Nisha Rathode (Editor)

David Niven

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Role
  
Actor

Name
  
David Niven

Occupation
  
Actor, author

Nationality
  
British


David Niven wwwmeredycomnivendavid01jpg

Full Name
  
James David Graham Niven

Born
  
1 March 1910 (
1910-03-01
)
Carswell Manor, Oxfordshire England

Education
  
Heatherdown Preparatory SchoolStowe School

Died
  
July 29, 1983, Chateau-d'Œx, Switzerland

Spouse
  
Hjordis Paulina Tersmeden (m. 1948–1983), Primula Susan Rollo (m. 1940–1946)

Children
  
Jamie Niven, David Niven, Fiona Niven, Kristina Niven

Books
  
The Moon's a Balloon, Bring on the empty horses

Movies
  
Similar People
  
George Lazenby, Barry Nelson, Timothy Dalton, Roger Moore, Sean Connery

Resting place
  
Chateau D'Oex Cemetery

David Niven Wins Best Actor: 1959 Oscars


David Niven Biography


James David Graham Niven (1 March 1910 – 29 July 1983) was an English actor, memoirist 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. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in Separate Tables (1958).

Contents

David Niven nivenJPG

Born in London, Niven attended Heatherdown Preparatory School and Stowe before gaining a place at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. After Sandhurst, he joined the British Army and was gazetted a second lieutenant in the Highland Light Infantry. Having developed an interest in acting, he left the army, travelled to Hollywood and had several minor roles in film. He first appeared as an extra in the British film There Goes the Bride (1932). From there, he hired an agent and had several small parts in films from 1933 to 1935, including a non-speaking role in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Mutiny on the Bounty. This brought him to wider attention within the film industry and he was spotted by Samuel Goldwyn. Upon the outbreak of the Second World War, Niven returned to Britain and rejoined the army, being recommissioned as a lieutenant.

David Niven Pictures amp Photos of David Niven IMDb

Niven resumed his acting career after his demobilisation, and was voted the second-most popular British actor in the 1945 Popularity Poll of British film stars. He appeared in A Matter of Life and Death (1946), The Bishop's Wife (1947), and Enchantment (1948), all of which received critical acclaim. 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. (1955) before scoring a big success as Phileas Fogg in Michael Todd's production of Around the World in 80 Days (1956). Niven appeared in nearly a hundred films, and many shows for television. He also began writing books, with considerable commercial success. 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.

David Niven David Niven More information

Early life

David Niven David Niven Movies Ultimate Movie Rankings

James David Graham Niven was born in Belgrave Mansions, London, to William Edward Graham Niven (1878–1915) and his wife, Henrietta Julia (née Degacher) Niven. He was named David after his birth on St. David's Day, 1 March. 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.

David Niven David Niven Muses Cinematic Men The Red List

Henrietta was of French and British ancestry. She was born in Wales, the daughter of army officer William Degacher (1841–1879) by his marriage to Julia Caroline Smith, the daughter of lieutenant General James Webber Smith. Niven's grandfather William Degacher was killed in the Battle of Isandlwana (1879), during the Zulu War. 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.

David Niven David Niven Muses Cinematic Men The Red List

William Niven, David's father, was of Scottish descent; his paternal grandfather, David Graham Niven, (1811–1884) was from St. Martin's, a village in Perthshire. William served in the Berkshire Yeomanry in the First World War and was killed during the Gallipoli campaign on 21 August 1915. He was buried in Green Hill Cemetery, Turkey, in the Special Memorial Section in Plot F. 10.

Niven's mother remarried, to Sir Thomas Comyn-Platt, in London in 1917. Graham Lord, in Niv: The Authorised Biography of David Niven, suggested that Comyn-Platt and Mrs. Niven had been having an affair for some time before her husband's death, and that Sir Thomas may well have been David Niven's biological father, a supposition which has some support from her children. A reviewer of Lord's book stated that its photographic evidence showing a strong physical resemblance between Niven and Comyn-Platt "would appear to confirm these theories, though photographs can often be misleading."

David Niven had three older siblings:

  • Margaret Joyce (born in Geneva, Switzerland, 5 January 1900 – 18 November 1981)
  • Henry Degacher ("Max"; born in Buckland, Berkshire, 29 June 1902 – March 1953)
  • Grizel Rosemary Graham (born in Belgravia, Middlesex, 28 November 1906 – 28 January 2007).
  • Education and army service

    English private schools at the time of Niven's boyhood were noted for their strict and sometimes brutal discipline. Niven suffered many instances of corporal punishment owing to his inclination for pranks, which finally led to his expulsion from Heatherdown Preparatory School at the age of 10½. This ended his chances for Eton College, a significant blow to his family. After failing to pass the naval entrance exam because of his difficulty with maths, Niven attended Stowe School, a newly created public school led by headmaster J.F. Roxburgh, who was unlike any of Niven's previous headmasters. Thoughtful and kind, he addressed the boys by their first names, allowed them bicycles, and encouraged and nurtured their personal interests. 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." He attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, graduating in 1930 with a commission as a second lieutenant in the British Army.

    He did well at Sandhurst, which gave him the "officer and gentleman" bearing that was to be his trademark. 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 the HLI wore tartan trews rather than kilts). He was assigned to the HLI, and his comment was known in the regiment. Thus, Niven did not enjoy his time in the army. He served with the HLI for two years in Malta and then for a few months in Dover. In Malta, he became friends with Roy Urquhart, future commander of the British 1st Airborne Division.

    Niven grew tired of the peacetime army. Though promoted to lieutenant on 1 January 1933, he saw no opportunity for further advancement. His ultimate decision to resign came after a lengthy lecture on machine guns, which was interfering with his plans for dinner with a particularly attractive young lady. At the end of the lecture, the speaker (a Major General) asked if there were any questions. Showing the typical rebelliousness of his early years, Niven asked, "Could you tell me the time, sir? I have to catch a train."

    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. Rose, DSO, MC). With Rose's assistance, Niven was allowed to escape from a first-floor window. He then headed for America. While crossing the Atlantic, Niven resigned his commission by telegram on 6 September 1933. Niven then moved to New York City, where he began an unsuccessful career in whisky sales, after which he had a stint in horse rodeo promotion in Atlantic City. After detours to Bermuda and Cuba, he arrived in Hollywood in 1934.

    As an extra

    When Niven presented himself at Central Casting, he learned that he needed a work permit to reside and work in the United States. This meant that Niven had to leave the US, so he went to Mexico, where he worked as a "gun-man", cleaning and polishing the rifles of visiting American hunters. He received his resident alien visa from the American consulate when his birth certificate arrived from Britain. He returned to the US and was accepted by Central Casting as "Anglo-Saxon Type No. 2,008."

