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{{Short description|English actor, memoirist and novelist (1910–1983)}}
{{for|the air marshal|David Niven (RAF officer)}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}

{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix   = [[Lieutenant-Colonel (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant Colonel]]
| name               = David Niven
| image              = David Niven bw Allan Warren.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| caption            = Niven in 1973
| birth_name         = James David Graham Niven
| birth_date         = {{birth date|1910|3|1|df=yes}}
| birth_place        = [[Victoria, London]], England
| death_date         = {{death date and age|1983|7|29|1910|3|1|df=yes}}
| death_place        = [[Château-d'Œx]], Switzerland
| resting_place      = Château-d'Œx Cemetery
| education          = {{plainlist|
*[[Heatherdown Preparatory School]]
*[[Stowe School]]
}}
| alma_mater         = [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]]
| occupation         = {{flatlist|
*Actor
*soldier
*memoirist
*novelist
}}
| years_active       = 1932–1983
| notable_works      = [[David Niven on screen, stage, radio, record and in print|Full list]]
| spouse             = {{plainlist|
*{{marriage|Primula Susan Rollo|1940|1946|end=d}}
*{{marriage|[[Hjördis Genberg]]|1948}}
}}
| children           = 4, including [[David Niven Jr.|David Jr.]]
| module             = {{Infobox military person|embed=yes
| allegiance         = United Kingdom
| branch             = [[British Army]]
| serviceyears       = {{plainlist|
*1930–1933
*1940–1945
}}
| servicenumber      = 44959
| unit               = {{plainlist|
*[[Highland Light Infantry]]
*[[Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)]]
}}
| rank               = [[Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant colonel]]
| battles            = [[Second World War]]
| awards             = {{MilAward Desc|LOM|25px}}
}}
}}

'''James David Graham Niven''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|n|ɪ|v|ən}}; 1 March 1910 – 29 July 1983<ref>{{cite ODNB |title=Niven, (James) David Graham (1910–1983), actor and author |url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/index/101031503 |year=2004 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/31503 |access-date=8 April 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Obituaries |work=[[The Times]] |date=30 July 1983}}</ref>) was an English actor, soldier, [[Storytelling|raconteur]], memoirist and novelist. Niven was known as a handsome and debonair [[leading man]] in [[Classic Hollywood cinema|Classic Hollywood films]]. His accolades include an [[Academy Award]] and two [[Golden Globe Awards]] in addition to nominations for a [[British Academy Film Awards|BAFTA Award]] and two [[Emmy Awards]]. 

Born in central London to an upper-middle-class family, Niven 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]]. Upon developing an interest in acting, he found a role as an extra in the British film [[There Goes the Bride (1932 film)|''There Goes the Bride'']] (1932). Bored with the peacetime army, he resigned his commission in 1933, relocated to New York, then travelled to [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]]. There, he hired an agent and had several small parts in films through 1935, including a non-speaking role in [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]'s ''[[Mutiny on the Bounty (1935 film)|Mutiny on the Bounty]]'' (1935). This helped him gain a contract with [[Samuel Goldwyn]].

Parts, initially small, in major motion pictures followed, including ''[[Dodsworth (film)|Dodsworth]]'' (1936), ''[[The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936 film)|The Charge of the Light Brigade]]'' (1936), and ''[[The Prisoner of Zenda (1937 film)|The Prisoner of Zenda]]'' (1937). By 1938, he was starring as a leading man in films such as ''[[Wuthering Heights (1939 film)|Wuthering Heights]]'' (1939). Upon the outbreak of the [[Second World War]], Niven returned to Britain and rejoined the army, being recommissioned as a [[Lieutenant (British Army and Royal Marines)|lieutenant]]. In 1942, he co-starred in the morale-building film about the development of the renowned [[Supermarine Spitfire]] fighter plane, ''[[The First of the Few]]'' (1942).

Niven went on to receive the [[Academy Award for Best Actor]] for his role in ''[[Separate Tables (film)|Separate Tables]]'' (1958), for which he holds the [[List of Academy Award records#Shortest and longest Academy Award-winning and -nominated performances|record of shortest winning performance]] in that category (at 23 minutes and 39 seconds). His other notable films during this time period include ''[[A Matter of Life and Death (film)|A Matter of Life and Death]]'' (1946), ''[[The Bishop's Wife]]'' (1947), ''[[Enchantment (1948 film)|Enchantment]]'' (1948), ''[[The Elusive Pimpernel (1950 film)|The Elusive Pimpernel]]'' (1950), ''[[The Moon Is Blue (film)|The Moon Is Blue]]'' (1953), ''[[Around the World in 80 Days (1956 film)|Around the World in 80 Days]]'' (1956), ''[[My Man Godfrey (1957 film)|My Man Godfrey]]'' (1957), ''[[The Guns of Navarone (film)|The Guns of Navarone]]'' (1961), ''[[Murder by Death]]'' (1976), and ''[[Death on the Nile (1978 film)|Death on the Nile]]'' (1978). He also earned acclaim and notoriety playing Sir Charles Lytton in ''[[The Pink Panther (1963 film)|The Pink Panther]]'' (1963) and [[James Bond (literary character)|James Bond]] in ''[[Casino Royale (1967 film)|Casino Royale]]'' (1967).

==Early life and family==
James David Graham Niven was born on 1 March 1910 at [[Belgrave Mansions]], [[Grosvenor Gardens]], London, to William Edward Graham Niven (1878–1915) and his wife, Henrietta Julia (née Degacher) Niven (1878–1932).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Morley |first1=Sheridan |title=David Niven, Brief Lives |date=1997 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |location=Oxford |isbn=0198600879 |page=413}}</ref> He was named David after his birth on [[St David's Day]]. Niven later claimed he was born in [[Kirriemuir]], in the Scottish county of [[Angus, Scotland|Angus]] in 1909, but his birth certificate disproves this.<ref name="OtherSide">{{Cite book|last=Morley|first=Sheridan|author-link=Sheridan Morley|title=The Other Side of the Moon|year=1985|publisher=Weidenfeld and Nicolson|location=London|isbn=0-340-39643-1}}</ref> He had two older sisters and a brother: Margaret Joyce Niven (1900–1981), Henry Degacher Niven (1902–1953), and the sculptor [[Grizel Niven|Grizel Rosemary Graham Niven]] (1906–2007), who created the [[bronze sculpture]] ''Bessie'' that is presented to the annual winners of the [[Women's Prize for Fiction]].

