It now appears that Niven recounted many incidents from a first-person perspective that actually happened to other people, especially Cary Grant, and which he borrowed and embroidered. (In fact the book was mostly invented by co-author William Stevenson (no relation), Sir William then being very old.) fortunate both with his contacts and in being in the right place at Niven also had special scorn for the newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences. . David grew up alongside Margaret Joyce Niven, Henry Degacher Niven, and Rosemary Graham, his . (1957); The Little Hut (1957), from the writer of The Moon is Blue and a success at the box office; My Man Godfrey (1957), a screwball comedy; and Bonjour Tristesse (1958), for Preminger. Sweden's first supermodel and the actor David Niven's second wife. son. 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. This brought him to wider attention within the film industry and he was spotted by Samuel Goldwyn. Then we find ourselves on Earth in 1945, where RAF pilot Peter Carter, played by David Niven, is flying back to Britain after a bombing raid, losing height, badly hit. He spoke little about his experience in the war, despite public interest in celebrities in combat and a reputation for storytelling. David Niven was born in Belgravia, London, England in March 1910 and passed away in July 1983. Mason pegs her as a phony consumer and is fired for failing to turn her in to store management. In Hollywood, he had a thankless role as the villain in an MGM swashbuckler The King's Thief (1955). (1955) before scoring a big success as Phileas Fogg in Michael Todd's production of Around the World in 80 Days (1956). 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). Herbert Marshall and the imperious C. Aubrey Smith, who ran the James David Graham Niven was born in London to William Edward Graham Niven (1878-1915) and his wife, Henrietta Julia (ne Degacher) Niven. [17], Niven grew tired of the peacetime army. In 1998, they got divorced. Niven plays the bumbling amateur who makes good but was recruited because all the other spies have been unfortunately lost - that's MI5. Niven also appeared in the British romantic comedy The Silken Affair (1956) with Genevive Page the same year. Niven was not told of this; he learned it from a newspaper report. Whigham adored Niven until the day he died. the latter were "Ask Any Girl", a good comedy with Shirley MacLaine; a After selling their chain of stores, the . But he wanted something more exciting, and transferred into the Commandos. William served in the Berkshire Yeomanry in the First World War and was killed during the Gallipoli Campaign on 21 August 1915. He was alone among British stars in Hollywood in doing so; the British Embassy advised most British actors to stay, and indeed many were over the age for military service anyway and did not have Niven's existing military education and experience. He was awarded the 1958 Academy Award for Best Actor in Separate Tables. pilot in Powell and Pressburger's "Then it leaked out." The leak proved to be more of a slow puncture. Later, in 1985, she married David Alexander. [20] In New York City, Niven began a brief and unsuccessful career in whisky sales, followed by a stint in horse rodeo promotion in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The actor passed away in July . Robert Douglas Niven. After being placed under close arrest for this act of insubordination, Niven finished a bottle of whisky with the officer who was guarding him: Rhoddy Rose (later Colonel R.L.C. He was a popular star of the traditional type, establishing a screen In 1944 he worked extensively with the BBC and SHAEF to expand these broadcast efforts. English actor David Niven as the butler, Godfrey Smith, in 'My Man Godfrey', directed by Henry Koster, 1957. He was buried in Green Hill Cemetery, Turkey in the Special Memorial Section in Plot F. 10. In 1955 renowned British photographer Cornel Lucas photographed Niven while filming at the Rank Film Studio in Denham, Buckinghamshire. Many Hollywood stars of the wartime generation ended their careers in cameo roles or cult movies, even schlock horror or, worst of all, television soaps. In 1971, he published his autobiography, The Moon's a Balloon, which was well received, selling over five million copies. By this time the Second World War had started and Niven decided to In an unsuccessful effort to bring harmony to the marriage, they adopted two girls, Kristina and Fiona. Find-a-Grave Memorial #3552-----James David Graham Niven (1 March 1910 - 29 July 1983), known professionally as David Niven, was an English actor and novelist, popular both in Europe and the US.. After failing to pass the naval entrance exam due to his difficulty with maths, Niven attended Stowe School, a newly created public school led by headmaster J.F. His father was an army man, as were both his grandfathers. 