    Among the films he can be glimpsed in were Barbary Coast (1935) and Mutiny on the Bounty (1935). He had a small role in A Feather in Her Hat (1935) at Columbia and back to MGM for a bit role, billed as David Nivens in Rose-Marie. (1936)

    Sam Goldwyn

    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.

    For Goldwyn, Niven had a small role in Splendor (1935). He was loaned to MGM for a small part in Rose Marie (1936) then had a larger one in Palm Springs (1936) at Paramount.

    His first sizeable part for Goldwyn came in Dodsworth (1936), playing a man who flirts with Ruth Chatterton. He was loaned to 20th Century Fox to play Bertie Wooster in Thank You, Jeeves! (1936), then had a good part as a soldier in The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936) at Warners, an Imperial adventure film starring his one-time housemate Errol Flynn.

    Niven was fourth billed in Beloved Enemy (1936) for Goldwyn, supporting Merle Oberon with whom he became romantically involved. Universal used him in We Have Our Moments (1937) then he had another good support part in David O. Selznick's The Prisoner of Zenda (1937).

    Fox gave him the lead in a B picture, Dinner at the Ritz (1938) and he had a support part in Bluebeard's Eighth Wife (1938) directed by Ernst Lubitsch at Paramount. Niven was one of the four heroes in John Ford's Four Men and a Prayer (1938) at Fox. He remained at that studio to play a fake love interest in Three Blind Mice (1938).

    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, and C. Aubrey Smith. According to his autobiography, Errol Flynn and he were firm friends and rented Rosalind Russell's house at 601 North Linden Drive as a bachelor pad.

    Leading Man

    Niven graduated to star parts in "A" films with The Dawn Patrol (1938) at Warners; he was billed after Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone but it was a leading role and the film did excellent business. Niven was reluctant to take a support part in Wuthering Heights (1939) for Goldwyn, but eventually relented and the film was a big success.

    RKO borrowed him to play Ginger Rogers' leading man in the romantic comedy, Bachelor Mother (1939), which was a big hit. Goldwyn used him to support Gary Cooper in an adventure tale The Real Glory (1939), and Walter Wanger cast him opposite Loretta Young in Eternally Yours (1939). Goldwyn finally gave Niven a lead part, the title role as the eponymous gentleman safe-cracker in Raffles (1939).

    Second World War

    After Britain declared war on Germany in 1939, Niven returned home and rejoined the British Army. He was alone among British stars in Hollywood in doing so; the British Embassy advised most actors to stay.

    Niven was recommissioned as a lieutenant into the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) on 25 February 1940, and was assigned to a motor training battalion. He wanted something more exciting, however, and transferred into the Commandos. He was assigned to a training base at Inverailort House in the Western Highlands. Niven later claimed credit for bringing future Major General Sir Robert E. Laycock to the Commandos. Niven commanded "A" Squadron GHQ Liaison Regiment, better known as "Phantom". He worked with the Army Film Unit.

    Film Work

    He acted in two films made during the war, The First of the Few (1942), directed by Leslie Howard, and The Way Ahead (1944), directed by Carol Reed. Both were made with a view to winning support for the British war effort, especially in the United States. Niven's Film Unit work included a small part in the deception operation that used minor actor M.E. Clifton James to impersonate General Sir Bernard Montgomery. During his work with the Film Unit, Peter Ustinov, though one of the script-writers, had to pose as Niven's batman. (Ustinov also acted in The Way Ahead.) 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, other than as an officer and his subordinate, hence their strange "act". Ustinov later appeared with Niven in Death on the Nile (1978).

    Europe

    Niven took part in the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944, although he was sent to France several days after D-Day. He served in the "Phantom Signals Unit," which located and reported enemy positions, and kept rear commanders informed on changing battle lines. Niven was posted at one time to Chilham in Kent. He remained close-mouthed about the war, despite public interest in celebrities in combat and a reputation for storytelling. He once said:

    I will, however, tell you just one thing about the war, my first story and my last. I was asked by some American friends to search out the grave of their son near Bastogne.
    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.

    Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences. Niven stated, "Anyone who says a bullet sings past, hums past, flies, pings, or whines past, has never heard one—they go crack!" He gave a few details of his war experience in his autobiography, The Moon's a Balloon: his private conversations with Winston Churchill, the bombing of London, and what it was like entering Germany with the occupation forces. Niven first met Churchill at a dinner party in February 1940. 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. Mark you, had you not done so − it would have been despicable."

    A few stories have surfaced. About to lead his men into action, Niven eased their nervousness by telling them, "Look, you chaps only have to do this once. But I'll have to do it all over again in Hollywood with Errol Flynn!" 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!" On another occasion, asked how he felt about serving with the British Army in Europe, he allegedly said, "Well on the whole, I would rather be tickling Ginger Rogers' tits."

    Niven ended the war as a lieutenant-colonel. On his return to Hollywood after the war, he received the Legion of Merit, an American military decoration. Presented by Eisenhower himself, it honoured Niven's work in setting up the BBC Allied Expeditionary Forces Programme, a radio news and entertainment station for the Allied forces.

    Postwar career

    Niven resumed his career while still in England, playing the lead in A Matter of Life and Death (1946), from the team of Powell and Pressburger. The movie was critically acclaimed, popular in England and the recipient of the first Royal Film Performance.

    Return to Hollywood

    Niven returned to Hollywood, and encountered tragedy when his first wife died after falling down in an accident at a party. Goldwyn loaned him to play Aaron Burr in Magnificent Doll (1946) opposite Ginger Rogers, then to Paramount for The Perfect Marriage (1947) with Loretta Young and Enterprise Productions for The Other Love (1947).

    For Goldwyn he supported Cary Grant and Young in The Bishop's Wife (1947) with Cary Grant. He returned to England when Goldwyn loaned him to Alexander Korda to play the title role in Bonnie Prince Charlie (1948), a notorious box office flop.

    Back in Hollywood, Niven was in Goldwyn's Enchantment (1948). At Warner Bros he was in a comedy A Kiss in the Dark (1948) then he appeared opposite Shirley Temple in the comedy A Kiss for Corliss (1949). None of these films were successful at the box office and Niven's career as a star was struggling.

    He returned to Britain to play the title role in The Elusive Pimpernel (1950) from Powell and Pressberger, which was to have been financed by Korda and Goldwyn. Goldwyn pulled out, and the film did not appear in the US for three years. 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.

    Career Decline

    Niven struggled for a while to recapture his former position. He supported Mario Lanza in a musical at MGM, The Toast of New Orleans (1950). He then went to England and appeared in a musical with Vera-Ellen, Happy Go Lovely (1951); it was little seen in the US but was a big hit in Britain.

    He had a support role in MGM's Soldiers Three (1951) similar to those early in his career. Niven had a far better part in the British war film, Appointment with Venus (1952) which was popular in England. The Lady Says No (1952) was a poorly received American comedy.

