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David Niven

David Niven
David Niven 4 Allan Warren.jpg
David Niven in 1973
Born James David Graham Niven
(1910-03-01)1 March 1910
Belgravia, London, England
Died 29 July 1983(1983-07-29) (aged 73)
Château-d'Œx, Switzerland
Cause of death Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Resting place Château-d'Œx Cemetery
Nationality British
Education Heatherdown Preparatory School
Stowe School
Alma mater Royal Military College, Sandhurst
Occupation Actor, author
Years active 1932–83
Spouse(s) Primula Susan Rollo (m. 1940; d. 1946)
Hjördis Paulina Genberg Tersmeden (m. 1948–83)
Children 4
Military career
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  British Army
Years of service 1930–1933
1940–1945
Rank Lieutenant Colonel
Service number 44959
Unit Highland Light Infantry
Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Legion of Merit

James David Graham Niven (1 March 1910 – 29 July 1983) was an English actor 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).

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 Highland Light Infantry, 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 part in MGM'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.


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