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. He then headed for America. By Allan Warren own work licensed under thehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. [10], Literary editor and biographer, Graham Lord, wrote in Niv: The Authorised Biography of David Niven, that Comyn-Platt and Niven's mother may have been in an affair well before her husband's death in 1915 and that Comyn-Platt was actually Niven's biological father, a supposition that had some support among Niven's siblings. Dave enjoyed his camp at East Green Bay, hockey games . Childhood & Early Life. however, mainly because he was content to take what was available Niven returned to Hollywood and encountered tragedy when his first wife died after falling down a flight of stairs at a party. He was lent to MGM for a minor part in Rose Marie (1936), then a larger one in Palm Springs (1936) at Paramount. [33] Niven was the only actor who played James Bond mentioned by name in the text of a Fleming novel. He was buried in Natte Yallock Cemetery, Natte Yallock, Victoria, Australia. David Niven Jr. is 79 years old in 2022. with Laurence Olivier gave a creditable performance as Edgar Linton in . Two hours later, he was back, full of rage. New. less, through film after film. On his return to Hollywood after the war, he received the Legion of Merit, an American military decoration. The more memorable ones included The Guns of Navarone (1961), and The Pink Panther (1963), Murder by Death (1976), Death on the Nile (1978), and The Sea Wolves (1980). He died at his chalet from ALS on 29 July, aged 73. Finally, Goldwyn granted Niven a lead part, the title role as the eponymous gentleman safe-cracker in Raffles (1939). For Goldwyn, Niven again had a small role in Splendor (1935). It ran for 21 episodes. In February 1983, using a false name to avoid publicity, Niven was hospitalised for 10 days, ostensibly for a digestive problem; afterwards he returned to his chalet at Chteau-d'x. Long winter evenings in the north, 1919-29. He then attended the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, and graduated in 1930 with a commission as a second lieutenant in the regular Army. Peking"; and "The Pink Panther", in which his suave jewel thief was a Matka, dcera armdnho dstojnka, pochzela z Walesu a kdy Davidv otec padl v Bitv o Gallipoli (1915), provdala se za Sira Thomase Comyn-Platta. DAVID NIVEN OBITUARY. Thus Niven did not enjoy his time in the Army. . But I'll have to do it all over again in Hollywood with Errol Flynn!" In the Ian Fleming novel You Only Live Twice, Kissy Suzuki has a cormorant who is named "David" after the actor. $75.58 + $33.58 shipping. Niven played a role in the operation to move the Miller band to France prior to Miller's December 1944 disappearance while flying over the English Channel. He was named David for his birth on St. David's Day (1 March). (Ustinov also acted in The Way Ahead.) He recounted their meeting: I had never seen anything so beautiful in my lifetall, slim, auburn hair, up-tilted nose, lovely mouth and the most enormous grey eyes I had ever seen. Niven won the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of the bogus major in None of these films was successful at the box office and Niven's career was struggling. From fifteen and forty-five, she suffered from bulimia Mar 1 1910 - Belgrave Mansions, London, England, United Kingdom. surface. He was assigned to a training base at Inverailort House in the Western Highlands. Niven often claimed that he was born in Kirriemuir, in the Scottish county of Angus in 1909, but his birth certificate shows this was not the case. In 1978, Niven and Ustinov would star together in a film adaption of Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile. In happier times with Goldwyn, he had observed this same picture sitting on Goldwyn's piano. Rose, DSO, MC). During the 1950s Niven re-established himself as a popular leading man He blamed his slightly slurred voice on the shooting schedule of the film he had been making, Better Late Than Never. In July 1982, Blake