    Comeback

    Niven decided to try Broadway, appearing opposite Gloria Swanson in Nina (1951–52). The play only ran for 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). As preparation, Preminger, who had directed the play in New York, insisted that Niven appear on stage in the West Coast run. 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.

    Niven also became heavily involved in American TV as a partner in Four Star Television, a company he established with Dick Powell and Charles Boyer. It ended up producing a considerable number of shows, several in which Niven appeared.

    Niven's next few films were made in England: The Love Lottery (1954), a comedy; Carrington V.C. (1954), a drama which earned Niven a BAFTA nomination for Best Actor; Happy Ever After (1954), a comedy with Yvonne de Carlo which was hugely popular in Britain.

    In Hollywood he had thankless role as the villain in an MGM swashbuckler The King's Thief (1955). He had a better part in The Birds and the Bees (1956), playing a conman, and in the British The Silken Affair (1956).

    Around the World in 80 Days

    Niven's professional fortunes were completely restored when cast as Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days (1956), a huge hit at the box office.

    He followed it with Oh, Men! Oh, Women! (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.

    Niven worked in television. 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 show was produced by Four Star Television, which was co-owned and founded by Niven, Ida Lupino, Dick Powell and Charles Boyer. The show ended in 1955, but Four Star TV became a highly successful TV production company.

    Separate Tables

    He won the 1958 Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Major Pollock in Separate Tables, his only nomination for an Oscar. Appearing on-screen for only 23 minutes in the film, this was the briefest performance ever to win a Best Actor Oscar, until Anthony Hopkins win for his appearance in the 1991 film The Silence of the Lambs, which is a little over 16 minutes. He was also a co-host of the 30th, 31st, and 46th Academy Awards ceremonies. After Niven had won the Academy Award, Goldwyn called with an invitation to his home. 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. In happier times with Goldwyn, he had observed this same picture sitting on Goldwyn's piano. Now years later, the picture was still in exactly the same spot. As he was looking at the picture, Goldwyn's wife Frances said, "Sam never took it down."

    With an Academy Award to his credit, Niven's career continued to thrive. In 1959, he became the host of his own TV drama series, The David Niven Show, which ran for 13 episodes that summer.

    He played the lead in some comedies: Ask Any Girl (1959), with Shirley MacLaine; Happy Anniversary (1959) with Mitzi Gaynor; and Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1960) with Doris Day, a big hit.

    International Star

    Even more popular was the action film The Guns of Navarone (1961). This seemed to lead to him being cast in war and/or action movies: The Captive City (1962); The Best of Enemies (1962); Guns of Darkness (1962); 55 Days at Peking (1963) with Charlton Heston.

    Niven returned to comedy with The Pink Panther (1963), another huge success at the box office. Less so was the comedy Bedtime Story (1964) with Marlon Brando.

    In 1964, Boyer and he appeared in the Four Star series The Rogues. Niven played Alexander 'Alec' Fleming, one of a family of retired con-artists who now fleece villains in the interests of justice. This was his only recurring role on television. The Rogues ran for only one season, but won a Golden Globe award.

    In 1965, he made two films for MGM: Lady L (1965), supporting Paul Newman and Sophia Loren, and Where the Spies Are (1965) as a doctor turned secret agent - MGM hoped it would lead to a series but this did not happen. After a horror film Eye of the Devil (1966) Niven appeared as James Bond 007 in Casino Royale. Niven had been Bond creator Ian Fleming's first choice to play Bond in Dr. No. 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 was the only James Bond actor mentioned by name in the text of a Fleming novel. 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.

    Niven made some popular comedies, Prudence and the Pill (1968) and The Impossible Years (1968). Less widely seen was The Extraordinary Seaman (1969). The Brain (1969), a French comedy with Bourvil and Jean Paul Belmondo was the most popular film at the French box office in 1969 but was not widely seen in English speaking countries.

    He did a war drama Before Winter Comes (1969) then returned to comedy in The Statue (1971).

    Later Career

    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; Murder by Death (1976), one of several stars in a popular comedy; Candleshoe (1978), again for Disney; 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.

    While Niven was co-hosting the 46th Annual Oscars ceremony, a naked man appeared behind him, "streaking" across the stage. 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?"

    In 1974, he hosted David Niven's World for London Weekend Television, which profiled contemporary adventurers such as hang gliders, motorcyclists, and mountain climbers: it ran for 21 episodes. In 1975, he narrated The Remarkable Rocket, a short animation based on a story by Oscar Wilde.

    Last Films

    HIs last sizeable film part was in Better Late Than Never (1982). 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. By this time, Niven was having serious health problems. When the raw footage was reviewed, his voice was inaudible, and his lines had to be dubbed by Rich Little. Niven only learned of it from a newspaper report. This was his last film appearance.

    Writing

    Niven wrote four books. The first, Round the Rugged Rocks, (published simultaneously in the US under the title "Once Over Lightly") was a novel that appeared in 1951 and was forgotten almost at once. In 1971, he published his autobiography, The Moon's a Balloon, which was well received, selling over five million copies. He followed this with Bring On the Empty Horses in 1975, a collection of entertaining reminiscences from Hollywood's "Golden Age" in the 1930s and '40s. It now appears that Niven recounted many incidents from a first-person perspective that actually happened to other people, especially Cary Grant, which he borrowed and embroidered. 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. He was working on a third novel at the time of his death.

    Personal life

    While on leave in 1940, Niven met Primula "Primmie" Susan Rollo (18 February 1918, London – 21 May 1946), the daughter of London lawyer William H.C. Rollo. After a whirlwind romance, they married on 16 September. A son, David, Jr., was born in December 1942 and a second son, James Graham Niven on 6 November 1945. Primmie died aged 28, only six weeks after the family moved to the US. She fractured her skull after an accidental fall in the Beverly Hills, California home of Tyrone Power, while playing a game of hide-and-seek. She had walked through a door believing it to be a closet, but instead, it led to a stone staircase to the basement.

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

    I had never seen anything so beautiful in my life—tall, slim, auburn hair, up-tilted nose, lovely mouth and the most enormous grey eyes I had ever seen. It really happened the way it does when written by the worst lady novelists ... I goggled. I had difficulty swallowing and had champagne in my knees.

    In New York, Niven and Hjördis were next-door neighbours with Audrey Hepburn, who made her début on Broadway that season. In 1960, while filming Please Don't Eat the Daisies with Doris Day, Niven and Hjördis separated for a few weeks, but later reconciled.

    In 1960, Niven moved to Château-d'Œx near Gstaad in Switzerland for financial reasons, near to close friends in the country including Deborah Kerr, Peter Ustinov, and Noël Coward. Niven's status as a tax exile in Switzerland is believed to have been one of the reasons why he never received a British honour. Niven divided his time in the 1960s and 1970s between Château-d'Œx and Cap Ferrat on the Côte d'Azur in the south of France.