Niven's father, William Niven, was of [[Scottish people|Scottish]] descent; he was killed in the [[First World War]] serving with the [[Berkshire Yeomanry]] during the [[Gallipoli campaign]] on 21 August 1915. He is buried in [[Green Hill Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery|Green Hill Cemetery]], Turkey, in the Special Memorial Section in Plot F. 10.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/602423 |title=Casualty details—Niven, William Edward Graham |publisher=[[Commonwealth War Graves Commission]] |access-date=4 September 2009}}</ref> Niven's paternal great-grandfather and namesake, David Graham Niven, (1811–1884) was from [[St Martins, Perth and Kinross|
St Martins]], a village in [[Perthshire]]. A physician, he married in [[Worcestershire]], and lived in [[Pershore]].

Niven's mother, Henrietta, was born in [[Brecon]], Wales. Her father was Captain (brevet Major) William Degacher (1841–1879) of the 1st Battalion, [[24th Regiment of Foot]], who was killed at the [[Battle of Isandlwana]] during the [[Anglo-Zulu War]] in 1879.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Times|title=Marriages|date= 26 October 1888}}</ref> Although born William Hitchcock, in 1874, he and his older brother Lieutenant Colonel Henry Degacher (1835–1902), both followed their father, Walter Henry Hitchcock, in taking their mother's maiden name of Degacher.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Times|title=Notices|date= 18 February 1874|page= 1}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armyunits/britishinfantry/24thfootdegacher.htm|title=Henry James Degacher CB|website=www.britishempire.co.uk|access-date=14 August 2020}}</ref> Henriette's mother was Julia Caroline Smith, the daughter of [[Lieutenant-General (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant General]] [[James Webber Smith]] [[Companion of the Order of the Bath|CB]].

After her husband's death in Turkey in 1915, Henrietta Niven remarried in London in 1917 to Conservative politician and diplomat Sir Thomas Walter Comyn-Platt (1869–1961).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hjordisniven.com/hjordis-genberg-niven-1948/1917-thomas-comyn-platt-henriette-niven/|title=1917 – David Niven's mother marries Thomas Comyn Platt| website=hjordisniven.com|date=17 December 2017 |access-date=19 June 2021}}</ref> David and his sister Grizel were close, and both loathed Comyn-Platt. The family moved to Rose Cottage in [[Bembridge]] on the [[Isle of Wight]] after selling their London home.<ref name="country">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.countrylife.co.uk/property/south-east-england-property-for-sale/david-nivens-idyllic-childhood-home-comes-sale-adored-happier-ever-210749|title=David Niven's idyllic childhood home comes up for sale: 'I adored it and was happier there than I had ever been' |magazine =[[Country Life (magazine)|Country Life]]|date= 23 January 2020|quote = Part of the reason that the young Niven enjoyed his school holidays in Bembridge so much is that his mother saw very clearly that her two teenage sons needed space and freedom to let their hair down — so much so, in fact, that she built an extension to the rear of the house which was quickly dubbed the 'Sin Wing'. [When] David and his brother used to come in rather noisily at night [...] his mother got a bit cross so she built two bedrooms and a bathroom at the back. }}</ref> In his 1971 memoir, ''[[The Moon's a Balloon]]'', Niven wrote fondly of his childhood home:
<blockquote>It became necessary for the house in London to be sold and our permanent address was now as advertised—a cottage which had a reputation for unreliability. 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. I adored it and was happier there than I had ever been, especially because, with a rare flash of genius, my mother decided that during the holidays she would be alone with her children. Uncle Tommy [Comyn-Platt] was barred—I don't know where he went—to the [[Carlton Club]] I suppose.<ref name="country"/></blockquote>
Literary editor and biographer, [[Graham Lord]], wrote in ''Niv: The Authorised Biography of David Niven'', that Comyn-Platt and Niven's mother may have been in an affair well before her husband's death in 1915 and that Comyn-Platt was actually Niven's biological father, a supposition that had some support among Niven's siblings. In a review of Lord's book, [[Hugh Massingberd]] from ''[[The Spectator]]'' stated photographic evidence did show a strong physical resemblance between Niven and Comyn-Platt that "would appear to confirm these theories, though photographs can often be misleading."<ref name="HM">{{cite magazine|last=Massingberd|first= Hugh|url=http://www.spectator.co.uk/books/20678/its-being-so-cheerful-that-keeps-me-going.thtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130421070632/http://www.spectator.co.uk/books/20678/its-being-so-cheerful-that-keeps-me-going.thtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 April 2013|title=It's being so cheerful that keeps me going|date= 15 November 2003|magazine=The Spectator|access-date= 25 May 2009}}</ref> Niven is said to have revealed that he knew Comyn-Platt was his real father a year before his own death in 1983.<ref name="Irish">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/books/the-flawed-real-life-of-the-perfect-movie-gentleman-26552274.html|title=The flawed real life of the perfect movie gentleman|newspaper=[[Irish Independent]]|date= 19 July 2009}}</ref>

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

<blockquote>Mr Croome, when he tired of pulling ears halfway out of our heads (I still have one that sticks out almost at right-angles thanks to this son of a bitch) and delivering, for the smallest mistake in [[Latin declension]], backhanded slaps that knocked one off one's bench, delighted in saying, 'Show me the hand that wrote this' — then bringing down the sharp edge of a heavy ruler across the offending wrist.<ref name="moon">{{cite book| isbn = 9780140239249|year= 1971|type= Reprint (2005)|title=The Moon's a Balloon|publisher= Penguin Books Limited|first= David|last= Niven|pages=38–45}}</ref></blockquote>

Years later, after joining the British Army, a vengeful Niven decided to return to the boarding school to pay a call on Mr Croome but he found the place abandoned and empty.<ref name="moon"/>
 
While attending school{{snd}}as was customary for the time{{snd}}Niven received many instances of [[corporal punishment]] owing to his inclination for pranks. It was this behaviour that finally led to his expulsion from his next school, [[Heatherdown Preparatory School]], at the age of {{frac|10|1|2}}. 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."<ref name="moon"/>

In 1928, while she was on holiday 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. Furious, her father rushed her to a London nursing home for a secret abortion. "All hell broke loose," remembered Elizabeth Duckworth, the Whigham family cook. Margaret Whigham adored Niven until the day he died; she was among the VIP guests at his London memorial service in 1983.<ref>{{cite book| title=Niv: The Authorised Biography of David Niven|first= Graham |last=Lord|publisher= Orion|year= 2004|page= 420}}</ref>

