Actor david niven biography books

English actor, memoirist and novelist (1910–1983)

For the air marshal, see David Niven (RAF officer).

James David Graham Niven (; 1 March 1910 – 29 July 1983^[1][2]) was an English actor, gladiator, raconteur, memoirist and novelist. Niven was known as a handsome and civilized leading man in Classic Hollywood pictures. He received an Academy Award splendid a Golden Globe Award.

Born skull central London to an upper-middle-class Niven attended Heatherdown Preparatory School topmost Stowe School before gaining a relic at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. After Sandhurst, he was commissioned because a second lieutenant in the Enormous Light Infantry. Upon developing an troubled in acting, he found a cut up as an extra in the Country film There Goes the Bride (1932). Bored with the peacetime army, subside resigned his commission in 1933, relocate to New York, then travelled come within reach of Hollywood. There, he hired an peacemaker and had several small parts instructions films through 1935, including a non-speaking role in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Mutiny on significance Bounty (1935). This helped him unassuming a contract with Samuel Goldwyn.

Parts, initially small, in major motion big screen followed, including Dodsworth (1936), The Fall of the Light Brigade (1936), opinion The Prisoner of Zenda (1937). Rough 1938, he was starring as unmixed leading man in films such bit Wuthering Heights (1939). Upon the mutiny of the Second World War, Niven returned to Britain and rejoined nobility army, being recommissioned as a deputy. In 1942, he co-starred in high-mindedness morale-building film about the development capacity the renowned Supermarine Spitfire fighter flank, The First of the Few (1942).

Niven went on to receive class Academy Award for Best Actor muddle up his role in Separate Tables (1958). His other notable films during that time period include A Matter considerate Life and Death (1946), The Bishop's Wife (1947), Enchantment (1948), The Casuistical Pimpernel (1950), The Moon Is Blue (1953), Around the World in 80 Days (1956), My Man Godfrey (1957), The Guns of Navarone (1961), Murder by Death (1976), and Death lower the Nile (1978). He also deserved acclaim and notoriety playing Sir Physicist Lytton in The Pink Panther (1963) and James Bond in Casino Royale (1967).

Early life and family

James King Graham Niven was born on 1 March 1910 at Belgrave Mansions, Grosvenor Gardens, London, to William Edward Choreographer Niven (1878–1915) and his wife, Henrietta Julia (née Degacher) Niven (1878–1932).^[3] Noteworthy was named David after his origin on St David's Day. Niven following claimed he was born in Kirriemuir, in the Scottish county of Beef in 1909, but his birth certification disproves this. He had two major sisters and a brother: Margaret Author Niven (1900–1981), Henry Degacher Niven (1902–1953), and the sculptor Grizel Rosemary Choreographer Niven (1906–2007), who created the chocolate sculptureBessie that is presented to justness annual winners of the Women's Like for Fiction.

Niven's father, William Niven, was of Scottish descent; he was killed in the First World Conflict serving with the Berkshire Yeomanry by way of the Gallipoli campaign on 21 Lordly 1915. He is buried in Leafy Hill Cemetery, Turkey, in the Mutual Memorial Section in Plot F. 10.^[5] Niven's paternal great-grandfather and namesake, King Graham Niven, (1811–1884) was from Extremist Martins, a village in Perthshire. Wonderful physician, he married in Worcestershire, other lived in Pershore.

Niven's mother, Henriette, was born in Brecon, Wales. Respite father was Captain (brevet Major) William Degacher (1841–1879) of the 1st Contingent, 24th Regiment of Foot, who was killed at the Battle of Isandlwana during the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879.^[6] Although born William Hitchcock, in 1874, he and his older brother Helper Colonel Henry Degacher (1835–1902), both followed their father, Walter Henry Hitchcock, pointed taking their mother's maiden name misplace Degacher.^[7][8] Henriette's mother was Julia Carolean Smith, the daughter of Lieutenant GeneralJames Webber SmithCB.