    A 2009 biography of Niven contained assertions, based on information from his widow and a good friend of Niven's, that he had had an affair with Princess Margaret, 20 years his junior.

    Illness and death

    In 1980, Niven began experiencing fatigue, muscle weakness, and a warble in his voice. His 1981 interviews on the talk shows of Michael Parkinson and Merv Griffin alarmed family and friends; viewers wondered if Niven had either been drinking or suffered a stroke. He blamed his slightly slurred voice on the shooting schedule on the film he had been making, Better Late Than Never. He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or "Lou Gehrig's disease" in the US, or "motor neurone disease" (MND) in the UK), later that year. His final appearance in Hollywood was hosting the 1981 American Film Institute tribute to Fred Astaire.

    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 Château-d'Œx. His condition continued to decline, but he refused to return to the hospital, and his family supported his decision. He died at his chalet from ALS on 29 July 1983 aged 73, the same day as his The Prisoner of Zenda and A Matter of Life and Death co-star Raymond Massey. He was survived by his four children and his second wife. Niven is buried in Château-d'Œx cemetery, Switzerland.

    Legacy

    A Thanksgiving service for Niven was held at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, on 27 October 1983. 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.

    Biographer Graham Lord wrote, "the biggest wreath, worthy of a Mafia Godfather's funeral, was delivered from the porters at London's Heathrow Airport, along with a card that read: 'To the finest gentleman who ever walked through these halls. He made a porter feel like a king.'"

    In 1985, Niven was included in a series of British postage stamps, along with Sir Alfred Hitchcock, Sir Charlie Chaplin, Peter Sellers and Vivien Leigh, to commemorate "British Film Year".