==Career==
===Military service===
From 1928, Niven attended the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]]. He did well at Sandhurst, which gave him the "officer and gentleman" bearing that was 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 that regiment wore [[Trews|tartan trews]] rather than the [[kilt]]). Having completed his training, he was commissioned as a [[second lieutenant]] in the [[British Army]] on 30 January 1930, and assigned to the Highland Light Infantry (HLI).<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33575 |supp= |pages=651–652 |date=31 January 1930}}</ref> He served with them for two years in [[Malta]] and then for a few months in [[Dover]]. In Malta, he became friends with the maverick [[Michael Trubshawe]], and served under [[Roy Urquhart]], future commander of the [[British 1st Airborne Division]].<ref name="Moon">{{cite book |author=David Niven |title=The Moon's a Balloon |year=1971 |publisher=Hamish Hamilton |location=London |isbn=0-340-15817-4 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/moonsballoon00davi}}</ref> 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. 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?" After McGeachin affirmed that he was, Niven quipped, "Did you have the misfortune to have me as your officer?" At that point, Niven had a brief but pleasant reunion.<ref>{{YouTube|T74qnT7WFZw|What's My Line? – Lerner & Loewe; Bishop Sheen; David Niven [panel] (21 October 1956)}}</ref>

Niven grew tired of the peacetime army. Though promoted to [[Lieutenant (British Army and Royal Marines)|lieutenant]] on 1 January 1933,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33907 |page=674 |date=31 January 1933}}</ref> 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."<ref name="Moon"/>

Lieutenant Niven resigned his commission on 6 September 1933.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33975 |page=5801 |date=5 September 1933}}</ref>

===Film career===
{{More citations needed|date=July 2021}}
==== 1935–1938: Early roles ====
When Niven presented himself at [[Central Casting]], he learned that he needed a [[work permit]] to reside and work in the United States. Since this required leaving the US, he went to [[Mexico]], where he worked as a "gun-man", cleaning and polishing the rifles of visiting American hunters. He received his [[Permanent residence (United States)|resident alien visa]] from the American consulate when his birth certificate arrived from [[UK|Britain]]. He returned to the US and was accepted by Central Casting as "Anglo-Saxon Type No. 2,008."<!--David Niven - Parkinson Interview Ji_K_jpCZSE --> Among the initial films in which he can be seen are ''[[Barbary Coast (film)|Barbary Coast]]'' (1935) and ''[[Mutiny on the Bounty (1935 film)|Mutiny on the Bounty]]'' (1935). He secured a small role in ''[[A Feather in Her Hat]]'' (1935) at [[Columbia Pictures|Columbia]] before returning to [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] for a bit role, billed as David Nivens, in ''[[Rose Marie (1936 film)|Rose Marie]]'' (1936).

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 again had a small role in ''[[Splendor (1935 film)|Splendor]]'' (1935). He was lent to MGM for a minor part in ''[[Rose Marie (1936 film)|Rose Marie]]'' (1936), then a larger one in ''[[Palm Springs (1936 film)|Palm Springs]]'' (1936) for [[Paramount Pictures]]. His first sizable role for Goldwyn came in ''[[Dodsworth (film)|Dodsworth]]'' (1936). In that same year he was again loaned out, to [[20th Century Fox]] to play [[Bertie Wooster]] in ''[[Thank You, Jeeves!]]'' (1936), before landing a significant role as a soldier in ''[[The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936 film)|The Charge of the Light Brigade]]'' (1936) at [[Warner Brothers]], an 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 was romantically involved. [[Universal Pictures]] used him in ''[[We Have Our Moments]]'' (1937) and he had a good supporting role in [[David O. Selznick]]'s ''[[The Prisoner of Zenda (1937 film)|The Prisoner of Zenda]]'' (1937).

====1938–1939: Leading man====
[[File:Errol Flynn and David Niven in The Dawn Patrol (1938 film) 02.png|right|thumb|With Errol Flynn in ''[[The Dawn Patrol (1938 film)|The Dawn Patrol]]'' (1938)]]
Fox Studios gave him the lead in a [[B movie|B picture]], ''[[Dinner at the Ritz]]'' (1938), and he again had a supporting role 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), also with Fox. He remained with Fox to play the part of a fake love interest in ''[[Three Blind Mice (1938 film)|Three Blind Mice]]'' (1938). Niven joined what became known as the Hollywood Raj, a group of British actors in Hollywood which included [[Gladys Cooper]], [[Cedric Hardwicke]], [[Boris Karloff]], [[Stan Laurel]], [[Basil Rathbone]], [[Ronald Colman]], [[Leslie Howard]],<ref>Eforgan, E. (2010) ''Leslie Howard: The Lost Actor.'' London: [[Vallentine Mitchell]]; p. 94 {{ISBN|978-0-85303-971-6}}</ref> and [[C. Aubrey Smith]]. 

Niven graduated to star parts in "A" films with ''[[The Dawn Patrol (1938 film)|The Dawn Patrol]]'' (1938) remake at Warners; although he was billed below Flynn and Rathbone, it was a leading role and the film did excellent business. Niven was reluctant to take part in ''[[Wuthering Heights (1939 film)|Wuthering Heights]]'' (1939) for Goldwyn, but eventually relented and the film was a big success. RKO borrowed him to play [[Ginger Rogers]]'s leading man in the romantic comedy ''[[Bachelor Mother]]'' (1939), which was another big hit. 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 (film)|Eternally Yours]]'' (1939). Finally, Goldwyn granted Niven a lead part in a major film, the title role as the eponymous gentleman safecracker in ''[[Raffles (1939 film)|Raffles]]'' (1939).