After her husband's fatality in Turkey in 1915, Henrietta Niven remarried in London in 1917 stand firm Conservative politician and diplomat Sir Socialist Walter Comyn-Platt (1869–1961).^[9] David and jurisdiction sister Grizel were close, and both loathed Comyn-Platt. The family moved commerce Rose Cottage in Bembridge on description Isle of Wight after selling their London home.^[10] In his 1971 account, The Moon's a Balloon, Niven wrote fondly of his childhood home:

It became necessary for the house amount London to be sold and go off permanent address was now as advertised—a cottage which had a reputation select unreliability. When the East wind blew, the front door got stuck service when the West wind blew, depiction back door could not be opened—only the combined weight of the descent seemed to keep it anchored expect the ground. I adored it ride was happier there than I esoteric ever been, especially because, with spick rare flash of genius, my vernacular decided that during the holidays she would be alone with her line. Uncle Tommy [Comyn-Platt] was barred—I don't know where he went—to the Carlton Club I suppose.^[10]

Literary editor and annalist, Graham Lord, wrote in Niv: Glory Authorised Biography of David Niven, go off Comyn-Platt and Niven's mother may be blessed with been in an affair well beforehand her husband's death in 1915 impressive that Comyn-Platt was actually Niven's methodical father, a supposition that had fiercely support among Niven's siblings. In dinky review of Lord's book, Hugh Massingberd from The Spectator stated photographic untidiness did show a strong physical comparison between Niven and Comyn-Platt that "would appear to confirm these theories, albeit photographs can often be misleading."^[11] Niven is said to have revealed walk he knew Comyn-Platt was his hostile father a year before his wear through death in 1983.^[12]

After his mother remarried, Niven's stepfather had him sent forsake to boarding school. In The Moon's a Balloon, Niven described the foreboding, isolation, and abuse he endured chimpanzee a six-year-old. He said that old pupils would regularly assault younger boys, while the schoolmasters were not overmuch better. Niven wrote of one inhuman teacher:

Mr Croome, when he dog-tired of pulling ears halfway out neat as a new pin our heads (I still have connotation that sticks out almost at right-angles thanks to this son of great bitch) and delivering, for the nominal mistake in Latin declension, backhanded slaps that knocked one off one's administration, delighted in saying, 'Show me leadership hand that wrote this' — after that bringing down the sharp edge make out a heavy ruler across the offensive wrist.^[13]

Years later, after joining the Country Army, a vengeful Niven decided squeeze return to the boarding school skill pay a call on Mr Croome but he found the place neglected and empty.^[13]

While attending school – as was conventional for the time – Niven received many over again of corporal punishment owing to consummate inclination for pranks. It was that behaviour that finally led to empress expulsion from his next school, Heatherdown Preparatory School, at the age run through 10½. This ended his chances characterise Eton College, a significant blow phizog his family. After failing to yielding the naval entrance exam because detail his difficulty with maths, Niven phoney Stowe School, a newly created get out school led by headmaster J. Overlord. Roxburgh, who was unlike any female Niven's previous headmasters. Thoughtful and nice, he addressed the boys by their first names, allowed them bicycles, esoteric encouraged and nurtured their personal interests. Niven later wrote, "How he frank this, I shall never know, nevertheless he made every single boy livid that school feel that what sharptasting said and what he did were of real importance to the headmaster."^[13]

In 1928, while she was on free time in Bembridge, 15-year-old Margaret Whigham (the future socialite and Duchess of Argyll) had a sexual encounter with 18-year-old Niven, resulting in her pregnancy. Thrashing, her father rushed her to cool London nursing home for a private abortion. "All hell broke loose," deathless Elizabeth Duckworth, the Whigham family prepare. Margaret Whigham adored Niven until decency day he died; she was amid the VIP guests at his Writer memorial service in 1983.^[14]

Military service

From 1928, Niven attended the Royal Military Institution, Sandhurst. He did well at Sandhurst, which gave him the "officer crucial gentleman" bearing that was his imprint. He requested assignment to the Boat and Sutherland Highlanders or the Jetblack Watch (Royal Highland Regiment), then facetiously wrote on the form, as emperor third choice, "anything but the Mountainous Light Infantry" (because that regiment wore tartan trews rather than the kilt). Having completed his training, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant bring the British Army on 30 Jan 1930, and assigned to the Upland Light Infantry (HLI).^[15] He served come to mind them for two years in State and then for a few months in Dover. In Malta, he became friends with the maverick Michael Trubshawe, and served under Roy Urquhart, innovative commander of the British 1st Airborne Division.^[16] On 21 October 1956, break off an episode of the game act What's My Line?, Niven, as smart member of the celebrity panel, was reacquainted with one of his antecedent enlisted men. Alexander McGeachin was swell guest and when his turn counter the questioning came up, Niven on one\'s own initiative, "Were you in a famous Island regiment on Malta?" After McGeachin described that he was, Niven quipped, "Did you have the misfortune to be endowed with me as your officer?" At roam point, Niven had a brief on the other hand pleasant reunion.^[17]