    Filmography

    Actor
    1983
    Curse of the Pink Panther as
    Sir Charles Litton
    1983
    Better Late Than Never as
    Nick Cartland
    1982
    Trail of the Pink Panther as
    Sir Charles Litton
    1980
    The Sea Wolves as
    Colonel W. H. Grice
    1980
    Rough Cut as
    Chief Insp. Cyril Willis
    1980
    A Man Called Intrepid as
    William Stephenson
    1980
    A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square as
    Ivan
    1979
    A Man Called Intrepid (TV Mini Series) as
    Sir William Stephenson
    - Episode #1.3 (1979) - Sir William Stephenson
    - Episode #1.2 (1979) - Sir William Stephenson
    - Episode #1.1 (1979) - Sir William Stephenson
    1979
    Escape to Athena as
    Professor Blake
    1978
    Death on the Nile as
    Colonel Race
    1977
    Candleshoe as
    Priory
    1976
    Murder by Death as
    Dick Charleston
    1976
    No Deposit, No Return as
    J.W. Osborne
    1975
    The Remarkable Rocket (TV Movie) as
    Narrator (voice)
    1975
    Paper Tiger as
    'Major' Bradbury
    1974
    The Canterville Ghost (TV Movie) as
    The Ghost - Sir Simon de Canterville
    1974
    Old Dracula as
    Count Dracula
    1972
    King, Queen, Knave as
    Charles Dreyer
    1971
    The Statue as
    Alex Bolt
    1969
    The Brain as
    Colonel Carol Matthews
    1969
    The Extraordinary Seaman as
    Lt. Commander Finchhaven, R.N.
    1968
    Before Winter Comes as
    Major Burnside
    1968
    The Impossible Years as
    Jonathan Kingsley
    1968
    Prudence and the Pill as
    Gerald Hardcastle
    1967
    Casino Royale as
    Sir James Bond
    1966
    Eye of the Devil as
    Philippe de Montfaucon
    1966
    Where the Spies Are as
    Dr. Jason Love
    1965
    Lady L as
    Dicky, Lord Lendale
    1964
    The Rogues (TV Series) as
    Alec Fleming
    - A Daring Step Backward (1965) - Alec Fleming
    - Mr. White's Christmas (1965) - Alec Fleming (credit only)
    - Grave Doubts (1965) - Alec Fleming (credit only)
    - Wherefore Art Thou, Harold? (1965) - Alec Fleming (credit only)
    - Our Men in Marawat (1965) - Alec Fleming (credit only)
    - The Pigeons of Paris (1965) - Alec Fleming (credit only)
    - The Bartered MacBride (1965) - Alec Fleming (credit only)
    - The Laughing Lady of Luxor (1965) - Alec Fleming (credit only)
    - Run for the Money (1965) - Alec Fleming (credit only)
    - Bow to a Master (1965) - Alec Fleming (credit only)
    - The Diamond-Studded Pie (1965) - Alec Fleming (credit only)
    - The Golden Ocean (1965) - Alec Fleming (credit only)
    - Bless You, G. Carter Huntington (1965) - Alec Fleming
    - Gambit by the Golden Gate (1965) - Alec Fleming
    - Money Is for Burning (1965) - Alec Fleming (credit only)
    - The Real Russian Caviar (1964) - Alec Fleming (credit only)
    - Hugger-Mugger, by the Sea (1964) - Alec Fleming (credit only)
    - The Computer Goes West (1964) - Alec Fleming (credit only)
    - The Boston Money Party (1964) - Alec Fleming (credit only)
    - Plavonia, Hail and Farewell (1964) - Alec Fleming (credit only)
    - Fringe Benefits (1964) - Alec Fleming
    - Take Me in Paris (1964) - Alec Fleming (credit only)
    - Two of a Kind (1964) - Alec Fleming (credit only)
    - The Project Man (1964) - Alec Fleming (credit only)
    - Death of a Fleming (1964) - Alec Fleming
    - House of Cards (1964) - Alec Fleming
    - Viva Diaz! (1964) - Alec Fleming
    - The Stefanini Dowry (1964) - Alec Fleming
    - The Day They Gave Diamonds Away (1964) - Alec Fleming
    - The Personal Touch (1964) - Alec Fleming
    1964
    Bedtime Story as
    Lawrence Jameson
    1963
    The Pink Panther as
    Sir Charles Litton
    1963
    Burke's Law (TV Series) as
    Harvey Cleeve
    - Who Killed Billy Jo? (1963) - Harvey Cleeve (as David Niven the World's Greatest Juggler)
    1963
    55 Days at Peking as
    Sir Arthur Robertson
    1962
    Conquered City as
    Maj. Peter Whitfield
    1962
    Guns of Darkness as
    Tom Jordan
    1962
    The Road to Hong Kong as
    Lama Who Remembers Lady Chatterley's Lover (uncredited)
    1961
    The Best of Enemies as
    Maj. Richardson
    1961
    The Guns of Navarone as
    Cpl. John Anthony Miller
    1960
    Please Don't Eat the Daisies as
    Laurence Mackay
    1960
    The DuPont Show with June Allyson (TV Series) as
    Marcus Dodds
    - The Trench Coat (1960) - Marcus Dodds
    1959
    Happy Anniversary as
    Chris Walters
    1959
    Ask Any Girl as
    Miles Doughton
    1957
    Zane Grey Theatre (TV Series) as
    Cameo / Milo Brant / Allen Raikes
    - Checkmate (1959) - Cameo (uncredited)
    - The Accuser (1958) - Milo Brant
    - Village of Fear (1957) - Allen Raikes
    1958
    Separate Tables as
    Major Angus Pollock
    1957
    Goodyear Theatre (TV Series) as
    Charles Enright / 'Jeffrey Collins' / Paul Evans / ...
    - Decision by Terror (1958) - Charles Enright
    - Taps for Jeffrey (1958) - 'Jeffrey Collins'
    - In the Dark (1957) - Paul Evans
    - The Tinhorn (1957) - Jeff Carleton
    - Danger by Night (1957) - Alan Kevin
    1957
    Alcoa Theatre (TV Series) as
    Robert Medhill / Ray Crittenden / Paul Martel / ...
    - My Wife's Next Husband (1958) - Robert Medhill
    - The Fatal Charm (1958) - Ray Crittenden
    - Night Caller (1958) - Paul Martel
    - In the Dark (1958) - Paul Evans
    - Episode dated 23 December 1957 (1957) - Jeff Carleton
    - Circumstantial (1957) - Mark Garron
    1958
    Bonjour Tristesse as
    Raymond
    1957
    My Man Godfrey as
    Godfrey Smith
    1957
    Mr. Adams and Eve (TV Series)
    - Taming of the Shrew (1957)
    1957
    The Little Hut as
    Henry Brittingham-Brett
    1957
    Oh, Men! Oh, Women! as
    Dr. Alan Coles
    1956
    Around the World in 80 Days as
    Phileas Fogg
    1956
    The Silken Affair as
    Roger Tweakham
    1952
    Four Star Playhouse (TV Series) as
    Lee / Ted / Jim Kenyon / ...
    - Second Chance (1956) - Lee
    - Touch and Go (1956) - Ted
    - The Rites of Spring (1956) - Jim Kenyon
    - Red Wine (1956) - David
    - Safe Keeping (1956) - Frank
    - Tunnel of Fear (1956) - Larkin
    - Here Comes the Suit (1955) - Philip
    - Full Circle (1955) - Maxwell
    - The Firing Squad (1955) - Adams
    - Broken Journey (1955) - Cookie
    - Uncle Fred Flits By (1955) - Uncle Fred
    - Madeira, Madeira (1955) - William Hallerton (uncredited)
    - The Collar (1955) - Wyeth
    - Henry and the Psychopathic Horse (1955) - Henry
    - Tusitala (1955) - Robert Louis Stevenson
    - Breakfast in Bed (1955) - Charles
    - The Answer (1954) - Deacon
    - Meet a Lonely Man (1954) - George
    - Vote of Confidence (1954) - Tony Stewart
    - Never Explain (1954) - Hal Winters
    - Village in the City (1954) - Royal Thurston
    - The Book (1954) - John
    - An Operation in Money (1954) - Andy Fields
    - The Bomb (1954) - Richard Lilliam
    - A Man of the World (1953) - Andy
    - For Art's Sake (1953) - Ted Parker
    - A Matter of Advice (1953) - Doctor Gentry
    - Finale (1953) - Steve Carlyle / Roger Carlyle
    - To Whom It May Concern (1953) - Bingham
    - Night Ride (1953) - Phil Weston
    - No Identity (1953) - Mitch
    - The Man on the Train (1953) - William Langford
    - The Island (1952) - Doctor
    1956
    The Birds and the Bees as
    Colonel Patrick Henry Harris
    1956
    The Star and the Story (TV Series) as
    Johnny
    - The Thin Line (1956) - Johnny
    1955