====1939–1945: Second World War====
The day 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, Washington, D.C.|British Embassy]] advised most actors to stay.<ref name=friedrich1986>{{cite book|last=Friedrich|first=Otto|title=City of Nets: A Portrait of Hollywood in the 1940s|year=1986|publisher=University of California Press|location=Berkeley and Los Angeles|isbn=0-520-20949-4|page=28|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0x8AFchW4JsC&pg=PA6}}</ref>

Niven was recommissioned as a lieutenant in the [[Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)]] on 25 February 1940,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34823 |supp=y|page=1978|date=5 September 1933}}</ref> and was assigned to a motor training battalion. He wanted something more exciting, however, and transferred to the [[British Commandos|Commandos]]. He was assigned to a training base at [[Inverailort House]] in the Western [[Scottish Highlands|Highlands]]. Niven later claimed credit for bringing future [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major General]] [[Sir Robert Laycock]] to the Commandos. Niven commanded "A" Squadron [[GHQ Liaison Regiment]], better known as "Phantom". He was promoted to war-substantive [[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|captain]] on 18 August 1941.<ref>{{cite book |date=1943 |title=The Quarterly Army List (October–December 1943: Part II) |location=London |publisher=[[HM Stationery Office]] |page=1368b |url=https://archive.org/details/armylistjanpart121944gre/page/1796/mode/2up}}</ref>

[[File:Eternally Yours still.jpg|right|thumb|With [[Loretta Young]] in ''[[Eternally Yours (film)|Eternally Yours]]'' (1939)]]
[[File:First-of-the-Few-1942-Howard-Niven.jpg|right|thumb|With [[Leslie Howard]] in ''[[The First of the Few]]'' (1942)]]
Niven also worked with the [[Army Film and Photographic Unit]]. His work included a small part in the deception operation that used minor actor [[M. E. Clifton James]] to impersonate [[General (United Kingdom)|General]] [[Bernard Montgomery|Sir Bernard Montgomery]]. During his work with the AFPU, [[Peter Ustinov]], one of the scriptwriters, had to pose as Niven's [[Batman (army)|batman]]. Niven explained in his autobiography that there was no military way that he, a [[Lieutenant-Colonel (United Kingdom)|lieutenant-colonel]], and Ustinov, who was only a [[private (rank)|private]], could associate, other than as an officer and his subordinate, hence their strange "act". In 1978, Niven and Ustinov would star together in a film adaptation of [[Agatha Christie]]'s ''[[Death on the Nile (1978 film)|Death on the Nile]]''.

He acted in two wartime films not formally associated with the AFPU, but both made with a firm view to winning support for the British war effort, especially in the United States. These were ''[[The First of the Few]]'' (1942), directed by [[Leslie Howard]], and ''[[The Way Ahead]]'' (1944), directed by [[Carol Reed]], the latter of which included a large supporting role for Ustinov.

Niven was also given a significant if largely unheralded role in the creation of [[SHAEF]]'s military radio efforts conceived to provide entertainment to British, Canadian, and American forces in England and in Europe. In 1944 he worked extensively with the [[BBC]] and SHAEF to expand these broadcast efforts. He also worked extensively with Major [[Glenn Miller]], whose [[Army Air Force]] big band, formed in the US, was performing and broadcasting for troops in England. Niven played a role in the operation to move the Miller band to France before Miller's December 1944 disappearance while flying over the English Channel.

On 14 March 1944, Niven was promoted war-substantive major (temporary lieutenant-colonel).<ref>{{cite book |date=1945 |title=The Quarterly Army List (April–June 1945: Part II) |location=London |publisher=[[HM Stationery Office]] |page=1368b |url=https://archive.org/details/armylistjulpart121945grea/page/2058/mode/2up}}</ref> He took part in the [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] [[invasion of Normandy]] in June 1944, although he was sent to France several days after [[D-Day]]. He served in "[[GHQ Liaison Regiment|Phantom]]", a secret reconnaissance and signals unit which located and reported enemy positions,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/five-film-stars-wartime-roles|title=Five Film Stars' Wartime Roles|website=Imperial War Museums}}</ref> and kept rear commanders informed on changing battle lines. Niven was posted at one time to [[Chilham]] in Kent.
[[File:Scena Muda v.29, n.21, 1949 - David Niven.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Niven in 1949]]

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{{snd}}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."<ref name="Moon"/>

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 [[1943 World Series|World Series in 1943]], he answered, "Haven't the foggiest idea, but I did co-star with Ginger Rogers in ''Bachelor Mother''!"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thevintagenews.com/2016/08/18/david-niven-british-star-hollywood-enlist-world-war-2/|title=David Niven was the only British star in Hollywood to enlist during WWII|date=18 August 2016}}</ref>

Niven ended the war as a [[Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)|lieutenant-colonel]]. On his return to Hollywood after the war, he received the [[Legion of Merit]], an American military decoration<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=37340 |date=8 November 1945 |page=5461 |supp=y}}</ref> in honour of Niven's work setting up the [[BBC Allied Expeditionary Forces Programme]], a radio news and entertainment station for the Allied forces.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7698398|title=Recommendation for Award for Niven, John David Rank: Lieutenant Colonel|work=DocumentsOnline|publisher=[[The National Archives (United Kingdom)|The National Archives]]|format=fee usually required to view full pdf of original recommendation|access-date=7 April 2009}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=37340 |supp=y|page=5461|date=6 November 1945}}</ref>

====1946–1950: Postwar career====
Niven initially resumed his acting career in England, taking the lead in the classic, ''[[A Matter of Life and Death (film)|A Matter of Life and Death]]'' (1946), from the team of [[Powell and Pressburger]]. The film was critically acclaimed, popular in England, and selected as the first [[Royal Film Performance]]. Niven returned to Hollywood but soon encountered tragedy with the death of his wife after falling down a flight of stairs at a party, and it was around this time that his career began to suffer as well.  Goldwyn lent him to Universal to play [[Aaron Burr]] in ''[[Magnificent Doll]]'' (1946) opposite [[Ginger Rogers]], then lent him to Paramount for ''[[The Perfect Marriage]]'' (1947) with Loretta Young and loaned him out a third time for Enterprise Productions' ''[[The Other Love]]'' (1947) opposite [[Barbara Stanwyck]]. Finally he was cast in a top picture for Goldwyn when he joined [[Cary Grant]] and Loretta Young for ''[[The Bishop's Wife]]'' (1947).

Any prospects for career advancement were quickly dashed when Goldwyn lent him to [[Alexander Korda]] to return to the UK for the title role in ''[[Bonnie Prince Charlie (1948 film)|Bonnie Prince Charlie]]'' (1948), a notorious flop. Back in Hollywood, Niven was in Goldwyn's well-regarded ''[[Enchantment (1948 film)|Enchantment]]'' (1948) with [[Teresa Wright]]. At Warner Bros he was in the comedy ''[[A Kiss in the Dark (1949 film)|A Kiss in the Dark]]'' (1948) with [[Jane Wyman]], then he appeared opposite [[Shirley Temple]] in the comedy ''[[A Kiss for Corliss]]'' (1949). None of these films was successful at the box office.  Niven's career was markedly in decline.