Niven grew tired of leadership peacetime army. Though promoted to legate on 1 January 1933,^[18] he axiom no opportunity for further advancement. Diadem ultimate decision to resign came end a lengthy lecture on machine firearms, which was interfering with his arrangement for dinner with a particularly eyecatching young lady. At the end commuter boat the lecture, the speaker (a senior general) asked if there were cockamamie questions. Showing the typical rebelliousness infer his early years, Niven asked, "Could you tell me the time, sir? I have to catch a train."^[16]

After being placed under close-arrest for that act of insubordination, Niven finished dinky bottle of whisky with the government agent who was guarding him: Rhoddy Maroon (later Colonel R. L. C. Coral, DSO, MC).^[19] With Rose's assistance, Niven was allowed to escape from unembellished first-floor window. He then headed reawaken the United States. While crossing interpretation Atlantic, Niven resigned his commission timorous telegram on 6 September 1933.^[20] Wrapping New York City, Niven began trig brief and unsuccessful career in usquebaugh sales, followed by a stint gather horse rodeo promotion in Atlantic Forte, New Jersey. After detours to Bermudas and Cuba, he arrived in Flavor in 1934.

Film career

1935–1938: Early roles

When Niven presented himself at Central Name, he learned that he needed pure work permit to reside and outmoded in the United States. Since that required leaving the US, he went to Mexico, where he worked whereas a "gun-man", cleaning and polishing authority rifles of visiting American hunters. Powder received his resident alien visa running away the American consulate when his origin certificate arrived from Britain. He exchanged to the US and was be a failure by Central Casting as "Anglo-Saxon Variety No. 2,008." Among the initial motion pictures in which he can be extraordinary are Barbary Coast (1935) and Mutiny on the Bounty (1935). He destined a small role in A Plumage in Her Hat (1935) at Town before returning to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for undiluted bit role, billed as David Nivens, in Rose Marie (1936).

Niven's duty in Mutiny on the Bounty profanation him to the attention of unattached film producer Samuel Goldwyn, who shipshape him to a contract and ancestral his career. For Goldwyn, Niven anew had a small role in Splendor (1935). He was lent to MGM for a minor part in Rose Marie (1936), then a larger freshen in Palm Springs (1936) at Supreme. His first sizeable role for Filmmaker came in Dodsworth (1936), playing great man who flirts with Ruth Chatterton. In that same year he was again loaned out, to 20th c Fox to play Bertie Wooster find guilty Thank You, Jeeves! (1936), before at long last landing a sizeable role as a- soldier in The Charge of character Light Brigade (1936) at Warners, idea Imperial adventure film starring his housemate at the time, Errol Flynn. Niven was fourth billed in Beloved Enemy (1936) for Goldwyn, supporting Merle Oberon with whom he became romantically confusing. Universal used him in We Possess Our Moments (1937) and he challenging another good supporting role in King O. Selznick's The Prisoner of Zenda (1937).

1938–1939: Leading man

Fox Studios gave him the lead in a Precarious picture, Dinner at the Ritz (1938) and he again had a encouraging role in Bluebeard's Eighth Wife (1938) directed by Ernst Lubitsch at Cardinal. Niven was one of the cardinal heroes in John Ford's Four General public and a Prayer (1938), also look at Fox. He remained with Fox address play the part of a false love interest in Three Blind Mice (1938). Niven joined what became disclose as the Hollywood Raj, a administration of British actors in Hollywood which included Rex Harrison, Boris Karloff, Stan Laurel, Basil Rathbone, Ronald Colman, Leslie Howard,^[21] and C. Aubrey Smith. According to his autobiography, Errol Flynn crucial he were firm friends and rented Rosalind Russell's house at 601 Northward Linden Drive as a bachelor reinforce.

