bio
David Niven is an Academy Award winning English actor, novelist, and Army captain, who is best known for his outstanding roles in the 1956 adventure film "Around the World in 80 Days", "A Matter of Life and Death" and "The Pink Panther."
David was born as James David Graham Niven on March 1, 1910, in London, England. He was the son of a prominent British Army captain who died in the battle of Gallipoli in 1915.
During Niven's early life, he was admitted to the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, and later was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Highland Light Infantry.
After his military discharge in 1935, Niven became an extra in Hollywood, California. Appearing in various movies, he eventually caught the attention of renowned producer Samuel Goldwyn.
Niven's first major role was in the historic film the "Charge of the Light Brigade" (1936). A year later, he was cast in "The Prisoner of Zenda" as Capt. Fritz von Tarlenheim. He later starred in the 1939 comedy "Bachelor Mother" as a gentleman thief.
Anxious for more than acting, Niven joined the British Army again after the U.K. joined the Second World War for 6 years. Despite his film hiatus, he was still a very popular actor. In a British film stars popularity poll conducted in 1945, Niven was ranked at number two. During his time at war, he managed to act in two films: "The First of Few" in 1942 and "The Way Ahead" in 1944.
After the war, Niven was awarded the Legion of Merit Award by Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. The award is the highest American order that can be gained by a foreigner.
He later appeared in over a hundred films, including but not limited to, "A Matter of Life and Death" (1946), Golden Globe winning performance in "The Moon Is Blue" (1953), "Around the World in 80 Days (1956), his Oscar winning performance in "Separate Tables" (1958), "The Guns Of Navarone" (1961) and, "The Pink Panther" (1963). In 1967, Niven played the role of James Bond in "Casino Royale." He later starred in 1980 action film "The Sea Wolves."
Niven, a polished raconteur, wrote four books. The first, Round the Rugged Rocks (1951), was a novel he thoroughly enjoyed writing even though it was not a massive success. In 1971, he published the wickedly delightful memoir of his Victorian childhood to Hollywood stardom. The Moon's a Balloon, which was superbly written and highly entertaining, sold over five million copies. His next autobiographical book Bring On the Empty Horses (1975) was a collection of captivating stories and anecdotes from Hollywood's "Golden Age." Written in the first person, the book actually consisted of borrowed and conspicuously embellished incidents from his friends and colleagues. Niven published his second novel in 1981. Go Slowly, Come Back Quickly drew on his experiences of love during wartime, Hollywood movies, Mexico, Greece, and other worldly destinations.
During the final years of Niven's life he made appearances in two more films, "Trail of the Pink Panther" (1982) and "Curse of the Pink Panther" (1983).
"Curse of the Pink Panther" was Niven's final film. However his voice was so weak due to his Lou Gehrig's disease his lines were later dubbed by impressionist, Rich Little.
Niven died on July 29, 1983 in his home in Switzerland. He will always be remembered for his award-winning acting skills, his exceptional writing ability, and the way he lit up the room with his witty banter. "I've been lucky enough to win an Oscar, write a best-seller - my other dream would be to have a painting in the Louvre. The only way that's going to happen is if I paint a dirty one on the wall of the gentlemen's lavatory." ~David Niven
David was born as James David Graham Niven on March 1, 1910, in London, England. He was the son of a prominent British Army captain who died in the battle of Gallipoli in 1915.
During Niven's early life, he was admitted to the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, and later was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Highland Light Infantry.
After his military discharge in 1935, Niven became an extra in Hollywood, California. Appearing in various movies, he eventually caught the attention of renowned producer Samuel Goldwyn.
Niven's first major role was in the historic film the "Charge of the Light Brigade" (1936). A year later, he was cast in "The Prisoner of Zenda" as Capt. Fritz von Tarlenheim. He later starred in the 1939 comedy "Bachelor Mother" as a gentleman thief.
Anxious for more than acting, Niven joined the British Army again after the U.K. joined the Second World War for 6 years. Despite his film hiatus, he was still a very popular actor. In a British film stars popularity poll conducted in 1945, Niven was ranked at number two. During his time at war, he managed to act in two films: "The First of Few" in 1942 and "The Way Ahead" in 1944.
After the war, Niven was awarded the Legion of Merit Award by Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. The award is the highest American order that can be gained by a foreigner.
He later appeared in over a hundred films, including but not limited to, "A Matter of Life and Death" (1946), Golden Globe winning performance in "The Moon Is Blue" (1953), "Around the World in 80 Days (1956), his Oscar winning performance in "Separate Tables" (1958), "The Guns Of Navarone" (1961) and, "The Pink Panther" (1963). In 1967, Niven played the role of James Bond in "Casino Royale." He later starred in 1980 action film "The Sea Wolves."
Niven, a polished raconteur, wrote four books. The first, Round the Rugged Rocks (1951), was a novel he thoroughly enjoyed writing even though it was not a massive success. In 1971, he published the wickedly delightful memoir of his Victorian childhood to Hollywood stardom. The Moon's a Balloon, which was superbly written and highly entertaining, sold over five million copies. His next autobiographical book Bring On the Empty Horses (1975) was a collection of captivating stories and anecdotes from Hollywood's "Golden Age." Written in the first person, the book actually consisted of borrowed and conspicuously embellished incidents from his friends and colleagues. Niven published his second novel in 1981. Go Slowly, Come Back Quickly drew on his experiences of love during wartime, Hollywood movies, Mexico, Greece, and other worldly destinations.
During the final years of Niven's life he made appearances in two more films, "Trail of the Pink Panther" (1982) and "Curse of the Pink Panther" (1983).
"Curse of the Pink Panther" was Niven's final film. However his voice was so weak due to his Lou Gehrig's disease his lines were later dubbed by impressionist, Rich Little.
Niven died on July 29, 1983 in his home in Switzerland. He will always be remembered for his award-winning acting skills, his exceptional writing ability, and the way he lit up the room with his witty banter. "I've been lucky enough to win an Oscar, write a best-seller - my other dream would be to have a painting in the Louvre. The only way that's going to happen is if I paint a dirty one on the wall of the gentlemen's lavatory." ~David Niven