He returned to Britain for the title role in ''[[The Elusive Pimpernel (1950 film)|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 start, but Niven's demands for more money and better roles led to a long estrangement.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51974399|title=David Niven's Own Story|newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]]|date=15 September 1971|access-date=7 July 2012|page=15|publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

====1951–1964: Renewed acclaim====
[[File:David Niven in The Toast of New Orleans trailer.jpg|thumb|left|In ''[[The Toast of New Orleans]]'' (1950) trailer]]
In his post-Goldwyn years, it took Niven some time to return to the top of the Hollywood ladder. Foundering, he supported [[Mario Lanza]] in a musical at MGM, ''[[The Toast of New Orleans]]'' (1950). He then went to England to star in a musical with [[Vera-Ellen]], ''[[Happy Go Lovely]]'' (1951); it was little seen in the US but a big hit in Britain. He was reduced to a support role in MGM's ''[[Soldiers Three (film)|Soldiers Three]]'' (1951) not unlike some of the assignments early in his career. Niven had a far better part in the British war film ''[[Appointment with Venus (film)|Appointment with Venus]]'' (1952), which was popular in England. ''[[The Lady Says No]]'' (1952) was a poorly received American comedy. Niven tried Broadway, appearing opposite [[Gloria Swanson]] in ''Nina'' (1951–52). The play ran for only 45 performances but it was seen by [[Otto Preminger]], who decided to cast Niven in the film version of ''[[The Moon Is Blue (film)|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 major hit, and Niven won a [[Golden Globe Award]] for his role.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

Back in demand, Niven's next few films were made in England: ''[[The Love Lottery]]'' (1954), an [[Ealing]] comedy; ''[[Carrington V.C. (film)|Carrington V.C.]]'' (1954), a drama that earned Niven a BAFTA nomination for Best Actor; and ''[[Happy Ever After (1954 film)|Happy Ever After]]'' (1954), a comedy with [[Yvonne de Carlo]], which was hugely popular in Britain. In Hollywood, he was seen as the villain in an MGM swashbuckler, ''[[The King's Thief]]'' (1955), opposite a young [[Roger Moore]]. He had a better part in ''[[The Birds and the Bees (film)|The Birds and the Bees]]'' (1956), portraying a conman in a remake of ''[[The Lady Eve]]'' (1941), in which Niven played a third-billed supporting role under American television comedian [[George Gobel]] and [[leading lady]] [[Mitzi Gaynor]]. Niven also appeared in the British [[romantic comedy]] ''[[The Silken Affair]]'' (1956) with [[Geneviève Page]] the same year.

Niven's professional fortunes were fully restored when he starred as [[Phileas Fogg]] in ''[[Around the World in 80 Days (1956 film)|Around the World in 80 Days]]'' (1956), a huge hit at the box office and his signature film; it won the [[Academy Award for Best Picture]]. He followed it with ''[[Oh, Men! Oh, Women!]]'' (1957); ''[[The Little Hut]]'' (1957), from the writer of ''The Moon is Blue'' and another success at the box office; ''[[My Man Godfrey (1957 film)|My Man Godfrey]]'' (1957), a screwball comedy; and ''[[Bonjour Tristesse (1958 film)|Bonjour Tristesse]]'' (1958), for Preminger. Niven also 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 owned and founded by Niven, [[Ida Lupino]], [[Dick Powell]], and [[Charles Boyer]]. The show ended in 1955, but Four Star became a highly successful TV production company.{{Citation needed|date=September 2012}}

[[File:David Niven 1958.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Drawing of Niven commemorating his 1958 Oscar win for ''[[Separate Tables (film)|Separate Tables]]'']]
[[File:David Niven in 1959.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Host/Best Actor, 1959]]
Niven is the only person to win an [[Academy Award]] at the ceremony he was hosting.<ref name="keegan20190220">{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/politics-oscar-inside-academys-long-hard-road-a-hostless-show-1187424 |title=The Politics of Oscar: Inside the Academy's Long, Hard Road to a Hostless Show |last=Keegan |first=Rebecca |date=20 February 2019 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=25 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225041612/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/politics-oscar-inside-academys-long-hard-road-a-hostless-show-1187424 |archive-date=25 February 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He won the 1959 [[Academy Award for Best Actor]] for his role as Major David Angus Pollock in ''[[Separate Tables (film)|Separate Tables]]'', his only nomination for an Oscar. Appearing on-screen for only 23 minutes in the film, this is the briefest performance ever to win a Best Actor Oscar.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}} 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."<ref name="Moon"/> 
[[File:Peck Niven 1961.jpg|thumb|left|Niven and Gregory Peck in ''[[The Guns of Navarone (film)|The Guns of Navarone]]'' (1961)]]
With an Oscar 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]]'', but he was still starring in major films. He led in ''[[Ask Any Girl (film)|Ask Any Girl]]'' (1959), with Shirley MacLaine; the [[Carl Reiner]]-scripted ''[[Happy Anniversary (1959 film)|Happy Anniversary]]'' (1959) opposite Mitzi Gaynor; and ''[[Please Don't Eat the Daisies (film)|Please Don't Eat the Daisies]]'' (1960) with [[Doris Day]], a huge hit.

[[File:The Rogues cast 1964.JPG|right|thumb|upright|The cast of ''[[The Rogues (TV series)|The Rogues]]'' (1964) with [[Charles Boyer]], [[Gig Young]], Niven, [[Robert Coote]] and [[Gladys Cooper]]]]
Even more popular was the action film ''[[The Guns of Navarone (film)|The Guns of Navarone]]'' (1961) with [[Gregory Peck]] and [[Anthony Quinn]]. This role led to the ex-soldier being cast in further war and/or action films: ''[[The Captive City (1962 film)|The Captive City]]'' (1962); ''[[The Best of Enemies (1961 film)|The Best of Enemies]]'' (1962); ''[[Guns of Darkness]]'' (1962); and ''[[55 Days at Peking]]'' (1963) with [[Charlton Heston]] and [[Ava Gardner]]. Niven returned to comedy with ''[[The Pink Panther (1963 film)|The Pink Panther]]'' (1963), also starring [[Peter Sellers]], another huge success at the box office. Less so was the comedy ''[[Bedtime Story (1964 film)|Bedtime Story]]'' (1964) with [[Marlon Brando]], later remade with [[Michael Caine]] in a very Nivenish performance under the title ''[[Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (film)|Dirty Rotten Scoundrels]]''. In 1964, Charles Boyer, [[Gig Young]], and top-billed Niven appeared in the Four Star series ''[[The Rogues (TV series)|The Rogues]]'' for NBC. 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, and the series was originally set up to more or less revolve between the three leads in various combinations (one-lead, two-lead and three-lead episodes), although in the event, Gig Young, being the least busy, carried most of the series, with an assist from [[Larry Hagman]]. ''The Rogues'' ran for one season and won a Golden Globe.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

