David Niven

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Newton, Robert; Niven, David; MacLaine, Shirley: Around the World in 80 Days

Charlton Heston and David Niven in 55 Days at Peking

David Niven

British actor

Also known as: James David Graham Niven

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Dec 11, 2024 • Article History

Quick Facts

In full:: James David Graham Niven

Born:: March 1, 1910, London, England

Died:: July 29, 1983, Château-d’Oex, Switzerland (aged 73)

Awards And Honors:: Academy Award (1959); Academy Award (1959): Actor in a Leading Role; Golden Globe Award (1959): Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama; Golden Globe Award (1954): Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Married To:: Hjördis Genberg (married 1948); Primula Rollo (1940–1946 [her death])

Movies/Tv Shows (Acted In):: "Curse of the Pink Panther" (1983); "Better Late Than Never" (1983); "Trail of the Pink Panther" (1982); "The Sea Wolves" (1980); "Rough Cut" (1980); "A Man Called Intrepid" (1979); "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" (1979); "Escape to Athena" (1979); "Death on the Nile" (1978); "Candleshoe" (1977); "Murder by Death" (1976); "No Deposit, No Return" (1976); "Paper Tiger" (1975); "Old Dracula" (1974); "King, Queen, Knave" (1972); "The Statue" (1971); "Le cerveau" (1969); "The Extraordinary Seaman" (1969); "Before Winter Comes" (1968); "The Impossible Years" (1968); "Prudence and the Pill" (1968); "Casino Royale" (1967); "Eye of the Devil" (1967); "Where the Spies Are" (1966); "Lady L" (1965); "The Rogues" (1964–1965); "Bedtime Story" (1964); "The Pink Panther" (1963); "Burke's Law" (1963); "55 Days at Peking" (1963); "La città prigioniera" (1962); "Guns of Darkness" (1962); "The Best of Enemies" (1961); "The Guns of Navarone" (1961); "Please Don't Eat the Daisies" (1960); "The DuPont Show with June Allyson" (1960); "Happy Anniversary" (1959); "Ask Any Girl" (1959); "Zane Grey Theater" (1957–1959); "Separate Tables" (1958); "Goodyear Theatre" (1957–1958); "Alcoa Theatre" (1957–1958); "Bonjour Tristesse" (1958); "My Man Godfrey" (1957); "Mr. Adams and Eve" (1957); "The Little Hut" (1957); "Oh, Men! Oh, Women!" (1957); "Around the World in 80 Days" (1956); "The Silken Affair" (1956); "Four Star Playhouse" (1952–1956); "The Birds and the Bees" (1956); "The Star and the Story" (1956); "The King's Thief" (1955); "Court Martial" (1954); "Tonight's the Night" (1954); "The Love Lottery" (1954); "The Moon Is Blue" (1953); "Hollywood Opening Night" (1952–1953); "Robert Montgomery Presents" (1952); "Celanese Theatre" (1952); "Chesterfield Presents" (1952); "Betty Crocker Star Matinee" (1952); "The Lady Says No" (1951); "Appointment with Venus" (1951); "Schlitz Playhouse of Stars" (1951); "Soldiers Three" (1951); "Happy Go Lovely" (1951); "Nash Airflyte Theatre" (1950); "The Toast of New Orleans" (1950); "A Kiss for Corliss" (1949); "The Elusive Pimpernel" (1949); "A Kiss in the Dark" (1949); "Enchantment" (1948); "Bonnie Prince Charlie" (1948); "The Bishop's Wife" (1947); "The Other Love" (1947); "Magnificent Doll" (1946); "The Perfect Marriage" (1946); "A Matter of Life and Death" (1946); "The Way Ahead" (1944); "Spitfire" (1942); "Raffles" (1939); "Eternally Yours" (1939); "The Real Glory" (1939); "Bachelor Mother" (1939); "Wuthering Heights" (1939); "The Dawn Patrol" (1938); "Three Blind Mice" (1938); "Four Men and a Prayer" (1938); "Bluebeard's Eighth Wife" (1938); "Dinner at the Ritz" (1937); "The Prisoner of Zenda" (1937); "We Have Our Moments" (1937); "Beloved Enemy" (1936); "The Charge of the Light Brigade" (1936); "Thank You, Jeeves!" (1936); "Dodsworth" (1936); "Palm Springs" (1936); "Rose-Marie" (1936); "Splendor" (1935); "A Feather in Her Hat" (1935); "Without Regret" (1935)

David Niven (born March 1, 1910, London, England—died July 29, 1983, Château-d’Oex, Switzerland) was a British stage and motion-picture actor who personified dapper charm.

Born to a longtime military family, Niven attended Sandhurst Military Academy. He made his way to Hollywood in the mid-1930s and began performing as an extra. His first major roles were in Dawn Patrol (1938) and Wuthering Heights (1939). He rapidly became known as a steady, reliable actor who usually specialized in light comedy.

Niven served as an officer in the British army’s commando unit during World War II, and following the war he returned to films. Though known for his sure touch with light comedy, he also proved to be a substantial dramatic actor, winning an Academy Award for his role in Separate Tables (1958). Among his best-known films are The Moon Is Blue (1953), Around the World in 80 Days (1956), The Guns of Navarone (1961), The Pink Panther (1963), and Death on the Nile (1978).

Empty movie theater and blank screen (theatre, motion pictures, cinema).

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He also appeared on stage and on two television series. He published a novel, Go Slowly, Come Back Quickly (1981), and two autobiographical volumes, The Moon’s a Balloon (1971) and Bring on the Empty Horses (1975).

Niven performed in movies until the year of his death, even though he suffered in his later life from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also called Lou Gehrig’s disease). His last film was The Curse of the Pink Panther (1983).

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.