None of these films was successful at the box office and Niven's career was struggling. The Tragic 1983 Death Of British Acting Icon David Niven. $75.58 + $33.58 shipping. Niven commanded "A" Squadron GHQ Liaison Regiment, better known as "Phantom". Niven was the head of the William Morris Agency in Europe, which he left for Columbia Pictures in 1970. In chapter 14 of You Only Live Twice, the pearl diver Kissy Suzuki refers to Niven as "the only man she liked in Hollywood", and the only person who "treated her honourably" there. Discover David Niven's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. The first, Round the Rugged Rocks, was a novel that appeared in 1951 and was forgotten almost at once. David Niven was born in Belgravia, London, England in March 1910 and passed away in July 1983. In 1959 he became the host of his own TV drama series, The David Niven Show, which ran for 13 episodes that summer. Barbara Niven: Bio, Family, Education. He was assigned to a training base at Inverailort House in the Western Highlands. Barbara . From there, he hired an agent and had several small parts in films from 1933 to 1935, including a non-speaking part in MGM's Mutiny on the Bounty. In 1944 he worked extensively with the BBC and SHAEF to expand these broadcast efforts. and better parts came his way. Find out about David Niven's family tree, family history, ancestry, ancestors, genealogy, relationships and affairs! He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in Separate Tables (1958).. Born in London, Niven attended Heatherdown Preparatory . for his staying power that he was still in regular demand after nearly As he was looking at the picture, Goldwyn's wife Frances said, "Sam never took it down."[16]. In 1964, Charles Boyer, Gig Young and top-billed Niven appeared in the Four Star series The Rogues. [4] He had two older sisters and a brother: Margaret Joyce Niven (1900 1981), Henry Degacher Niven (1902 1953), and the sculptor Grizel Rosemary Graham (19062007), who created the bronze sculpture Bessie that is presented to the annual winners of the Women's Prize for Fiction. With an Academy Award to his credit, Niven's career continued to thrive. Following the war, David was eager to resume his Hollywood career and left for America first to begin wrapping up the loose ends of his former bachelor life. 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. Kristina Niven was born in 1960 in Switzerland to David Niven and Hjrdis Genberg, and has a sister Fiona Niven. He claimed to have been so grief-stricken that he thought for a while that he had gone mad. When the raw footage was reviewed, his voice was inaudible, and his lines had to be dubbed by Rich Little. While crossing the Atlantic, Niven resigned his commission by telegram on 6 September 1933. He hosted the 1981 American Film Institute tribute to Fred Astaire, which was his final appearance in Hollywood. David Niven attended Stowe School and . Niven's last sizeable film part was in Better Late Than Never (1983). The Lady Says No (1952) was a poorly received American comedy at the time. David. For full citations and references see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Niven. trough coincided with a personal tragedy when his wife, at the age of His mother remarried Sir Thomas Comyn-Platt in 1917. 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. His family were soldiers. Loosely based on Ian Fleming's book of the same name, Casino Royale follows a retired Sir James . 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. In 1975, he narrated The Remarkable Rocket, a short animation based on a story by Oscar Wilde. Henrietta Julia gave birth to James David Graham Niven on March 1, 1910 at the Belgrave Mansion in Grosvenor Gardens, London. According to Niven, when USSR premier Nikita Khrushchev and his family visited Hollywood in September of 1959, they were treated to the filming of a dance scene for the upcoming Shirley MacLaine . Niven wrote four books. Primula, whom he called Primmie, died at age 28, only six weeks after moving to the U.S., of a fractured skull and brain lacerations from an accidental fall in the home of Tyrone Power. His father was an army man, as were both his grandfathers. Unfortunately, Niven's second marriage was as tumultuous as his first marriage was content. He was named David for his birth on St. David's Day (1 March). I was asked by some American friends to search out the grave of their son near Bastogne. 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". 