    The King's Thief as
    James - Duke of Brampton
    1954
    Court Martial as
    Carrington
    1954
    Tonight's the Night as
    Jasper O'Leary
    1954
    The Love Lottery as
    Rex Allerton
    1953
    The Moon Is Blue as
    David Slater
    1952
    Hollywood Opening Night (TV Series)
    - Uncle Fred Flits By (1953)
    - Sword Play (1952)
    1952
    Robert Montgomery Presents (TV Series) as
    Sheffield
    - The Sheffield Story (1952) - Sheffield
    1952
    Celanese Theatre (TV Series) as
    Alan Squier
    - The Petrified Forest (1952) - Alan Squier
    1952
    Chesterfield Presents (TV Series)
    - A Moment of Memory (1952)
    1952
    Betty Crocker Star Matinee (TV Series)
    - The Willow and I (1952)
    1951
    The Lady Says No as
    Bill Shelby
    1951
    Island Rescue as
    Maj. Valentine Moreland
    1951
    Schlitz Playhouse (TV Series)
    - Not a Chance (1951)
    1951
    Soldiers Three as
    Capt. Pindenny
    1951
    Happy Go Lovely as
    B.G. Bruno
    1950
    Nash Airflyte Theatre (TV Series) as
    Arthur Carstairs
    - Portrait of Lydia (1950) - Arthur Carstairs
    1950
    The Toast of New Orleans as
    Jacques Riboudeaux
    1949
    A Kiss for Corliss as
    Kenneth Marquis
    1949
    The Fighting Pimpernel as
    Sir Percy Blakeney / The Scarlet Pimpernel
    1949
    A Kiss in the Dark as
    Eric Phillips
    1948
    Enchantment as
    General Sir Roland Dane
    1948
    Bonnie Prince Charlie as
    Prince Charles Edward Stuart
    1947
    The Bishop's Wife as
    Henry Brougham
    1947
    The Other Love as
    Dr. Anthony Stanton
    1946
    Magnificent Doll as
    Aaron Burr
    1946
    The Perfect Marriage as
    Dale Williams
    1946
    Stairway to Heaven as
    Peter Carter
    1944
    The Way Ahead as
    Lt. Jim Perry
    1942
    Spitfire as
    Geoffrey Crisp
    1939
    Raffles as
    Raffles
    1939
    Eternally Yours as
    Tony aka The Great Arturo
    1939
    The Real Glory as
    Lt. Terence McCool
    1939
    Bachelor Mother as
    David Merlin
    1939
    Wuthering Heights as
    Edgar
    1938
    The Dawn Patrol as
    Scott
    1938
    Three Blind Mice as
    Steve Harrington
    1938
    Four Men and a Prayer as
    Christopher Leigh
    1938
    Bluebeard's Eighth Wife as
    Albert De Regnier
    1937
    Dinner at the Ritz as
    Paul de Brack
    1937
    The Prisoner of Zenda as
    Fritz von Tarlenheim
    1937
    We Have Our Moments as
    Joe Gilling
    1936
    Beloved Enemy as
    Gerald Preston
    1936
    The Charge of the Light Brigade as
    Capt. Randall
    1936
    Thank You, Jeeves! as
    Bertie Wooster
    1936
    Dodsworth as
    Captain Lockert
    1936
    Palm Springs as
    George Britell
    1936
    Rose-Marie as
    Teddy (as David Nivens)
    1935
    Splendor as
    Clancey Lorrimore
    1935
    Mutiny on the Bounty as
    Able-Bodied Seaman (uncredited)
    1935
    A Feather in Her Hat as
    Leo Cartwright
    1935
    Barbary Coast as
    Cockney Sailor Thrown Out of Saloon (uncredited)
    1935
    Without Regret as
    Bill Gage
    1934
    Cleopatra as
    Slave (uncredited)
    1933
    Eyes of Fate as
    Man at Race Course (uncredited)
    1932
    There Goes the Bride as
    Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
    Producer
    1957
    Zane Grey Theatre (TV Series) (producer - 1 episode)
    - Village of Fear (1957) - (producer - uncredited)
    1952
    Four Star Playhouse (TV Series) (producer - 28 episodes)
    - Second Chance (1956) - (producer)
    - Touch and Go (1956) - (producer)
    - The Rites of Spring (1956) - (producer)
    - Red Wine (1956) - (producer)
    - Safe Keeping (1956) - (producer)
    - Tunnel of Fear (1956) - (producer)
    - Here Comes the Suit (1955) - (producer)
    - Full Circle (1955) - (producer)
    - The Firing Squad (1955) - (producer)
    - Broken Journey (1955) - (producer)
    - Uncle Fred Flits By (1955) - (producer)
    - The Collar (1955) - (producer)
    - Henry and the Psychopathic Horse (1955) - (producer)
    - Tusitala (1955) - (producer)
    - Breakfast in Bed (1955) - (producer)
    - The Answer (1954) - (producer)
    - Meet a Lonely Man (1954) - (producer)
    - Vote of Confidence (1954) - (producer)
    - Never Explain (1954) - (producer)
    - A Man of the World (1953) - (producer)
    - For Art's Sake (1953) - (producer)
    - A Matter of Advice (1953) - (producer)
    - Finale (1953) - (producer)
    - To Whom It May Concern (1953) - (producer)
    - Night Ride (1953) - (producer)
    - No Identity (1953) - (producer)
    - The Man on the Train (1953) - (producer)
    - The Island (1952) - (producer)
    Director
    1958
    Zane Grey Theatre (TV Series) (2 episodes)
    - Wayfarers (1960)
    - The Vaunted (1958)
    Soundtrack
    1956
    Around the World in 80 Days (performer: "Have Courage to Say No" - uncredited)
    1949
    Inside U.S.A. with Chevrolet (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
    - David Niven (1949) - (performer: "Way Up North")
    1938
    The Dawn Patrol (performer: "Plum and Apple" - uncredited)
    1936
    Dodsworth (performer: "The Moon of Manakoora")
    Thanks
    2011
    Special Collector's Edition (TV Series) (in memory of - 1 episode)
    - 55 días en Pekín (2011) - (in memory of)
    Self
    1983
    Errol Flynn: Portrait of a Swashbuckler (Video documentary) as
    Self - Co-starred in 'The Dawn Patrol'
    1982
    Hour Magazine (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode dated 4 February 1982 (1982) - Self
    1972
    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (TV Series) as
    Self / Self - Guest
    - Episode dated 10 November 1981 (1981) - Self - Guest
    - Episode dated 24 October 1975 (1975) - Self
    - Episode dated 26 April 1972 (1972) - Self
    1981
    Tomorrow Coast to Coast (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode dated 4 November 1981 (1981) - Self
    1972
    Parkinson (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode #11.1 (1981) - Self
    - Episode #5.4 (1975) - Self
    - Episode #2.16 (1972) - Self
    1981
    Talking Film (TV Series) as
    Self
    - David Lean & Sir Carol Reed (1981) - Self
    1981
    AFI Life Achievement Award (TV Series) as
    Self - Host
    - AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Fred Astaire (1981) - Self - Host
    1980
    Ciné regards (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - Hollywood USA: David Niven (1980) - Self
    1979
    Christmas Snowtime Special (TV Special) as
    Self
    1979
    ABBA in Switzerland (TV Movie) as
    Self (uncredited)
    1978
    Death on the Nile: Making of Featurette (TV Movie) as
    Self / Colonel Johnny Race
    1975
    Survival (TV Series documentary) as
    Self - Narrator
    - Survival Special: The Leopard That Changed Its Spots (1978) - Self - Narrator (voice)
    - Survival Special: The Family That Lives with Elephants (1976) - Self - Narrator
    - Safari by Balloon (1975) - Self - Narrator
    1978
    Speed Fever (Documentary) as
    Self
    1977
    Hollywood Greats (TV Series documentary) as
    Self / Self - Interviewee
    - Ronald Colman (1978) - Self
    - Errol Flynn (1977) - Self - Interviewee
    1977
    Read All About It (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode #4.6 (1977) - Self
    1972
    The Mike Douglas Show (TV Series) as
    Self - Actor
    - Episode #16.78 (1977) - Self - Actor
    - Episode #16.60 (1976) - Self - Actor