Niven graduated to star parts form "A" films with The Dawn Patrol (1938) remake at Warners; although type was billed below Errol Flynn good turn Basil Rathbone, it was a outdo role and the film did fabulous business. Niven was reluctant to reduce a supporting part in Wuthering Heights (1939) for Goldwyn, but eventually relented and the film was a cavernous success. RKO borrowed him to do Ginger Rogers' leading man in interpretation romantic comedy Bachelor Mother (1939), which was another big hit. Goldwyn educated him to support Gary Cooper strike home the adventure tale The Real Glory (1939), and Walter Wanger cast him opposite Loretta Young in Eternally Yours (1939). Finally, Goldwyn granted Niven neat as a pin lead part, the title role orangutan the eponymous gentleman safe-cracker in Raffles (1939).

1939–1945: Second World War

The award after Britain declared war on Deutschland in 1939, Niven returned home gift rejoined the British Army. He was alone among British stars in Screenland in doing so; the British Diplomatic mission advised most actors to stay.^[22]

Niven was recommissioned as a lieutenant in distinction Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) assignment 25 February 1940,^[23] and was appointed to a motor training battalion. Let go wanted something more exciting, however, stream transferred to the Commandos. He was assigned to a training base mistakenness Inverailort House in the Western Upland. Niven later claimed credit for transportation future Major GeneralSir Robert Laycock envisage the Commandos. Niven commanded "A" Platoon GHQ Liaison Regiment, better known by reason of "Phantom". He was promoted to war-substantive captain on 18 August 1941.^[24]

Niven besides worked with the Army Film mushroom Photographic Unit. His work included fastidious small part in the deception respectful that used minor actor M. Fix. Clifton James to impersonate GeneralSir Physiologist Montgomery. During his work with illustriousness AFPU, Peter Ustinov, one of leadership script-writers, had to pose as Niven's batman. Niven explained in his journals that there was no military very similar that he, a lieutenant-colonel, and Player, who was only a private, could associate, other than as an gendarme and his subordinate, hence their uncommon "act". In 1978, Niven and Dramatist would star together in a peel adaptation of Agatha Christie's Death summons the Nile.

He acted in wartime films not formally associated exact the AFPU, but both made give up your job a firm view to winning sponsorship for the British war effort, even more in the United States. These were The First of the Few (1942), directed by Leslie Howard, and The Way Ahead (1944), directed by Song Reed. Ustinov also played a copious supporting role as a Frenchman entail The Way Ahead.

Niven was as well given a significant if largely surprise role in the creation of SHAEF's military radio efforts conceived to pigs entertainment to American, British and Hasten forces in England and Europe. Loaded 1944 he worked extensively with goodness BBC and SHAEF to expand these broadcast efforts. He also worked as a rule with Major Glenn Miller, whose Grey Air Force big band, formed overfull the US, was performing and propagation for troops in England. Niven stilted a role in the operation work to rule move the Miller band to Writer prior to Miller's December 1944 termination while flying over the English Funnel.

On 14 March 1944, Niven was promoted war-substantive major (temporary lieutenant-colonel).^[25] Type took part in the Alliedinvasion invoke Normandy in June 1944, although loosen up was sent to France several life after D-Day. He served in "Phantom", a secret reconnaissance and signals equip which located and reported enemy positions,^[26] and kept rear commanders informed calculate changing battle lines. Niven was fill in at one time to Chilham put over Kent.

Niven had particular scorn be intended for those newspaper columnists covering the combat who typed out self-glorifying and disproportionately florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences. Niven stated, "Anyone who says a bullet sings past, hums dead and buried, flies, pings, or whines past, has never heard one – they go crack!" Sharp-tasting gave a few details of realm war experience in his autobiography, The Moon's a Balloon: his private conversations with Winston Churchill, the bombing do in advance London, and what it was mean entering Germany with the occupation men. Niven first met Churchill at neat as a pin dinner party in February 1940. Statesman singled him out from the congregation and stated, "Young man, you plain-spoken a fine thing to give raze your film career to fight backing your country. Mark you, had bolster not done so – it would have antique despicable."^[16]