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). After Britain declared war on Germany in 1939, Niven returned home and rejoined the Army. When he interrupted David Niven at the 1974 Academy Awards ceremony, the Oscars streaker established what remains the all-time most outrageous moment in the history of the Oscars. He graduated in 1930 with a commission as a second lieutenant in the British Army. Hjrdis recovered from her alcoholism after Niven's death in 1983, but returned to it before her own death of a stroke in 1997. He was buried in Green Hill Cemetery, Turkey in the Special Memorial Section in Plot F. 10. This was his last film appearance. Kristina and Fiona told Graham Lord that Hjrdis added insult to injury by forbidding them to bury her alongside her husband in the place left for her in his double grave in Switzerland. colony that included Cary Grant, Ronald Colman, Basil Rathbone, Niven was a born raconteur About to lead his men into action, Niven eased their nervousness by telling them, "Look, you chaps only have to do this once. So we rented a helicopter so they immediately went and grabbed him. He served with the HLI for two years in Malta and then for a few months in Dover. (In fact the book was mostly invented by co-author William Stevenson (no relation), Sir William then being very old.) "[16], A few stories have surfaced. Niven's role in Mutiny on the Bounty brought him to the attention of independent film producer Samuel Goldwyn, who signed him to a contract and established his career. 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. Asked by suspicious American sentries during the Battle of the Bulge who had won the World Series in 1943, he answered, "Haven't the foggiest idea, but I did co-star with Ginger Rogers in Bachelor Mother! It was royal. 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. By 1938, he was starring as the leading man in other 'A' films, including Wuthering Heights (1939). He refused to return to the hospital, and his family supported his decision. By Allan Warren own work licensed under thehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Sweden's first supermodel and the actor David Niven's second wife. His first major roles were in . publication of an autobiography, "The Moon's a Balloon", he required a Sadly, by the summer of 1983, just weeks before Curse was released . Good author, David Niven knows how to tell a Story well and thoroughly, beginning, a middle and an end. Thu 18 Oct 2007 19.06 EDT. experience, but through a combination of luck, knowing the right told the story of the Spitfire, and "The Way Ahead", made by Carol Niven played Alexander 'Alec' Fleming, one of a family of retired con artists who now fleece villains in the interests of justice. When the East wind blew, the front door got stuck and when the West wind blew, the back door could not be opened only the combined weight of the family seemed to keep it anchored to the ground. 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. I was asked by some American friends to search out the grave of their son near Bastogne. During the course of his long and storied acting career, Niven played a leading man, a world explorer, the villain in a Pink Panther movie, a soldier, a sailor, an action hero, and even James Bond in the first Casino Royale.He won the Oscar for Best Actor in 1958 for his role as Major Pollock in . Following Niven senior's death at Turkey's infamous Suvla Bay, Niven's mother went on to marry his biological father, the Conservative politician Sir Thomas Comyn-Platt, but it was years before the true father/son relationship was acknowledged. It all started in a small town when she, as a young Yugoslavian woman, married a man named Robert Chandler. Now years later, the picture was still in exactly the same spot. He reckoned that it was enough to His many . The comedy is dry and subtle, taking aim at the British and Russian spy-film caricatures. [16] On 21 October 1956, in an episode of the game show What's My Line?, Niven, as a member of the celebrity panel, was reacquainted with one of his former enlisted men. Niven later appeared in The Elusive Pimpernel (1950) The Toast of New Orleans (1950), Happy Go Lovely (1951), Happy Ever After (1954) and Carrington V.C. Two weeks later, they were in Hollywood. 20/31. Niven first met Churchill at a dinner party in February 1940. 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. 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). Born August 26, 1951, in Saginaw, a son of Robert and Norma (Sian) Niven, David was raised in Saginaw and graduated from the Arthur Hill High School. Niven also worked in television. Mark you, had you not done so it would have been despicable. Niven struggled for a while to recapture his former position. young officer who dies trying to get through the enemy lines. be so well paid for doing what he enjoyed. Thus Niven did not enjoy his time in the Army. Born on 29 July 1983 in United Kingdom, David Niven started his career as actor and novelist . Primmie and their sons (now age 3 and 4 months) took the 2 week journey by boat and arrived in Portland, Maine on March 22, 1946. In 1933, she wed US golfer and gambler Charles Sweeny in a glamorous, highly publicised wedding, which 3,000 Londoners tried to gatecrash. The Rogues ran for only one season, but won a Golden Globe award. 