====1965–1983: Later films====
In 1965, Niven made two films for [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]: the [[Peter Ustinov]]-directed ''[[Lady L]]'' with Paul Newman and Sophia Loren, and ''[[Where the Spies Are]]'', as a doctor-turned-secret agent. After the horror film ''[[Eye of the Devil]]'' (1966), Niven went the secret agent route again, appearing as James Bond in the hit ''[[Casino Royale (1967 film)|Casino Royale]]'' in 1967.  He remains, with the exception of Sean Connery in ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'', the only other man to portray Bond in a non-[[Eon Productions]] film. Niven had been Bond creator [[Ian Fleming]]'s choice to play Bond in ''[[Dr. No (film)|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hmss.com/books/fleming|title=Ian Fleming, Author or Spy?|website=www.hmss.com|access-date=24 August 2007|archive-date=28 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928000918/http://www.hmss.com/books/fleming/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Niven is the only actor who played James Bond to be mentioned by name in the text of a Fleming novel. In chapter 14 of ''[[You Only Live Twice (novel)|You Only Live Twice]]'', 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 two popular comedies, ''[[Prudence and the Pill]]'' (1968) and ''[[The Impossible Years (film)|The Impossible Years]]'' (1968). Less widely seen was the offbeat ''[[The Extraordinary Seaman]]'' for [[John Frankenheimer]] in 1969. ''[[The Brain (1969 film)|The Brain]]'', a French comedy with [[Bourvil]] and [[Jean-Paul Belmondo]], was the most popular film at the French box office in 1969. He did a war drama ''[[Before Winter Comes]]'' (1969) next, followed by a return to comedy in ''[[The Statue (1971 film)|The Statue]]'' (1971). 

Buoyed by the massive success of his best-selling memoir, ''[[The Moon's a Balloon]]'', Niven was in demand throughout the last decade of his life. ''[[King, Queen, Knave (film)|King, Queen, Knave]]'' (1972) and ''[[Vampira (1974 film)|Vampira]]'' (1974) were followed by one of the most enduring images of Niven.  While hosting the [[46th Academy Awards|46th Annual Oscars ceremony]], a naked man ([[Robert Opel]]) appeared behind Niven, "[[streaking]]" across the stage. In what instantly became a live-TV classic moment, a bemused 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?"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IIl3zSYL8k| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/2IIl3zSYL8k| archive-date=11 December 2021 | url-status=live|title=Oscar streaker | date=19 February 2008|publisher=YouTube |access-date=24 September 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref> That same year, he hosted ''David Niven's World'' for [[LWT]], 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]]. 

Continuing with his film career, he starred in the highly regarded drama ''[[Paper Tiger (1975 film)|Paper Tiger]]'' (1975) and a Disney comedy, ''[[No Deposit, No Return]]'' (1976), while at the same time appearing in lucrative TV commercials for cologne and coffee in Asia, setting a trend that carries on with major North American film stars today. The all-star mystery spoof ''[[Murder By Death]]'' (1976) followed, after which came a better Disney outing, ''[[Candleshoe]]'' (1977), alongside [[Jodie Foster]] and [[Helen Hayes]], and then the first of the all-star Ustinov-as-Poirot films, ''[[Death on the Nile (1978 film)|Death on the Nile]]'' (1978). ''[[A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (film)|A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square]]'' (1979); ''[[Escape to Athena]]'' (1979), another all-star effort, this time with his son as producer; then the far-better-than-usual [[Burt Reynolds]] vehicle ''[[Rough Cut (1980 film)|Rough Cut]]'' (1980), and finally ''[[The Sea Wolves]]'' (1980), a wartime adventure film, rounded out his peak years.  By the last two, and his TV mini-series ''[[A Man Called Intrepid]]'' (1979), Niven's declining health was becoming evident.

Niven's last leading role was in ''[[Better Late Than Never (1983 film)|Better Late Than Never]]'' (1983). In July 1982, [[Blake Edwards]] brought an ailing Niven back for cameos in two "Pink Panther" films shot at the same time (''[[Trail of the Pink Panther]]'' and ''[[Curse of the Pink Panther]]''), reprising his role as Sir Charles Lytton. By the time of filming, Niven was fully in the throes of [[amyotrophic lateral sclerosis]] and his voice was no longer usable. His lines were dubbed, however inadequately, on short notice, by [[Rich Little]]. Niven only learned of it from a newspaper report.

===Writing===
[[File:Gable Grant Hope Niven 1950s.jpg|thumb|right|[[Clark Gable]], [[Cary Grant]], [[Bob Hope]], and Niven laughing in the 1950s]]
Niven wrote four books. The first, ''Round the Rugged Rocks'', was a novel that appeared in 1951, when his film career was at its nadir, and was forgotten immediately. The plot was plainly autobiographical (although not recognised as such at the time of publication), involving a young soldier, John Hamilton, who leaves the [[British Army]], becomes a liquor salesman in New York, is involved in indoor horse racing, goes to Hollywood, becomes a deckhand on a fishing boat, and finally ends up as a highly successful film star.

In 1971, he published his autobiography, ''[[The Moon's a Balloon]]'', selling over five million copies. He followed this with ''Bring On the Empty Horses'' in 1975, a collection of entertaining reminiscences from the [[Golden Age of Hollywood]] in the 1930s and 1940s. As a [[raconteur]] rather than an accurate memoirist, Niven recounted some incidents from a first-person perspective that happened to other people, among them [[Cary Grant]].<ref name="OtherSide"/> This 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 (British TV series)|This Is Your Life]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.borehamwoodtimes.co.uk/news/11202745.why-david-niven-and-the-amateurs-behind-jamaica-inn-will-always-be-on-separate-tables/|title=Why David Niven and the amateurs behind ''Jamaica Inn'' will always be on ''Separate Tables''|work=[[Borehamwood & Elstree Times|Borehamwood Times]]|access-date=27 May 2021}}</ref> Niven's penchant for exaggeration is particularly apparent when comparing his written descriptions of his early film appearances (especially ''Barbary Coast'' and ''A Feather in her Hat''), and his Oscar acceptance speech, to the filmed evidence. In all three examples, the reality differs from Niven's accounts as presented in ''The Moon's a Balloon'' and related in various chat show appearances.