Edwards brought Niven back for cameo appearances in two final "Pink Panther" films (Trail of the Pink Panther and Curse of the Pink Panther), reprising his role as Sir Charles Lytton. [9] The family moved to Rose Cottage in Bembridge on the Isle of Wight after selling their London home. After McGeachin affirmed that he was, Niven quipped, "Did you have the misfortune to have me as your officer?". Updated: August 6, 2022 . However, another doctor advised Niven to allow the swelling of the face to go down. Lieutenant Colonel James David Graham Niven (/nvn/; 1 March 1910 29 July 1983)[1][2] was a British actor, soldier, memoirist, and novelist. The plot was plainly autobiographical (although not recognised as such at the time of publication), involving a young soldier, John Hamilton, who leaves the British army, becomes a liquor salesman in New York, is involved in indoor horse racing, goes to Hollywood, becomes a deckhand on a fishing boat, and finally ends up as a highly successful film star. [10] In his 1971 biography, The Moon's a Balloon, Niven wrote fondly of his childhood home: It became necessary for the house in London to be sold and our permanent address was now as advertised a cottage which had a reputation for unreliability. She was rushed into a London nursing home for a secret termination. These were The First of the Few (1942), directed by Leslie Howard, and The Way Ahead (1944), directed by Carol Reed. Niven was posted at one time to Chilham in Kent. 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. RKO borrowed him to play Ginger Rogers' leading man in the romantic comedy Bachelor Mother (1939), which was another big hit. Niven also worked with the Army Film Unit. Henrietta was of French and British . Loosely based on Ian Fleming's book of the same name, Casino Royale follows a retired Sir James . Rose, DSO, MC). He came to films almost by accident, and with no previous acting [14], In 1928, Niven attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Most Popular. Thoughtful and kind, he addressed the boys by their first names, allowed them bicycles, and encouraged and nurtured their personal interests. Kristina's average age compared to other Niven family members is unknown because she is alive. Surprisingly few of his 90-odd films stay in the memory, he was one of famous actor and novelist with the age years old group. In happier times with Goldwyn, he had observed this same picture sitting on Goldwyn's piano. Mark you, had you not done so it would have been despicable. He was named David after his birth on St David's Day. He was chosen by Otto Preminger for Upon the outbreak of the Second World War, Niven returned to England and rejoined the army, being recommissioned as a lieutenant. rater than stick out for good parts. Niven was one of the four heroes in John Ford's Four Men and a Prayer (1938), also with Fox. Towards the end of his life, David Niven became such an accomplished chat show raconteur that his achievements in over 90 features were almost eclipsed by his tales of excess at 'Cirrhosis-by-the-Sea', the bachelor pad in Malibu that he shared with Errol Flynn.Yet his career is studded with landmarks, such as Otto Preminger's The Moon Is Blue (1953) defying the Production Code to include . It really happened the way it does when written by the worst lady novelistsI goggled. war Niven appeared as an R.A.F. By 1938, he was starring as the leading man in other 'A' films, including Wuthering Heights (1939). While playing "sardines", she walked through a door believing it led to a closet. But the dispute over The Elusive Pimpernel and Niven's demands for more money led to a long estrangement in the 1950s. But his birth certificate says something completely different. It says much [22], Niven was recommissioned as a lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) on 25 February 1940,[23] and was assigned to a motor training battalion. In 1975 he narrated The Remarkable Rocket, a short animation based on a story by Oscar Wilde. [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. Churchill singled him out from the crowd and stated, "Young man, you did a fine thing to give up your film career to fight for your country. Born William Hitchcock, he and his brother Henry had followed the lead of their father, Walter Henry Hitchcock, in assuming their mother's maiden name of Degacher in 1874. In 1974 Niven hosted David Niven's World for London Weekend Television, which profiled contemporary adventurers such as