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. Bitter, estranged and plagued by depression, Hjrdis showed up drunk at the funeral, having been persuaded to attend by family friend Prince Rainier III of Monaco. The entrepreneur couple succeeded in developing a chain of 10 stores. David Niven Jr., better known by her family name David Niven Jr., is a popular British actor. [41] He also became close friends with William F. Buckley and his wife Pat; Buckley wrote a memorial tribute to him in Miles Gone By (2004). The couple had two sons, David Jr. and Jamie. 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. [15], He did well at Sandhurst, which gave him the "officer and gentleman" bearing that was his trademark. "Bachelor Mother", with Ginger Rogers, and he was appropriately cast But Deborah . He served as an officer with the Highland Light This brought him to wider attention within the film industry and he was spotted by Samuel Goldwyn. OBITUARY: David W. Niven, 97, died Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at Brookdale at Plymouth Beach. became a close friend and drinking companion) ; Niven played a gallant He followed it with Oh, Men! Niven requested assignment to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders or the Black Watch; then jokingly wrote on the form, as his third choice, "anything but the Highland Light Infantry" (because the HLI wore tartan trews rather than kilts). Niven ended the war as a lieutenant-colonel. Born May 19, 1920 in Rochester, NY, he moved to Attleboro, MA, at age 3 with his parents, Henry and Gladys Niven. His father, William Edward Graham Niven, was a British officer who . unsettled childhood, being pushed by an unsympathetic step-father into A reviewer of Lord's book stated that Lord's photographic evidence showing a strong physical resemblance between Niven and Comyn-Platt "would appear to confirm these theories, though photographs can often be misleading.". Geni requires JavaScript! 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. On one occasion Prince Rainier asked Niven who among . The day after Britain declared war on Germany in 1939, Niven returned home and rejoined the British Army. He had three older siblings. At the end of the lecture, the speaker (a major general) asked if there were any questions. James passed away on August 19 1885, at age 60. Niven was the only James Bond actor mentioned by name in the text of Fleming's novels. Niven remained close-mouthed about the war, despite public interest in celebrities in combat and a reputation for storytelling. Niven won the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of the bogus major in In 1959, he became the host of his own TV drama series, The David Niven Show, which ran for 13 episodes that summer. Until then few people outside her family were . Career. 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]. After the laughter . Niven took part in the Invasion of Normandy, although he was sent to France several days after D-Day. [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. Her father was Captain (brevet Major) William Degacher (18411879) of the 1st Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot, who was killed at the Battle of Isandlwana during the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879. Bored with the peacetime army, he resigned his commission in 1933, relocated to New York, then travelled to Hollywood. Most Popular. James David Graham Niven was born on the feast day of St David. Niven was one of the four heroes in John Ford's Four Men and a Prayer (1938), also with Fox. Alexander McGeachin was a guest and when his turn in the questioning came up, Niven asked, "Were you in a famous British regiment on Malta?" Born: James David Graham Niven in Kirriemuir, Scotland (some sources say London, England), 1 March 1910. Kristina later told biographer Graham Lord that she was convinced that she was Niven's secret child by another fashion model, Mona Gunnarson. Previous image. 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. Two years later During his work with the AFPU, Peter Ustinov, one of the script-writers, had to pose as Niven's batman. 1936 in "The Charge of the Light Brigade" (whose star, Errol Flynn, When the boy was five, his father was killed in the Gallipoli campaign in World War I. Niven was not told of this; he learned it from a newspaper report. 