    - Episode #15.34 (1975) - Self - Actor
    - Episode #11.108 (1972) - Self - Actor
    1976
    Telecinema (TV Series) as
    Self
    1976
    Looks Familiar (TV Series) as
    Self - Guest
    - David Niven Special (1976) - Self - Guest
    1976
    David Niven's World (TV Series documentary) as
    Self - Host
    - Episode dated 4 February 1976 (1976) - Self - Host
    1971
    V.I.P.-Schaukel (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - Episode #5.3 (1975) - Self
    - Episode #1.2 (1971) - Self
    1975
    Dinah! (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode #2.15 (1975) - Self
    - Episode #2.6 (1975) - Self
    1974
    The 46th Annual Academy Awards (TV Special) as
    Self - Co-Host
    1973
    The Forbidden Desert of the Danakil (TV Special documentary) as
    Narrator
    1973
    ABC Late Night (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - Jack Paar Tonight (1973) - Self
    1973
    Jack Paar Tonite (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode #1.13 (1973) - Self
    1972
    The David Frost Show (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode #4.168 (1972) - Self
    - Episode #4.108 (1972) - Self
    1971
    The Dick Cavett Show (TV Series) as
    Self / Self - Guest
    - Episode dated 27 April 1972 (1972) - Self
    - David Niven/Lynn Redgrave (1972) - Self - Guest
    - David Niven (1971) - Self
    1971
    The Jarvis Collection: Scotland Yard (TV Movie documentary) as
    Self / Raffles
    1971
    Aquarius (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - Royal Jamboree/The Life and Times of David Niven Esq (1971) - Self
    1968
    Paris aktuell (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - Episode #1.5 (1968) - Self
    1967
    The Merv Griffin Show (TV Series) as
    Self
    - David Niven, Oskar Werner, Morey Amsterdam (1967) - Self
    1967
    Today (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode dated 27 March 1967 (1967) - Self
    1966
    All Eyes on Sharon Tate (Documentary short) as
    Self - Interviewee
    1966
    The 38th Annual Academy Awards (TV Special) as
    Self (video)
    1966
    Cinema (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - David Niven (1966) - Self
    1964
    The 36th Annual Academy Awards (TV Special) as
    Self
    1962
    The Dick Powell Theatre (TV Series) as
    Self - Host / Self - Guest Host
    - Epilogue (1963) - Self - Host
    - Thunder in a Forgotten Town (1963) - Self - Host (uncredited)
    - Apples Don't Fall Far (1963) - Self - Guest Host (uncredited)
    - The Judge (1963) - Self - Host
    - The Rage of Silence (1963) - Self - Host
    - The Great Anatole (1962) - Self - Host
    1961
    Honeymoon on Rhodes (Short) as
    Self
    1961
    Here's Hollywood (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode #1.232 (1961) - Self
    - Episode #1.231 (1961) - Self
    1952
    What's My Line? (TV Series) as
    Self - Guest Panelist / Self - Panelist / Self - Mystery Guest
    - Tom Poston (1960) - Self - Guest Panelist
    - Arlene Dahl (2) (1959) - Self - Guest Panelist
    - Paul Newman (1959) - Self - Guest Panelist
    - Roy Rogers (1958) - Self - Guest Panelist
    - Jane Wyatt and Robert Young (1958) - Self - Panelist
    - Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe & Bishop Fulton J. Sheen (1956) - Self - Guest Panelist
    - Jo Stafford (1956) - Self - Guest Panelist
    - David Niven (1952) - Self - Mystery Guest
    1959
    Premier Khrushchev in the USA (Documentary) as
    Self
    1959
    The David Niven Show (TV Series) as
    Self - Host / Inquisitor
    - Good Deed (1959) - Self - Host (uncredited)
    - The Vengeance (1959) - Self - Host (uncredited)
    - Sticks and Stones (1959) - Self - Host (uncredited)
    - Portrait (1959) - Self - Host (uncredited)
    - Maggie Malone (1959) - Self - Host
    - The Last Room (1959) - Self - Host / Inquisitor
    - The Lady from Winnetka (1959) - Self - Host (uncredited)
    - The Twist of the Key (1959) - Self - Host (uncredited)
    - The Promise (1959) - Self - Host (uncredited)
    - Backtrack (1959) - Self - Host (uncredited)
    - Life Line (1959) - Self - Host (uncredited)
    - Fortune's Folly (1959) - Self - Host (uncredited)
    1959
    The 31st Annual Academy Awards (TV Special) as
    Self - Co-Host & Winner
    1959
    The 16th Annual Golden Globe Awards (TV Special) as
    Self - Winner
    1959
    Zane Grey Theatre (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Day of the Killing (1959) - Self (uncredited)
    1958
    Glamorous Hollywood (Documentary short) as
    Self
    1958
    The All-Star Christmas Show (TV Special) as
    Self
    1954
    The Jack Benny Program (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Stars' Wives Show (1958) - Self
    - David Niven Show (1954) - Self
    1958
    The 30th Annual Academy Awards (TV Special) as
    Self - Co-Host
    1957
    The Return of Phileas Fogg (Short) as
    Phileas Fogg
    1957
    Cinépanorama (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - Episode dated 26 September 1957 (1957) - Self
    1957
    This Is Scotland (TV Special) as
    Self
    1956
    The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Tony Bennett, Andy Griffith, the New York Rangers, live premiere of the motion picture "Around the World in 80 Days" (1956) - Self
    1956
    Film Fanfare (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode #1.17 (1956) - Self
    - Episode #1.8 (1956) - Self
    1954
    The Bob Hope Show (TV Series) as
    Self
    - David Niven, Vivian Blaine (1955) - Self
    - David Niven, Rosemary Clooney, Jose Greco (1954) - Self
    - David Niven, Janis Paige, Cass Daley, Verna Felton, Elvia Allman, Jack Benny, Hy Averback (1954) - Self
    1954
    Light's Diamond Jubilee (TV Movie documentary) as
    Self
    1953
    I've Got a Secret (TV Series) as
    Self - Guest
    - David Niven (1953) - Self - Guest
    1952
    All Star Revue (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Host: Tallulah Bankhead; Guest: David Niven, George Jessel, Vaughn Monroe, Paul Hartman, Patsy Kelly, Phil Foster, Ron Fletcher, Meredith Willson & his Orchestra (1952) - Self
    1952
    The Name's the Same (TV Series) as
    Self - Contestant
    - David Niven (1952) - Self - Contestant
    1952
    The James Melton Show (TV Series) as
    Self
    - David Niven (1952) - Self
    1950
    The Ed Sullivan Show (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode #4.15 (1950) - Self
    1950
    The Peter Lind Hayes Show (TV Series) as
    Self
    - David Niven (1950) - Self
    1950
    The Saturday Night Revue with Jack Carter (TV Series) as
    Self - Actor
    - David Niven (1950) - Self - Actor
    1949
    Inside U.S.A. with Chevrolet (TV Series) as
    Self
    - David Niven (1949) - Self
    1941
    Unarmed Combat (Short) as
    Self - Narrator
    1936
    Screen Snapshots Series 16, No. 4 (Documentary short) as
    Self
    Archive Footage
    -
    Charmed Lives: A Family Romance (Documentary) (filming) as
    Self
    2021
    Vivien Leigh, autant en emporte le vent (Documentary) as
    Self
    2020
    Hollywood Insider (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Remembering Sean Connery: A Tribute to the Suave Legend Who Launched the James Bond Franchise (2020) - Self
    - Introduction Compilation: All 'Bond- James Bond' 007 Introductions 1962 to 2020 (2020) - Self
    2020
    Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind (TV Movie documentary) as
    Self - Actor
    2019
    Claudia Cardinale, la créature du secret (TV Movie documentary) as
    Self (uncredited)
    2019
    The Oscars Library: A Tribute to the Academy Awards (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Al Best Actor & Best Actress Winners Speeches Since 1927/28 (2019) - Self
    2019
    What the Durrells Did Next (TV Movie documentary) as
    Self - Gerald's Guest
    2019
    Auto/Biography (TV Series documentary) as
    Self - James Bond
    - The Case of the Missing Movie Cars (2019) - Self - James Bond
    2018
    La galerie France 5 (TV Series documentary) as
    Dracula
    - Nous sommes une légende: Dracula l'éternel (2018) - Dracula
    2017
    Le Fossoyeur de Films (TV Mini Series documentary) as
    Dracula
    - Dracula (2017) - Dracula
    2016
    Leslie Howard: The Man Who Gave a Damn (Documentary) as
    Self
    2013
    Talking Pictures (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - David Niven: Talking Pictures (2013) - Self
    2012
    Too Young to Die (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - Sharon Tate - Das Ende der Unschuld (2012) - Self (uncredited)
    2011
    A Night at the Movies: Merry Christmas! (TV Movie documentary)
    2010
    Special Collector's Edition (TV Series) as
    Sir Arthur Robertson / Sir James Bond / 007 / ...
    - 55 días en Pekín (2011) - Sir Arthur Robertson
    - Casino Royale (2011) - Sir James Bond / 007
    - Especial Scope (2010) - Phileas Fogg (uncredited)
    2009
    Vegas: The City the Mob Made (TV Series documentary) as
    Self - Actor
    - On Top of the World (2009) - Self - Actor
    2008
    Il falso bugiardo as
    Self
    2008
    Nudes in the News (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Show #187 (2008) - Self
    2008
    The 80th Annual Academy Awards (TV Special) as
    Self (uncredited)
    2007
    Inside (TV Series documentary) as
    Self - Actor
    - Vegas Mafia (2007) - Self - Actor
    2007
    Underworld Histories (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Las Vegas (2007) - Self
    2006
    Timeshift (TV Series documentary) as
    Peter Carter
    - Parallel Worlds: A User's Guide (2006) - Peter Carter (uncredited)
    2006
    20 to 1 (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - World's Best Love Songs (2006) - Self
    1985
    Hollywood Greats (TV Series documentary) as
    Self / Various Roles / Various Characters
    - David Niven (2005) - Self / Various Roles
    - David Niven (1985) - Self / Various Characters
    2005
    Ciclo Agatha Christie (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - Sobre 'Muerte en el Nilo' (2005) - Self
    2005
    50 y más (TV Special)
    2005
    The Adventures of Errol Flynn (TV Movie documentary) as
    Self - Actor
    2004
    Spitfire Ace (TV Series documentary) as
    Geoffrey Crisp
    - First of the Few (2004) - Geoffrey Crisp
    2004
    Monaco - Le circuit des princes (TV Movie documentary) as
    Self
    2003
    Bob Hope at 100 (TV Movie documentary) as
    Self (uncredited)
    2001
    American Masters (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies (2001) - Self
    2000
    Hollywood Remembers (TV Series documentary)
    - David Niven
    2000
    Sir John Mills' Moving Memories (Video documentary) as
    Self
    2000
    The Many Faces of Dracula (Video documentary) as
    Count Dracula
    2000
    Secret History (TV Series documentary) as
    Geoffrey Crisp
    - The Few (2000) - Geoffrey Crisp
    1999
    Film Breaks (TV Series documentary)
    - Matinée Idols (1999)
    1999
    The Rat Pack (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    1998
    The Colour Merchant (Video documentary short) as
    Peter Carter (uncredited)
    1997
    Bogart: The Untold Story (TV Movie documentary) as
    Self - Funeral Attendee (uncredited)
    1996
    Secret Lives (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - Errol Flynn (1996) - Self
    1995
    Sprockets (TV Series) as
    Tony aka The Great Arturo
    - Heart Throbs (1995) - Tony aka The Great Arturo
    1995
    Parkinson: The Interviews (TV Series) as
    Self
    - David Niven (1995) - Self
    1993
    Northern Exposure (TV Series) as
    Fritz von Tarlenheim
    - Sleeping with the Enemy (1993) - Fritz von Tarlenheim (uncredited)
    1992
    The Late Show (TV Series documentary) as
    Self - appears in Powell's home movie
    - Michael Powell (1992) - Self - appears in Powell's home movie (uncredited)
    1992
    Oscar's Greatest Moments (Video documentary) as
    Self
    1991
    Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker (Documentary) as
    actor 'Bonjour Tristesse' (uncredited)
    1990
    Hollywood Heaven: Tragic Lives, Tragic Deaths (Video documentary)
    1990
    Washes Whiter (TV Series documentary) as
    Self - Maxwell House commercial 1976
    - The Getaway People (1990) - Self - Maxwell House commercial 1976 (uncredited)
    1988
    Monsters & Maniacs (Video documentary) as
    Self
    1988
    Gregory Peck: His Own Man (Documentary) as
    Self
    1987
    Best of British (TV Series documentary)
    - The War Game (1987)
    - The Heroes (1987)
    1986
    Sex Violence & Values: Changing Images (TV Special) as
    Uncomfortable Man (uncredited)
    1985
    Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers (Video documentary) as
    Self
    1985
    The Moviemakers (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Best of Britain (1985)
    - Best of Britain (1985) - Self
    1985
    The Rock 'n' Roll Years (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - 1957 (1985) - Self
    1984
    The 56th Annual Academy Awards (TV Special documentary) as
    Self
    1983
    Bonds Are Forever (Video documentary) as
    James Bond / Self
    1982
    The Magical World of Disney (TV Series) as
    J.W. Osborne
    - No Deposit, No Return: Part 2 (1982) - J.W. Osborne
    - No Deposit, No Return: Part 1 (1982) - J.W. Osborne
    1982
    Parkinson (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Eleven Years of Parkinson (1982) - Self
    1981
    Arena (TV Series documentary) as
    Peter Carter
    - A Pretty British Affair (1981) - Peter Carter (uncredited)
    1981
    Margret Dünser, auf der Suche nach den Besonderen (TV Movie documentary) as
    Self
    1978
    V.I.P.-Schaukel (TV Series documentary) as
    Phileas Fogg
    - Episode #8.2 (1978) - Phileas Fogg
    1976
    Bob Hope's World of Comedy (TV Special) as
    Self
    1975
    Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television (TV Special) as
    Self
    1970
    Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary TV Special (TV Special) as
    Self (uncredited)
    1967
    Lionpower from MGM (Documentary short) as
    Cmdr. John Finchhaven, RN (uncredited)
    1963
    Hollywood and the Stars (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - The Man Called Bogart (1963) - Self (uncredited)
    1962
    Film Profile (TV Series) as
    Self
    - David Niven (1962) - Self
    1960
    The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (TV Series) as
    Laurence Mackay
    - The Magic Dishes (1960) - Laurence Mackay
    1959
    The Ed Sullivan Show (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode #12.25 (1959) - Self
    1951
    The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Story (Documentary)

    References

    David Niven Wikipedia


    Similar Topics