns, then had a walk-on part in the 1935 version of Mutiny on the Bounty and progressed to leading man in MGM comedies such as Bachelor Mother (1939). During World War II he served in the British army, rising to the rank of colonel in the British Commandos and landing at Normandy. He resumed his career afterwards with roles such as Phileas Fogg in Around the World in Eighty Days and James Bond in the unofficial series spoof Casino Royale. He won an Academy Award for his performance in Separate Tables (1958). Late in life, he gained critical acclaim for his memoirs of his acting career, The Moon's A Balloon (1971) and Bring On the Empty Horses (1975). He died in Switzerland in 1983 of Motor Neurone Disease, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Quotations
Selected filmography
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He died in Switzerland in 1983 of Motor Neurone Disease, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. During World War II he served in the British army, rising to the rank of colonel in the British Commandos and landing at Normandy. His own Shakespearian roles included Falstaff and Othello; he also appeared in contemporary plays. Arriving in Hollywood during the 1930s, he first worked as an extra in westerns, then had a walk-on part in the 1935 version of Mutiny on the Bounty and progressed to leading man in MGM comedies such as Bachelor Mother (1939). From 1948 to 1956 he directed at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, and laid the foundations for the creation of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Niven often claimed that he was born in Kirriemuir in Scotland which he believed sounded more romantic than London. After appearing in vaudeville, he joined the Old Vic in 1932. After attending Stowe as a boy Niven trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, which gave him the "officer and gentleman" bearing that was to be his trademark. He was born in Ainsdale in Lancashire and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. His father died during the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915 and his mother remarried Sir Thomas Comyn-Platt. John Anthony Quayle (7 September 1913 — 20 October 1989) was an English actor and director. He was born in London, England, the son of William Edward Graham Niven and Henrietta Julia de Gacher. David Niven, born James David Graham Niven (March 1, 1910 - July 29, 1983), was an English actor who achieved the unusual distinction of success in both the British and the Hollywood film industry. Tres Amores - 1934. Without Regret - 1935. Splendor - 1935. A Feather in Her Hat - 1935. Barbary Coast - 1935. Mutiny on the Bounty (uncredited bit part) - 1935. Thank You, Jeeves - 1936. Dodsworth - 1936. Beloved Enemy - 1936. Rose-Marie - 1936. Palm Springs - 1936. The Charge of the Light Brigade - 1936. We Have Our Moments - 1937. The Prisoner of Zenda - 1937. Dinner at the Ritz - 1937. Three Blind Mice - 1938. Four Men and a Prayer - 1938. Bluebeard's Eighth Wife - 1938. The Dawn Patrol - 1938. Wuthering Heights - 1939. The Real Glory - 1939. Eternally Yours - 1939. Bachelor Mother - 1939. Raffles - 1940. The First of the Few) - 1942. Spitfire (a.k.a. The Immortal Battalion - 1944. The Way Ahead - 1944. The Perfect Marriage - 1946. A Matter of Life and Death (a.k.a. Stairway to Heaven) - 1946. Magnificent Doll - 1946. The Other Love - 1947. The Bishop's Wife - 1947. Enchantment - 1948. Bonnie Prince Charlie - 1948. Kiss in the Dark - 1949. A Kiss for Corliss - 1949. The Elusive Pimpernel - 1950. The Toast of New Orleans - 1950. Soldiers Three - 1951. The Lady Says No - 1951. Happy Go Lovely - 1951. Appointment with Venus - 1951. The Love Lottery - 1953. The Moon is Blue - 1953. Happy Ever After - 1954. The King's Thief - 1955. Carrington, V.C. - 1955. The Birds and the Bees - 1956. Around the World in Eighty Days - 1956. The Silken Affair - 1957. My Man Godfrey - 1957. The Little Hut - 1957. Oh, Men! Oh, Women! - 1957. Separate Tables - 1958. Bonjour Tristesse - 1958. Happy Anniversary - 1959. Ask Any Girl - 1959. Please Don't Eat the Daisies - 1960. The Best of Enemies - 1961. The Guns of Navarone - 1961. Il Giorno Pił Corto - 1962. La Cittą Prigioniera - 1962. The Road to Hong Kong - 1962. Guns of Darkness - 1962. 55 Days at Peking - 1963. The Pink Panther - 1963. Bedtime Story - 1964. Where the Spies Are - 1965. Lady L - 1965. Eye of the Devil - 1967. Casino Royale - 1967. Prudence and the Pill - 1968. The Impossible Years - 1968. The Extraordinary Seaman - 1969. Le Cerveau - 1969. Before Winter Comes - 1969. The Statue - 1971. King, Queen, Knave - 1976. Old Dracula - 1974. Paper Tiger - 1975. No Deposit, No Return - 1976. Murder by Death - 1976. Candleshoe - 1977. Death on the Nile - 1978. A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square - 1979. Escape to Athena - 1979. The Sea Wolves: The Last Charge of the Calcutta Light Horse - 1980. Rough Cut - 1980. Better Late Than Never - 1982. Trail of the Pink Panther - 1982. Curse of the Pink Panther - 1983. and showing his shortcomings." David Niven, spontaneously commenting on the streaker who crossed the stage while he was hosting the Academy Awards in 1974. "The only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping.. "I don't think his acting ever quite achieved the brilliance or the polish of his dinner-party conversations." -- John Mortimer. Can you imagine being wonderfully overpaid for dressing up and playing games? It's like being Peter Pan" -- David Niven. "It really is amazing. |