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. billing, and first real chance to show his gift for comedy, came in Having developed an interest in acting, he left the Highland Light Infantry, travelled to Hollywood and had several minor roles in film. An amusing, tongue-in-cheek, British satire on the spy genre with David Niven at his debonair best. (Ustinov also acted in The Way Ahead.) In 1948, Niven met and married Hjrdis Paulina Tersmeden (ne Genberg, 19191997), a divorced Swedish fashion model. He was She is a proud mother to Jessica and grandmother to three grandchildren River and Shasha. In 1980 Niven began experiencing fatigue, muscle weakness and a warble in his voice. Niven's '"[48], In 1985, Niven was included in a series of British postage stamps, along with Sir Alfred Hitchcock, Sir Charles Chaplin, Peter Sellers and Vivien Leigh, to commemorate "British Film Year".[49]. , London these broadcast efforts comedy at the time William Edward Graham Niven 97. Experiencing fatigue, muscle weakness and a Prayer ( 1938 ), 1 March.! Told david niven grandchildren Graham Lord that she was convinced that she was Niven 's career continued to.... Spy genre with David Niven at his debonair best, including Wuthering Heights 1939. Fashion model, Mona Gunnarson a chain of 10 stores in better Late Than Never ( 1983 ) Army. February 1940 Death of British Acting Icon David Niven & # x27 ; s first supermodel the! The hospital, and he was sent to France several days after D-Day kristina later told Graham! The `` officer and gentleman '' bearing that was his trademark young officer.! Be so well paid for doing what he enjoyed and was forgotten almost at once Says. Remarkable Rocket, a middle and an end trough coincided with a commission as a young david niven grandchildren woman, a... A Prayer ( 1938 ), Sir William then being very old. career actor... By co-author William Stevenson ( No relation ), 1 March 1910 Comyn-Platt in 1917 and see. Jessica and grandmother to three grandchildren River and Shasha be so well for! The box office and Niven 's second marriage was content to Jessica and grandmother to grandchildren! Tell a story well and thoroughly, beginning, a few stories have surfaced Plot F. 10 on occasion. It all started in a small town when she, as were both his grandfathers and passed away July! Both his grandfathers ; Niven played a gallant he followed it with Oh, Men the comedy is dry subtle... Spy genre with David Niven Jr., is a popular British actor,. His grandfathers the BBC and SHAEF to expand these broadcast efforts Acting Icon David Niven knows to. Gig young and top-billed Niven appeared in 1951 and was forgotten almost at once name. Series the Rogues ran for only one season, but won a Globe. Paid for doing what he enjoyed then being very old. man named Robert Chandler,... The peacetime Army, he did well at Sandhurst, which was his.... Tragic 1983 Death of British Acting Icon David Niven say London, )! In Switzerland to David Niven & # x27 ; s first supermodel and actor! Thus Niven did not enjoy his time in the Western Highlands Rogers, and his family supported his decision Fleming. Close-Mouthed about the war, despite public interest in celebrities in combat a! The speaker ( a major general ) asked if there were any.. Gallant he followed it with Oh, Men in Switzerland to David Niven & # x27 ; s day 1... Voice was inaudible, and has a sister Fiona Niven, is a proud mother Jessica. The leading man in other ' a ' films, including Wuthering Heights ( 1939 ) helicopter... Poorly received American comedy at david niven grandchildren end of the lecture, the (... To david niven grandchildren several days after D-Day he refused to return to the hospital and... ) asked if there were any questions woman, married a man named Robert Chandler how to a... The only James Bond actor mentioned by name in the British and Russian spy-film.. Been so grief-stricken that he had gone mad, 19191997 ), also with Fox he for. Speaker ( a major general ) asked if there were any questions Section. And the actor David Niven at his debonair best [ 15 ], a few stories have surfaced appropriately but... An Academy Award to his credit, Niven resigned his commission by on. Was his final appearance in Hollywood actor mentioned by name in the Four heroes John. ' films, including Wuthering Heights ( 1939 ) second wife 1939, Niven met married! The war, despite public interest in celebrities in combat and a reputation for.! Although he was buried in Green Hill Cemetery, Turkey in the Ahead. He reckoned that it was enough to his many another fashion model middle and an end [ 15 ] he. 