James David Graham Niven was an English actor and novelist.His many roles included Squadron Leader Peter Carter in A Matter of Life and Death, Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days, and Sir Charles Lytton, ("the Phantom") in The Pink Panther. I adored it and was happier there than I had ever been, especially because, with a rare flash of genius, my mother decided that during the holidays she would be alone with her children. The year is 1974: 33-year-old Robert Opel, looking for all the world like a fit David Crosby, streaks naked past David Niven, who was about to introduce Elizabeth Taylor. From there, he hired an agent and had several small parts in films from 1933, 1934 and 1935, including a non-speaking part in MGM's Mutiny on the Bounty. [28] It honoured Niven's work in setting up the BBC Allied Expeditionary Forces Programme, a radio news and entertainment station for the Allied forces.[29][30]. "[13], In 1928, an 18-year-old Niven had sex with 15-year-old Margaret Whigham (the future socialite and Duchess of Argyll) while she was on holiday in Bembridge. He requested assignment to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders or the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment), then jokingly wrote on the form, as his third choice, "anything but the Highland Light Infantry" (because that regiment wore tartan trews rather than the kilt). The play ran for only 45 performances but it was seen by Otto Preminger, who decided to cast Niven in the film version of the play The Moon Is Blue (1953). Introducing the family Hjrdis and David Niven with Kristina and Fiona. Casino Royale co-producer Charles K. Feldman said later that Fleming had written the book with Niven in mind, and therefore had sent a copy to Niven. Niven stated, "Anyone who says a bullet sings past, hums past, flies, pings, or whines past, has never heard one--they go crack! Henrietta Julia gave birth to James David Graham Niven on March 1, 1910 at the Belgrave Mansion in Grosvenor Gardens, London. She kept a photo of David Niven's villa in the family bathroom and told her children that it was the house of her dreams. be so well paid for doing what he enjoyed. David Niven was born in England. David Niven was a true Renaissance Man. Barbara Niven: Bio, Family, Education. In 1981 Niven published a second and much more successful novel, Go Slowly, Come Back Quickly, which was set during and after the Second World War, and which drew on his experiences during the war and in Hollywood. successful war film, "The Guns of Navarone": a blockbuster "55 Days at Thus Niven did not enjoy his time in the Army. Two hours later, he was back, full of rage. Right here at FameChain. At a dinner in 1961. In 1965, he made two films for MGM: the Peter Ustinov-directed Lady L, supporting Paul Newman and Sophia Loren, and Where the Spies Are, as a doctor-turned-secret agent MGM hoped it would lead to a series, but this did not happen. Due to his role in Mutiny on the Bounty, he came to the attention of independent film producer Samuel Goldwyn, who signed him to a contract and established his career. [3] He was named David after his birth on St David's Day. The comedy is dry and subtle, taking aim at the British and Russian spy-film caricatures. Education: Attended Stowe House boarding school, near Buckingham, 1923-26; Royal Military College, Sandhurst, 1927-29: commissioned lieutenant in Highland Light Infantry: served in Malta and England to 1932. David Niven, in full James David Graham Niven, (born March 1, 1910, London, Englanddied July 29, 1983, Chteau-d'Oex, Switzerland), British stage and motion-picture actor who personified dapper charm. colony that included Cary Grant, Ronald Colman, Basil Rathbone, Brother of Margaret Joyce Niven; Henry Degacher Niven and Grizel Rosemary Graham Niven, -----------------------------------------------------------------. Niven later wrote, "How he did this, I shall never know, but he made every single boy at that school feel that what he said and what he did were of real importance to the headmaster. Quick access. In 1982, he appeared in Blake Edwards' final Pink Panther films Trail of the Pink Panther and Curse of the Pink Panther, reprising his role as Sir Charles Lytton. [4] This liberal borrowing and embroidering of his personal history was also said to be the reason why he persistently refused to appear on This Is Your Life. an army officer who was killed in the First World War. He blamed his slightly slurred voice on the shooting schedule of the film he had been making, Better Late Than Never. 10. James David Graham Niven was born on 1 March 1910 at Belgrave Mansions, Grosvenor Gardens, London, to William Edward Graham Niven (18781915) and his wife, Henrietta Julia (ne Degacher) Niven (18781932). The congregation of 1,200 included Prince Michael of Kent, Margaret, Duchess of Argyll, Sir John Mills, Sir Richard Attenborough, Trevor Howard, Sir David Frost, Joanna Lumley, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and Lord Olivier. young officer who dies trying to get through the enemy lines. perfect foil to Peter Sellers as the accident prone Inspector Henrietta was of French and British . Goldwyn used him to support Gary Cooper in the adventure tale The Real Glory (1939), and Walter Wanger cast him opposite Loretta Young in Eternally Yours (1939). David Niven's first wife, Primula Rollo, (known as Primmie) died in a tragic household accident several months before he made The Bishop's Wife in 1947. His father was an army man, as were both his grandfathers. [17], Niven grew tired of the peacetime army. he was probably at his best in light comedy; but what mattered was elaborate allegorical fantasy, "A Matter of Life and Death". a succession of barbaric prep schools from which he either absconded He served with the HLI for two years in Malta and then for a few months in Dover. He was chosen by Otto Preminger for Grizel Rosemary Graham (born in Belgravia, Middlesex), 28 November 1906 28 January 2007). In 1960, Niven bought a chalet in Chteau-d'x near Gstaad in Switzerland for financial reasons, living near expatriate friends that included Deborah Kerr, Peter Ustinov, and Nol Coward. As preparation Preminger, who had directed the play in New York, insisted that Niven appear on stage in the West Coast run. The first, Round the Rugged Rocks, was a novel that appeared in 1951 and was forgotten almost at once. Roxburgh, who was unlike any of Niven's previous headmasters. Afterwards, he returned to his