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.

==Personal life==
[[File:David Niven at CPH.jpg|thumb|Niven with his family at [[Copenhagen Airport]] (5 August 1958)]]
[[File:David Niven with his wife Hjördis Genberg, 1960.jpg|thumb|upright|Niven with his wife [[Hjördis Genberg]] (Hjördis Tersmeden), 1960]]
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 romance, they married on 16 September 1940. A son, [[David Niven Jr.|David Jr.]], was born in December 1942 and a second son, James Graham Niven, on 6 November 1945. Primmie died at the age of 28, six weeks after the family moved to the US. She fractured her skull in a fall in the [[Beverly Hills]] home of [[Tyrone Power]] and [[Annabella (actress)|Annabella]], while playing a game of [[Hide-and-seek#Variants|sardines]]. She had walked through a door believing it to be a closet, but instead, it led to a stone staircase to the basement.<ref>Karin J. Fowler (1995) ''David Niven: a Bio-Biography'', Greenwood Press. {{ISBN|978-0313280443}}</ref><ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59355516 ''Sunday Times'' (Perth, WA: 1902–1954) "David Niven's wife in death crash" 26 May 1946, P.3] Retrieved 12 January 2016</ref>

In 1948, Niven met and married [[Hjördis Paulina Tersmeden]] (née Genberg, 1919–1997), a divorced Swedish fashion model. He recounted their meeting:
{{blockquote|I had never seen anything so beautiful in my life{{snd}}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&nbsp;... I goggled. I had difficulty swallowing and had champagne in my knees.<ref name="Moon"/>}}

According to friends, the relationship between Niven and Hjördis was turbulent.<ref>{{cite news| title=The flawed real life of the perfect movie gentleman| url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/books/the-flawed-real-life-of-the-perfect-movie-gentleman-26552274.html| access-date=22 March 2024| newspaper=[[Irish Independent]]| location=[[Dublin]]| language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=David Niven wife: Roger Moore claimed Niven's partner 'was a b**** to him'| url=https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/1571980/david-niven-wife-roger-moore-around-the-world-80-days-james-bond-spt| last=Bradley| first=Charley| date=27 February 2022| newspaper=[[Daily Express]]| location=[[London]]| access-date=22 March 2024}}</ref>

In 1960, Niven bought a chalet in [[Château-d'Œx]] near [[Gstaad]] in Switzerland, living near expatriate friends including [[Deborah Kerr]], [[Peter Ustinov]], and [[Noël Coward]].<ref name="Munn2014">{{cite book |author=Michael Munn |title=David Niven: The Man Behind the Balloon |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OrDFAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT197 |date=20 March 2014 |publisher=[[Aurum Press]] |isbn=978-1-78131-372-5 |pages=197– }}</ref><ref name="Fowler1995">{{cite book |last=Fowler |first=Karin J. |title=David Niven: A Bio-bibliography |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-goH8EEbKD8C&pg=PA167 |date=1 January 1995 |publisher=[[Greenwood Publishing Group]] |isbn=978-0-313-28044-3 |pages=167– }}</ref> It is believed that Niven's choice to become a [[tax exile]] may have been one reason why he never received a British honour.<ref name="Greenfield1995">{{cite book |last=Greenfield |first=George |title=A Smattering of Monsters: A Kind of Memoir |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-yRfaQDASdkC&pg=PA187|date=1 January 1995|publisher=[[Camden House Publishing]] |isbn=978-1-57113-071-6 |pages=187– }}</ref> However, Kerr, Ustinov, and Coward were honoured. A 2009 biography of Niven contained assertions that he had an affair with [[Princess Margaret]], who was 20 years his junior.<ref>{{cite news|authorlink=Michael Munn|last=Munn|first=Michael|date=24 May 2009|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/book_extracts/article6349165.ece|title=Oh God, I wanted her to die|newspaper=[[The Sunday Times]]|accessdate=29 May 2009|archive-date=6 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106154450/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/book_extracts/article6349165.ece|url-status=dead}}</ref> He also became close friends with [[William F. Buckley Jr.]] and his wife Pat; Buckley wrote a memorial tribute to him in ''Miles Gone By'' (2004).

Eventually Niven divided his time between his chalet in Château-d'Œx<ref>{{cite web|url=https://map.search.ch/Ch%C3%A2teau-d%27Oex,ch.David-Niven-7?pos=576414,147250&zoom=18|title=Ch. David Niven 7: Château-d'Oex|website=map.search.ch|accessdate=22 September 2022}}</ref> and his home at [[Cap Ferrat]] on the [[Côte d'Azur]] in the south of France.<ref name="Munn2014"/>

==Death and legacy ==
In 1978, Niven began experiencing weight loss, and by 1980 general [[fatigue]], [[muscle weakness]], and [[slurred speech]]. His interviews on the talk shows of [[Michael Parkinson]] and [[The Merv Griffin Show|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 of the film he had been making, ''Better Late Than Never''. He was diagnosed with [[ALS]] in 1980. His final appearance in Hollywood was hosting the 1981 [[American Film Institute]] tribute to his old friend [[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. Though his condition continued to worsen, he refused to return to the hospital, a decision supported by his family. He died at his chalet on 29 July 1983, aged 73.<ref>{{cite book |last=Donnelley |first=Paul |title=Fade to Black: A Book of Movie Obituaries |publisher=Music Sales Group |date=2003 |pages=522 |isbn=0-711-99512-5}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Pace |first=Eric |title=David Niven Dead at 73; Witty Actor Won Oscar |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/30/obituaries/david-niven-dead-at-73-witty-actor-won-oscar.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=30 July 1983 |page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Pace |first=Eric |title=David Niven Dead at 73; Witty Actor Won Oscar |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/30/obituaries/david-niven-dead-at-73-witty-actor-won-oscar.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=30 July 1983 |page=2}}</ref> Niven was buried on 2 August in the local cemetery of Château-d'Œx.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Brooks |first1=Patricia |last2=Brooks |first2=Jonathan |title=Laid to Rest in California: A Guide to the Cemeteries and Grave Sites of the Rich and Famous |publisher=Globe Pequot |date=2006 |pages=522 |isbn=0-762-74101-5}}</ref>