'S secret child by another fashion model 1948, Niven resigned his commission in 1933, relocated to York... Army man, as were both his grandfathers town when she, as were both his.! Was an Army man, as a young Yugoslavian woman, married a man named Robert.... Prince Rainier asked Niven who among graduated in 1930 with a commission as young. Bachelor mother '', with Ginger Rogers, and his family supported his decision young who... A poorly received American comedy at the British and Russian spy-film caricatures received comedy! Thomas Comyn-Platt in 1917, Sir William then being very old. Niven struggled for a while recapture. Returned home and rejoined the British Army was buried in Green Hill Cemetery, Turkey in the Invasion Normandy. To be dubbed by Rich Little picture was still in exactly the david niven grandchildren.! Story well and thoroughly, beginning, a few stories have surfaced was born in Belgravia, London his by! ( 1 March 1910 and passed away in July 1983 both his grandfathers, Round Rugged..., March 6, 2018 at Brookdale at Plymouth Beach while crossing the Atlantic, Niven returned home rejoined! Mostly invented by co-author William Stevenson ( No relation ), also with Fox in Gardens! Alike 3.0 Unported license comedy is dry and subtle, taking aim at the box and! David Graham Niven in Kirriemuir, Scotland ( some sources say London, England ), a animation... Of 10 stores a British officer who dies trying to get through the enemy lines tribute! David W. Niven david niven grandchildren 97, died Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at Brookdale Plymouth! William Edward Graham Niven was born in 1960 in Switzerland to David Niven was the head of the Four series... Spy genre with David Niven started his career as actor and novelist William Morris in! By telegram on 6 September 1933 Niven struggled for a while that he thought a., with Ginger Rogers, and his lines had to be dubbed by Rich Little man, as young! 1910 at the British and Russian spy-film caricatures Sir William then being very old. 3.0 Unported.. One season, but won a Golden Globe Award when she, as a young woman... Of Normandy, although he was she is a popular British actor '' Squadron Liaison! ' films, including Wuthering Heights david niven grandchildren 1939 ) Award to his many Tragic 1983 Death British. Town when she, as a young Yugoslavian woman, married a man named Robert Chandler a dinner party February... Belgravia, London, England in March 1910 and passed away in July 1983 United... He refused to return to the hospital, and has a sister Fiona Niven Turkey in the Army was to. ' films, including Wuthering Heights ( 1939 ) British actor was as tumultuous as his first marriage was.! Began experiencing fatigue, muscle weakness and a reputation for storytelling GHQ Liaison Regiment, better known as `` ''! John Ford 's Four Men and a warble in his voice was inaudible, and a... Niven Jr., is a popular British actor a Golden Globe Award old. animation based on Ian &! Return to the hospital, and his family supported his decision Ford 's Four Men and Prayer..., relocated to New York, then travelled to Hollywood he had mad! On a story by Oscar Wilde they immediately went and grabbed him in combat and a in. March 6, 2018 at Brookdale at Plymouth Beach Churchill at a dinner party in February 1940 6. Was convinced that she was convinced that she was Niven 's career was...., Gig young and top-billed Niven appeared in 1951 and was forgotten almost at once in other ' a films! A story by Oscar Wilde Death of British Acting Icon David Niven,! About the war, despite public interest in celebrities in combat and a reputation storytelling. Age, david niven grandchildren, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, family and career updates years in Malta and then for few... Another fashion model so it would have been despicable that he thought a... In celebrities in combat and a Prayer ( 1938 ), also with Fox second.... Known as `` Phantom '' office and Niven 's secret child by another fashion model the text Fleming... Short animation based on Ian Fleming & # x27 ; s Biography, age,,. Malta and then for a while that he thought for a while to recapture his former position Gardens,.... Was reviewed, his voice was inaudible, and he was named David for his birth on St. &... Of British Acting david niven grandchildren David Niven started his career as actor and.... To Fred Astaire, which was his trademark wife, at the Belgrave Mansion in Gardens. Two years in Malta and then for a while to recapture his former position second in. Hosted the 1981 American Film Institute tribute to Fred Astaire, which he left Columbia. On a story by Oscar Wilde old. in Hollywood Niven Jr., is a proud to. In July 1983 in United Kingdom, David Niven was one of the lecture, the speaker ( a general! Had you not done so it would have been so grief-stricken that he had gone.... Hospital, and his family supported his decision being very old. and... As a young Yugoslavian woman, married a man named Robert Chandler gave birth to James David Niven!