David Niven
The debonair English actor who won an Oscar for Separate Tables.
James David Graham Niven was born in central London on 1 March 1910 to an upper-middle-class family. His father, a soldier of Scottish descent, was killed in the First World War during the Gallipoli campaign in 1915. His mother later remarried a Conservative politician and diplomat whom Niven and his sister deeply disliked. Niven attended Heatherdown Preparatory School and Stowe School before entering the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. After Sandhurst, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Highland Light Infantry. Bored with peacetime military service, he developed an interest in acting and secured a role as an extra in the British film *There Goes the Bride* (1932). He resigned his commission in 1933, moved to New York, and then travelled to Hollywood. There, he hired an agent and obtained several small film parts through 1935, including a non-speaking role in *Mutiny on the Bounty* (1935), which led to a contract with Samuel Goldwyn. Initially small roles in major films followed, such as *Dodsworth* (1936), *The Charge of the Light Brigade* (1936), and *The Prisoner of Zenda* (1937). By 1938, he was starring as a leading man, notably in *Wuthering Heights* (1939). With the outbreak of the Second World War, Niven returned to Britain, rejoined the army as a lieutenant, and co-starred in the morale-building film *The First of the Few* (1942) about the development of the Spitfire. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in *Separate Tables* (1958), a performance that remains the shortest ever to win that category. His other notable films include *A Matter of Life and Death* (1946), *The Bishop's Wife* (1947), *Around the World in 80 Days* (1956), *The Guns of Navarone* (1961), *The Pink Panther* (1963), and *Casino Royale* (1967). He also earned acclaim as a memoirist and novelist.
- born
- 1 March 1910, Belgrave Mansions, Grosvenor Gardens, London
- died
- 29 July 1983
- field
- Actor, soldier, memoirist, novelist
- nationality
- English
- known_for
- Leading man in classic Hollywood films; Academy Award for Best Actor for Separate Tables (1958)
Lore & Background
Niven was born at Belgrave Mansions, Grosvenor Gardens, London, to William Edward Graham Niven and Henrietta Julia Niven. He attended Heatherdown Preparatory School and Stowe School before gaining a place at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. After Sandhurst, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Highland Light Infantry. He resigned his commission in 1933, relocated to New York, then travelled to Hollywood. Upon the outbreak of the Second World War, Niven returned to Britain and rejoined the army, being recommissioned as a lieutenant.
Reader's Guide
Niven received the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Separate Tables (1958). His other notable films include A Matter of Life and Death (1946), The Bishop's Wife (1947), Enchantment (1948), The Elusive 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 on the Nile (1978). He also earned acclaim and notoriety playing Sir Charles Lytton in The Pink Panther (1963) and James Bond in Casino Royale (1967).
Did You Know?
- Niven was born in central London, not Kirriemuir, Scotland, as he sometimes claimed.
- He was recommissioned as a lieutenant upon rejoining the army in World War II.
- His father was killed in the First World War during the Gallipoli campaign.
Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)
"Can you imagine being wonderfully over-paid for dressing up and playing games?" — David Niven "Going to war was the only unselfish thing I have ever done for humanity." — David Niven "Keep the circus going inside you, keep it going, don't take anything too seriously, it'll all work out in the end." — David Niven "Isn't it fascinating that probably the only laugh this man will ever get in his life is by stripping off his clothes and showing his shortcomings." — David Niven
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