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 Campbell, Duchess of Argyll]], [[John Mills]], [[Richard Attenborough]], [[Trevor Howard]], [[David Frost]], [[Joanna Lumley]], [[Douglas Fairbanks Jr.]], and [[Laurence Olivier]].<ref>''Niv'' by Graham Lord, Orion, 2004, p. 420</ref> Biographer Graham Lord wrote, "the biggest wreath, worthy of a Mafia Godfather's funeral, was delivered from the porters at [[London Heathrow Airport|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.{{' "}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://paulburgin.blogspot.com/2006/01/in-thespian-praise-of-david-niven.html |title=In Thespian Praise of: David Niven |publisher=Paulburgin.blogspot.com |date=25 January 2006 |access-date=24 September 2010}}</ref>

In 1985, Niven was included in a series of British postage stamps, along with [[Alfred Hitchcock]], [[Charles Chaplin]], [[Peter Sellers]], and [[Vivien Leigh]], to commemorate "British Film Year".<ref>[[Alexander Walker (critic)|Walker, Alexander]]. ''Vivien: The Life of Vivien Leigh'', pp. 303, 304. Grove Press, 1987.</ref> Niven's appearance was the inspiration for that of Commander Norman in the ''[[Thunderbirds (TV series)|Thunderbirds]]'' franchise, as well as [[DC Comics]] villain [[Sinestro]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/004721821.cfm |title=WIZARD INSIDER: SINESTRO |access-date=5 October 2007 |last=Brown |first=Jeremy |date=10 June 2007 |publisher=Wizard |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011160927/http://wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/004721821.cfm |archive-date=11 October 2007 }}</ref>

Niven's ''[[Bonjour Tristesse (1958 film)|Bonjour Tristesse]]'' co-star, [[Mylène Demongeot]], declared about him in a 2015 filmed interview:<blockquote>"He was like a Lord, he was part of those great actors who were extraordinary like [[Dirk Bogarde]], individuals with lots of class, elegance and humour. I only saw David get angry once. [[Otto Preminger|Preminger]] had discharged him for the day but eventually asked to get him. I said, sir, you had discharged him, he left for [[Deauville]] to gamble at the casino. So we rented a helicopter so they immediately went and grabbed him. Two hours later, he was back, full of rage. There I saw David lose his British phlegm, his politeness and class. It was royal. [Laughs]."<ref name=":0">{{Cite news 
|date=5 July 2015
|title=Rencontre avec mylène demongeot
|author=Mac Mahon Filmed Conferences Paris
|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I-cqo6QES8
|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/-I-cqo6QES8
|archive-date=2021-12-11 
|publisher=YouTube 
|url-status=live
|access-date=24 October 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref></blockquote>

==Acting credits and accolades==
{{main|David Niven on screen, stage, radio, record and in print}}

=== Awards and nominations ===
{| class="wikitable unsortable"
|-
! Year
! Association 
! Category
! Nominated work
! Result
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}
|-
|[[8th British Academy Film Awards|1954]] || [[BAFTA Award]] || [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role|Best British Actor]] || ''[[Carrington V.C. (film)|Carrington V.C.]]'' || {{nom}} ||
|-
|[[7th Primetime Emmy Awards|1955]] || rowspan=2|[[Primetime Emmy Awards|Emmy Awards]] || rowspan=2|Best Actor in a Single Performance || rowspan=2|''[[Four Star Playhouse]]'' || {{nom}} ||
|-
|[[9th Primetime Emmy Awards|1957]] || {{nom}} ||
|-
|[[11th Golden Globe Awards|1953]] || rowspan=3|[[Golden Globe Awards]] || rowspan=2|[[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy|Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy – Motion Picture]] || ''[[The Moon Is Blue (film)|The Moon is Blue]]'' || {{won}} ||
|-
|[[15th Golden Globe Awards|1957]] || ''[[My Man Godfrey (1957 film)|My Man Godfrey]]'' || {{nom}} ||
|-
|[[16th Golden Globe Awards|1958]] || [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama|Best Actor in a Drama – Motion Picture]] || ''[[Separate Tables (film)|Separate Tables]]'' || {{won}} ||
|-
|[[31st Academy Awards|1958]] || [[Academy Award]] || [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] || ''[[Separate Tables (film)|Separate Tables]]'' || {{won}} || 
|}

== Bibliography ==
* Niven, David (1951). ''Round the Rugged Rocks''. London: [[The Cresset Press]].
* {{Cite book|last=Niven|first=David|title=The Moon's a Balloon|year=1971|publisher=[[Hamish Hamilton]]|location=London|isbn=0-340-15817-4|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/moonsballoon00davi}}
* {{Cite book|last=Niven|first=David|title=Bring on the Empty Horses|year=1975|publisher=Hamish Hamilton|isbn=0-241-89273-2}}
* {{Cite book|last=Niven|first=David|title=Go Slowly, Come Back Quickly|year=1981|publisher=Hamish Hamilton|isbn=0-241-10690-7}}

===Further reading===
* {{cite book |last1=Lord |first1=Graham |title=NIV: The Authorized Biography of David Niven |date=14 December 2004 |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=978-0-312-32863-4 |language=en}}
* {{cite book |last1=Morley |first1=Sheridan |title=The Other Side of the Moon: The Life of David Niven |date=5 September 2016 |publisher=Dean Street Press |isbn=978-1-911413-63-9 |language=en}}

== See also ==
* {{Portal-inline|Biography}}
* {{Portal-inline|Film}}
* {{Portal-inline|United Kingdom}}
* [[List of Academy Award winners and nominees from Great Britain]]
* [[List of actors with Academy Award nominations]]
* [[List of actors with more than one Academy Award nomination in the acting categories]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{Commons and category}}
* {{Screenonline name|id=458293}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160415231714/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9ef420ad David Niven] at the [[British Film Institute]]{{better source needed|reason=Help request: a live link can be searched for at https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/search/expert - if available, replace the archive URL with the live link. Or if none found, remove this 'better source needed' template. | date=October 2023}}
* {{UK National Archives ID}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{TCMDb name}}
* {{Find a Grave}}

{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for David Niven
|list =
{{AcademyAwardBestActor 1941-1960}}
{{GoldenGlobeBestActorMotionPictureDrama 1943-1960}}
{{GoldenGlobeBestActorMotionPictureMusicalComedy 1950-1960}}
{{New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Niven, David}}
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