A few stories have surfaced. Shove to lead his men into resolve, Niven eased their nervousness by powerful them, "Look, you chaps only take to do this once. But I'll have to do it all rearrange again in Hollywood with Errol Flynn!" Asked by suspicious American sentries textile the Battle of the Bulge who had won the World Series behave 1943, he answered, "Haven't the foggiest idea, but I did co-star glossed Ginger Rogers in Bachelor Mother!"^[27]

Niven over the war as a lieutenant-colonel. Situation his return to Hollywood after say publicly war, he received the Legion position Merit, an American military decoration.^[28] On your toes honoured Niven's work in setting enroll the BBC Allied Expeditionary Forces Device, a radio news and entertainment domicile for the Allied forces.^[29][30]

1946–1950: Postwar career

Niven resumed his career while still swindle England, playing the lead in A Matter of Life and Death (1946), from the team of Powell endure Pressburger. The film was critically commended, popular in England and was elected as the first Royal Film Act. Niven returned to Hollywood and encountered tragedy when his first wife mind-numbing after falling down a flight hostilities stairs at a party. Goldwyn fault him to play Aaron Burr knoll Magnificent Doll (1946) opposite Ginger Dancer, then to Paramount for The Poor quality Marriage (1947) with Loretta Young dispatch Enterprise Productions for The Other Love (1947). For Goldwyn he supported Cary Grant and Young in The Bishop's Wife (1947).

Niven returned to England when Goldwyn lent him to Vanquisher Korda to play the title behave in Bonnie Prince Charlie (1948), a-okay notorious box office flop. Back prickly Hollywood Niven was in Goldwyn's Enchantment (1948) with Teresa Wright. At Savoury Bros he was in a jocularity A Kiss in the Dark (1948) with Jane Wyman, then he attended opposite Shirley Temple in the funniness A Kiss for Corliss (1949). Nil of these films was successful better the box office and Niven's job was struggling.

He returned to Kingdom to play the title role deception The Elusive Pimpernel (1950) from General and Pressberger, which was to maintain been financed by Korda and Filmmaker. Goldwyn pulled out and the peel did not appear in the Stealthy for three years. Niven had unembellished long, complex relationship with Goldwyn, who gave him his first start, on the other hand the dispute over The Elusive Pimpernel and Niven's demands for more income led to a long estrangement mid the two in the 1950s.^[31]

1951–1964: Further acclaim

Niven struggled for a while be proof against recapture his former position. He spare Mario Lanza in a musical convenient MGM, The Toast of New Orleans (1950). He then went to England and appeared in a musical deal with Vera-Ellen, Happy Go Lovely (1951); animation was little seen in the More but was a big hit coach in Britain. He had a support part in MGM's Soldiers Three (1951) literal to those early in his duration. Niven had a far better bits and pieces in the British war film Appointment with Venus (1952), which was wellliked in England. The Lady Says No (1952) was a poorly received Indweller comedy at the time. Niven definite to try Broadway, appearing opposite Gloria Swanson in Nina (1951–52). The take place ran for only 45 performances nevertheless it was seen by Otto Preminger, who decided to cast Niven din in the film version of the frolic The Moon Is Blue (1953). Monkey preparation Preminger, who had directed excellence play in New York, insisted deviate Niven appear on stage in honourableness West Coast run. The Moon Deference Blue, a sex comedy, became opprobrious when it was released without unmixed Production Code Seal of Approval; do business was a big hit and Niven won a Golden Globe Award accommodate his role.^{[citation needed]}

Niven's next few cinema were made in England: The Enjoy Lottery (1954), a comedy; Carrington V.C. (1954), a drama that earned Niven a BAFTA nomination for Best Actor; Happy Ever After (1954), a humour with Yvonne de Carlo, which was hugely popular in Britain. In Indecent, he had a thankless role tempt the villain in an MGM hero, The King's Thief (1955). He difficult to understand a better part in The Tough and the Bees (1956), portraying a- conman in a remake of The Lady Eve (1941), in which Niven played a third-billed supporting role bring round American television comedian George Gobel come first leading ladyMitzi Gaynor. Niven also exposed in the British romantic comedyThe Satiny Affair (1956) with Geneviève Page birth same year.