hang gliders, motorcyclists and mountain climbers. Mason quickly bonds with Connie's 6-year-old son Timmy, the remarkable Gordon Gebert, who has a . He appeared several times on various short-drama shows, and was one of the "four stars" of the dramatic anthology series Four Star Playhouse, appearing in 33 episodes. The new family were photographed enjoying the gardens and swimming . Having developed an interest in acting, he left the Highland Light Infantry, travelled to Hollywood and had several minor roles in film. He supported Mario Lanza in a musical at MGM, The Toast of New Orleans (1950). Oh, Women! [35] Niven's penchant for exaggeration and embroidery is particularly apparent when comparing his written descriptions of his early film appearances (especially Barbary Coast and A Feather in her Hat), and his Oscar acceptance speech, with the actual filmed evidence. (Another 1981 interview, posted on YouTube, shows Niven on The Merv Griffin Show while publicizing his novel Go Slowly, Come Back Quickly. Obituary. In what instantly became a live-TV classic moment, Niven responded "Isn't it fascinating to think that probably the only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings?".[34]. Impossible Years, The (1968) -- (Movie Clip) You Belong On The Couch Psych professor Kingsley (David Niven), his house overrun by his kids' party, entertains his editor Merrick (Chad Everett), joined then by Jeff Cooper as motorbiker artist Smuts (Jeff Cooper), broken up by his daughter . In 1964, he and Boyer appeared in the Four Star series The Rogues. Career. John Le Mesurier . Brother of Margaret Joyce Niven; Henry Degacher Niven and Grizel Rosemary Graham Niven, -----------------------------------------------------------------. Property records show that Mister Niven Jr. purchased his Bird Street nest in November of 1983 for $1,200,000, which was a lot of damn money for a house back in 1983. Genealogy profile for David Niven Genealogy for David Niven (1804 - 1872) family tree on Geni, with over 230 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. He then returned to the U.S. and was accepted by Central Casting as "Anglo-Saxon Type No. Bored with the peacetime army, he resigned his commission in 1933, relocated to New York, then travelled to Hollywood. Together the two He did well at Sandhurst, which gave him the "officer and gentleman" bearing that was to be his trademark. He had a support role in MGM's Soldiers Three (1951) similar to those early in his career. Niven wrote four books. 2008". colony that included Cary Grant, Ronald Colman, Basil Rathbone, Born in London, Niven attended Heatherdown Preparatory School and Stowe before gaining a place at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. The actress was born as Barbara Lee Bucholz on 26 February 1953 in Portland, Oregon. Niven joined what became known as the Hollywood Raj, a group of British actors in Hollywood which included Rex Harrison, Boris Karloff, Stan Laurel, Basil Rathbone, Ronald Colman, Leslie Howard,[21] and C. Aubrey Smith. [38][39] It is believed by some that Niven's choice to become a tax exile may have been one reason why he never received a British honour. The Moon Is Blue, a sex comedy, became notorious when it was released without a Production Code Seal of Approval; it was a big hit and Niven won a Golden Globe Award for his role. He was alone among British stars in Hollywood in doing so; the British Embassy advised most actors to stay. In fact, Niven had been Bond creator Ian Fleming's first choice to play Bond in Dr. No. Niven was in demand throughout the last decade of his life: King, Queen, Knave (1972); Vampira (1974); Paper Tiger (1975); No Deposit, No Return (1976), a Disney comedy; Candleshoe (1977), one of several stars in a popular comedy; Murder By Death (1976), Death on the Nile (1978), one of many stars and another hit; A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (1979); Escape to Athena (1979), produced by his son; Rough Cut (1980), supporting Burt Reynolds; and The Sea Wolves (1980), a wartime adventure movie. As he was looking at the picture, Goldwyn's wife Frances said "Sam never took it down.". James passed away on August 19 1885, at age 60. He is the son of actor David Niven and Primula Rollo. 1939 ) demands for more money led to a closet was accepted by Central Casting ``... S first supermodel and the actor David Niven and Ustinov would star together in a adaption... 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