chalet at Chateau d'Oex, where his condition continued to decline. Good author, David Niven knows how to tell a Story well and thoroughly, beginning, a middle and an end. Rose, DSO, MC). In 1955 renowned British photographer Cornel Lucas photographed Niven while filming at the Rank Film Studio in Denham, Buckinghamshire. Now years later, the picture was still in exactly the same spot. In 1981 Niven published a Ex-partner of Margaret Campbell, Duchess of Argyll He was twice given leave so he could Niven later wrote, "How he did this, I shall never know, but he made every single boy at that school feel that what he said and what he did were of real importance to the headmaster". In Hollywood, he had a thankless role as the villain in an MGM swashbuckler The King's Thief (1955). Son of William Edward Graham Niven and Henriette Julia Comyn-Platt famous names. In an unsuccessful effort to bring harmony to the marriage, they adopted two girls, Kristina and Fiona. James David Graham Niven was born on 1 March 1910 at Belgrave Mansions, Grosvenor Gardens, London, to William Edward Graham Niven (1878-1915) and his wife, Henrietta Julia (ne Degacher) Niven (1878-1932). Niven's next few films were made in England: The Love Lottery (1954), a comedy; Carrington V.C. In 1971 he published his autobiography, The Moon's a Balloon, which was well received, selling over five million copies. In Malta, he became friends with the maverick Mike Trubshawe, and served under Roy Urquhart, future commander of the British 1st Airborne Division. In Goldwyn's drawing-room, Niven noticed a picture of himself in uniform which he had sent to Goldwyn from Britain during the Second World War. During his work with the AFPU, Peter Ustinov, one of the script-writers, had to pose as Niven's batman. Hollywood was busy filming British subjects and [5] Niven's paternal great grandfather and namesake, David Graham Niven, (18111884) was from St Martin's, a village in Perthshire, he was a doctor who married in Worcestershire, living in Pershore. (1958) Starring: Dick Powell, David Niven Genre: TV Western, Television Studio: Timeless Media Release Date: 12/2/2014 Features: Boxed Set The third season of the anthology series brings more of Zane Grey's Old West stories to the small screen with no shortage of drama or top guest stars. All four of Niven's children, as well as many of his friends, told Lord that Hjrdis, unable to achieve an acting career, had affairs with other men and became an alcoholic. Margaret Niven. But the dispute over The Elusive Pimpernel and Niven's demands for more money led to a long estrangement in the 1950s. Niven explained in his autobiography that there was no military way that he, as a lieutenant-colonel, and Ustinov, who was only a private, could associate, except as an officer and his subordinate, hence their strange "act". Born in London, Niven attended Heatherdown Preparatory School and Stowe before gaining a place at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Niven returned to comedy with The Pink Panther (1963) also starring Peter Sellers, another huge success at the box office. Records filed with the County of Los Angeles show the "L" shaped "villa" measures in at 4,808 square feet and listing information indicates there are 6 bedrooms and 7 . It ran for 21 episodes. Having developed an interest in acting, he left the Highland Light Infantry, travelled to Hollywood and had several minor roles in film. Rose Cottage, the childhood home of The Pink Panther actor David Niven in the village of Bembridge on the Isle of Wight, is now on sale for 975,000. But he wanted something more exciting, and transferred into the Commandos. He was buried in Natte Yallock Cemetery, Natte Yallock, Victoria, Australia. In October 1951, while pheasant shooting with friends in New England, Hjrdis was shot in the face, neck and chest by a member of the hunting party. His health quickly declined and he died in 1983 at age 73, leaving four children and his second wife. Niven was also given a significant if largely unheralded role in the creation of SHAEF's military radio efforts conceived to provide entertainment to American, British and Canadian forces in England and Europe. a period of undistinguished parts in mediocre films. I found it where they told me I would, but it was among 27,000 others, and I told myself that here, Niven, were 27,000 reasons why you should keep your mouth shut after the war." he was one of famous actor and novelist with the age years old group. "All hell broke loose" after, the family cook Elizabeth Duckworth recalled. He was assigned to a training base at Inverailort House in the Western Highlands. David Niven Jr. is 79 years old in 2022. He acted in two wartime films not formally associated with the AFPU, but both made with a firm view to winning support for the British war effort, especially in the United States. But Deborah . Niven had a long and complex relationship with Goldwyn, who gave him his first start. $75.58 + $33.58 shipping. Niven joined what became known as the Hollywood Raj, a group of British actors in Hollywood which included Rex Harrison, Errol Flynn, Boris Karloff, Stan Laurel, Basil Rathbone, Ronald Colman, Leslie Howard and C. Aubrey Smith. On his return to Hollywood after the war, he received the Legion of Merit, an American military decoration. censorship problems, and in 1956 he played Phineas Fogg in Mike Todd's Niven later claimed credit for bringing future Major General Sir Robert E. Laycock to the Commandos. A limited edition of British postage stamps was produced using one of Lucas's images taken during this portrait sitting. second volume of reminiscences, concentrating on Hollywood He died at his chalet from ALS on 29 July, aged 73. In 1981 Niven published a second and much more successful novel, Go Slowly, Come Back Quickly, which was set during and after World War II, and which drew on his experiences during the war and in Hollywood. Niven had a long, complex relationship with Goldwyn, who gave him his first start, but the dispute over The Elusive Pimpernel and Niven's demands for more money led to a long estrangement between the two in the 1950s.[31]. He hosted the 1981 American Film Institute tribute to Fred Astaire, which was his final appearance in Hollywood. These were The First of the Few (1942), directed by Leslie Howard, and The Way Ahead (1944), directed by Carol Reed. Niven's last sizeable film part was in Better Late Than Never (1983). 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