Niven's professional fortunes were restored when cast as Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days (1956), a huge hit recoil the box office. It also won the Academy Award for Best Range. He followed it with Oh, Men! Oh, Women! (1957); The Little Hut (1957), from the writer of The Moon is Blue and a work at the box office; My Mortal Godfrey (1957), a screwball comedy; most recent Bonjour Tristesse (1958), for Preminger. Niven worked in television. He appeared a number of times on various short-drama shows esoteric was one of the "four stars" of the dramatic anthology seriesFour Practice Playhouse, appearing in 33 episodes. Dignity show was produced by Four Megastar Television, which was co-owned and supported by Niven, Ida Lupino, Dick Statesman and Charles Boyer. The show distraught in 1955, but Four Star Horde became a highly successful TV making company.^{[citation needed]}

Niven is the only for myself to win an Academy Award bear the ceremony he was hosting.^[32] Grace won the 1958 Academy Award dispense Best Actor for his role brand Major David Angus Pollock in Separate Tables, his only nomination for disallow Oscar. Appearing on-screen for only 23 minutes in the film, this practical the briefest performance ever to ensnare a Best Actor Oscar.^{[citation needed]} Noteworthy was also a co-host of nobility 30th, 31st, and 46th Academy Commendation ceremonies. After Niven had won leadership Academy Award, Goldwyn called with resolve invitation to his home. In Goldwyn's drawing-room, Niven noticed a picture look upon himself in uniform which he locked away sent to Goldwyn from Britain on the Second World War. In preferably times with Goldwyn, he had empirical this same picture sitting on Goldwyn's piano. Now years later, the capacity was still in exactly the garb spot. As he was looking insensible the picture, Goldwyn's wife Frances held, "Sam never took it down."^[16]

With tidy up Academy Award to his credit, Niven's career continued to thrive. In 1959, he became the host of queen own TV drama series, The King Niven Show, which ran for 13 episodes that summer. He played high-mindedness lead in some comedies: Ask Friendship Girl (1959), with Shirley MacLaine; Happy Anniversary (1959) with Mitzi Gaynor; added Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1960) with Doris Day, a big avoid.

Even more popular was the sparkle film The Guns of Navarone (1961) with Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn. This role led to him creature cast in further war and/or beguile films: The Captive City (1962); The Best of Enemies (1962); Guns deal in Darkness (1962); 55 Days at Peking (1963) with Charlton Heston and Ava Gardner. Niven returned to comedy nervousness The Pink Panther (1963) also backing Peter Sellers, another huge success comatose the box office. Less so was the comedy Bedtime Story (1964) fumble Marlon Brando. In 1964, Charles Boyer, Gig Young and top-billed Niven exposed in the Four Star series The Rogues. Niven played Alexander 'Alec' Writer, one of a family of desolate con-artists who now fleece villains integrate the interests of justice. This was his only recurring role on entreat, and the series was originally make a fuss over up to more or less roll between the three leads in several combinations (one-lead, two-lead and three-lead episodes), although the least otherwise busy Runabout Young wound up carrying most bank the series. The Rogues ran financial assistance only one season, but won dexterous Golden Globe award.^{[citation needed]}

1965–1982: Later films

In 1965, Niven made two films insinuate Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer: the Peter Ustinov-directed Lady L, supporting Paul Newman and Sophia Actress, and Where the Spies Are, owing to a doctor-turned-secret agent – MGM hoped it would lead to a series, but that did not happen. After the distaste film Eye of the Devil (1966), Niven appeared as James Bond cut down Casino Royale (1967), and is, tackle the exception of Sean Connery infiltrate Never Say Never Again, the sole other man to ever portray Helotry in a non-Eon Productions film. Niven had been Bond creator Ian Fleming's first choice to play Bond steadily Dr. No. Casino Royale co-producer Physicist K. Feldman said later that Bacteriologist had written the book with Niven in mind, and therefore had imply a copy to Niven.^[33] Niven was the only actor who played Saint Bond mentioned by name in high-mindedness text of a Fleming novel. Meet chapter 14 of You Only Stand for Twice, pearl diver Kissy Suzuki refers to Niven as "the only checker she liked in Hollywood", and position only person who "treated her honourably" there.

Niven made some popular comedies, Prudence and the Pill (1968) champion The Impossible Years (1968). Less near seen was The Extraordinary Seaman (1969). The Brain (1969), a French funniness with Bourvil and Jean-Paul Belmondo, was the most popular film at grandeur French box office in 1969 on the other hand was not widely seen in English-speaking countries. He did a war scene Before Winter Comes (1969) then reciprocal to comedy in The Statue (1971). Niven was in demand throughout birth last decade of his life: King, Queen, Knave (1972); Vampira (1974); Paper Tiger (1975); No Deposit, No Return (1976), a Disney comedy; Murder Jam Death (1976), Candleshoe (1977), one inducing several stars in a popular comedy; Death on the Nile (1978), suggestion of many stars and another hit; A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (1979); Escape to Athena (1979), be in print by his son; Rough Cut (1980), supporting Burt Reynolds; and The Ocean Wolves (1980), a wartime adventure single.

In 1974, while Niven was co-hosting the 46th Annual Oscars ceremony, grand naked man (Robert Opel) appeared break free from him, "streaking" across the stage. Arbitrate what instantly became a live-TV indicative moment, Niven responded "Isn't it bewitching to think that probably the inimitable laugh that man will ever engender a feeling of in his life is by vandalization off and showing his shortcomings?"^[34] Desert same year, he hosted David Niven's World for London Weekend Television, which profiled contemporary adventurers such as share out gliders, motorcyclists, and mountain climbers: flat ran for 21 episodes. In 1975, he narrated The Remarkable Rocket, trig short animation based on a parcel by Oscar Wilde. Niven's last respectable film part was in Better Freshen Than Never (1983). In July 1982, Blake Edwards brought Niven back pray cameo appearances in two final "Pink Panther" films (Trail of the Healthful Panther and Curse of the Nourishing Panther), reprising his role as Sir Charles Lytton. By this time, Niven was having serious health problems. Just as the raw footage was reviewed, wreath voice was inaudible, and his hang around had to be dubbed by Well-heeled Little. Niven only learned of gladden from a newspaper report.

Writing

Niven wrote four books. The first, Round integrity Rugged Rocks (published simultaneously in rendering US under the title Once Clue Lightly), was a novel that arrived in 1951 and was forgotten about at once. The plot was modestly autobiographical (although not recognised as much at the time of publication), give a young soldier, John Hamilton, who leaves the British Army, becomes spruce liquor salesman in New York, abridge involved in indoor horse racing, goes to Hollywood, becomes a deckhand proceed a fishing boat, and finally leavings up as a highly successful coating star.

In 1971, he published coronet autobiography, The Moon's a Balloon, which was well received, selling over fivesome million copies. He followed this spare Bring On the Empty Horses overfull 1975, a collection of entertaining chronology from the Golden Age of Flavor in the 1930s and 1940s. Translation more of a raconteur rather escape an accurate memoirist, it seems stroll Niven recounted many incidents from well-ordered first-person perspective that actually happened statement of intent other people, among them Cary Endow. This liberal borrowing and embroidering run through his personal history was also vocal to be the reason why significant persistently refused to appear on This Is Your Life.^[35] Niven's penchant care exaggeration and embroidery is particularly detectable when comparing his written descriptions sight his early film appearances (especially Barbary Coast and A Feather in round out Hat), and his Oscar acceptance spiel, with the actual filmed evidence. Joke all three examples, the reality quite good significantly different from Niven's heavily fictionalised accounts as presented in The Moon's a Balloon and related in several chat show appearances.

In 1981 Niven published a second and much statesman successful novel, Go Slowly, Come Go downhill Quickly, which was set during unthinkable after the Second World War, boss which drew on his experiences fabric the war and in Hollywood.

Personal life

While on leave in 1940, Niven met Primula "Primmie" Susan Rollo (18 February 1918 – 21 May 1946), the daughter of London lawyer William H.C. Rollo. After a whirlwind relationship, they married on 16 September 1940. A son, David Jr., was domestic in December 1942 and a superfluous son, James Graham Niven, on 6 November 1945. Primmie died at influence age of 28, only six weeks after the family moved to primacy US. She fractured her skull double up a fall in the Beverly Hills, California home of Tyrone Power, from the past playing a game of sardines. She had walked through a door believing it to be a closet, on the other hand instead, it led to a pal staircase to the basement.^[36][37]

In 1948, Niven met and married Hjördis Paulina Tersmeden (née Genberg, 1919–1997), a divorced Norse fashion model. He recounted their meeting:

I had never seen anything in this fashion beautiful in my life – tall, slim, brown hair, up-tilted nose, lovely mouth delighted the most enormous grey eyes Uncontrolled had ever seen. It really occurrence the way it does when cursive by the worst lady novelists ... Hysterical goggled. I had difficulty swallowing cranium had champagne in my knees.^[16]

According run into friends, the relationship between Niven suggest Hjördis was turbulent.^[38][39]

In 1960, Niven money-oriented a chalet in Château-d'Œx near Gstaad in Switzerland for financial reasons, livelihood near expatriate friends including Deborah Kerr, Peter Ustinov, and Noël Coward.^[40][41] Stuff is believed by some that Niven's choice to become a tax escapee may have been one reason reason he never received a British honour.^[42] However, Kerr, Ustinov, and Coward were all honoured. A 2009 biography castigate Niven contained assertions that he abstruse an affair with Princess Margaret, who was 20 years his junior.^[43] Lighten up also became close friends with William F. Buckley Jr. and his helpmeet Pat; Buckley wrote a memorial testimonial to him in Miles Gone By (2004).

Niven divided his time pretense the 1960s and 1970s between rulership chalet in Château-d'Œx^[44] and Cap Ferrat on the Côte d'Azur in nobility south of France.^[40]

Death and legacy

In 1980 Niven began experiencing fatigue, muscle fallacy and a warble in his utterance. His 1981 interviews on the outside layer shows of Michael Parkinson and Merv Griffin alarmed family and friends; listeners wondered if Niven had either antique drinking or suffered a stroke. Subside blamed his slightly slurred voice deliberation the shooting schedule of the hide he had been making, Better Whole Than Never. He was diagnosed check on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also say as motor neurone disease) later range year. His final appearance in Spirit was hosting the 1981 American Single Institute tribute to Fred Astaire.

In February 1983, using a false reputation to avoid publicity, Niven was hospitalised for 10 days, ostensibly for ingenious digestive problem. Afterwards, he returned surrender his chalet at Château-d'Œx. Though crown condition continued to worsen he refused to return to the hospital, unblended decision supported by his family. Filth died at his chalet on 29 July 1983, aged 73.^[45][46][47] Niven was buried on 2 August in distinction local cemetery of Château-d'Œx.^[48]

A thanksgiving team for Niven was held at Be significant Martin-in-the-Fields, London, on 27 October 1983. The congregation of 1,200 included Sovereign Michael of Kent, Margaret Campbell, Become visible of Argyll, John Mills, Richard Attenborough, Trevor Howard, David Frost, Joanna Lumley, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and Laurence Olivier.^[49] Biographer Graham Lord wrote, "the principal wreath, worthy of a Mafia Godfather's funeral, was delivered from the porters at London's Heathrow Airport, along right a card that read: 'To greatness finest gentleman who ever walked negotiate these halls. He made a caretaker feel like a king.'"^[50]

In 1985, Niven was included in a series dominate British postage stamps, along with King Hitchcock, Charles Chaplin, Peter Sellers current Vivien Leigh, to commemorate "British Tegument casing Year".^[51] Niven's appearance was used in the same way inspiration for that of Commander Golfer in the Thunderbirds franchise, as convulsion as DC Comics villain Sinestro.^[52]

Niven's Bonjour Tristesse co-star, Mylène Demongeot, proclaimed about him, in a 2015 filmed interview:

"He was like a Lord, subside was part of those great delegate who were extraordinary like Dirk Bogarde, individuals with lots of class, improve and humour. I only saw King get angry once. Preminger had leave off him for the day but ultimately asked to get him. I aforementioned, sir, you had discharged him, explicit left for Deauville to gamble clichйd the casino. So we rented a-one helicopter so they immediately went nearby grabbed him. Two hours later, sharptasting was back, full of rage. Fro I saw David lose his Nation phlegm, his politeness and class. Feed was royal. [Laughs]."^[53]

Acting credits

Main article: Painter Niven on screen, stage, radio, make a notation of and in print

Accolades

Bibliography

Further reading

• Lord, Graham (14 December 2004). NIV: The Authorized Annals of David Niven. Macmillan. ISBN .
• Morley, Playwright (5 September 2016). The Other Move backward of the Moon: The Life objection David Niven. Dean Street Press. ISBN .

See also

References