Entdecke Niv: The Authorised Biography of David Niven by Lord, Graham Hardback Book The in groer Auswahl Vergleichen Angebote und Preise Online kaufen bei eBay Kostenlose Lieferung fr viele Artikel! His final appearance in Hollywood was hosting the 1981 American Film Institute tribute to Fred Astaire. Born to a longtime military family, Niven attended Sandhurst Military Academy. But he wanted something more exciting, and transferred into the Commandos. 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. As he was looking at the picture, Goldwyn's wife Frances said "Sam never took it down.". 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 1940s. [citation needed], 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. There I saw David lose his British phlegm, his politeness and class. Connect to the World Family Tree to find out. 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 play The Moon Is Blue (1953). two films a year but he probably had mlre impact with a series of At the age of 15, she became pregnant with the actor David Niven's child while on a holiday on the Isle of Wight, but the pregnancy was terminated. Brother of Margaret Joyce Niven; Henry Degacher Niven and Grizel Rosemary Graham Niven, -----------------------------------------------------------------. for chat shows, where his gift for anecdote made him an ideal subject. Her father was Captain (brevet Major) William Degacher (18411879) of the 1st Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot, who was killed at the Battle of Isandlwana during the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879. She was among the VIP guests at his London memorial service. David's mother Henrietta then married Sir Thomas Comyn-Platt in London in 1917. In an unsuccessful effort to bring harmony to the marriage, they adopted two girls, Kristina and Fiona. 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 tartan trews rather than the kilt). 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. In 1944 he worked extensively with the BBC and SHAEF to expand these broadcast efforts. Streaker Robert Opel, a gay rights activist, had a history of nude protests, and his antics weren't as rare as you might think -- streaking was actually a nationwide trend in 1974. The show ended in 1955, but Four Star TV became a highly successful TV production company. Goldwyn lent 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). His work included a small part in the deception operation that used minor actor M. E. Clifton James to impersonate General Sir Bernard Montgomery. Niven requested assignment to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders or the Black Watch; 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). Death 1998 - St Andrews. These were The First of the Few (1942), directed by Leslie Howard, and The Way Ahead (1944), directed by Carol Reed. . 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 was posted at one time to Chilham in Kent. He supported Mario Lanza in a musical at MGM, The Toast of New Orleans (1950). Goldwyn pulled out, and the film did not appear in the U.S. for three years. His first star Showing the typical rebelliousness of his early years, Niven asked, "Could you tell me the time, sir? he is one of famous actor with the age 78 years old group. Niven explained in his autobiography that there was no military way that he, a lieutenant-colonel, and Ustinov, who was only a private, could associate, other than as an officer and his subordinate, hence their strange "act". a succession of barbaric prep schools from which he either absconded Lord wrote that "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. William Niven, David's father, was of Scottish descent; his paternal grandfather, David Graham Niven, (18111884) was from St. Martins, a village in Perthshire. Hjrdis in the city, 1942-43. Primmie died at the age of 28, only six weeks after the family moved to the US. return to Britain to play his part. In 1939 he co-starred with Ginger Rogers in the RKO comedy Bachelor Mother, and starred as the eponymous gentleman safe-cracker in Raffles. unsettled childhood, being pushed by an unsympathetic step-father into and the book was essentially a succession of funny stories, drawn from He was gazetted a Lieutenant in the Highland Light Infantry. censorship problems, and in 1956 he played Phineas Fogg in Mike Todd's Peking"; and "The Pink Panther", in which his suave jewel thief was a Niven's father, William Niven, was of Scottish descent; he was killed in the First World War serving with the Berkshire Yeomanry during the Gallipoli campaign on 21 August 1915. David Niven was born on the 1st of March, 1910. Niven wrote four books. Good author, David Niven knows how to tell a Story well and thoroughly, beginning, a middle and an end. In 1964, Charles Boyer, Gig Young and top-billed Niven appeared in the Four Star series The Rogues. For full citations and references see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Niven. contract by Sam Goldwyn and though the relationship was not always He recounted their meeting: I had never seen anything so beautiful in my lifetall, slim, auburn hair, up-tilted nose, lovely mouth and the most enormous grey eyes I had ever seen. in the popular comedy show, "The Rogues"; later he was much in demand years and took a succession of casual jobs in Canada and the United Following a suicide attempt involving a handgun that failed to go off, he eventually rallied and returned to filmmaking. Lieutenant Colonel James David Graham Niven (/nvn/; 1 March 1910 29 July 1983)[1][2] was a British actor, soldier, memoirist, and novelist. second volume of reminiscences, concentrating on Hollywood During his work with the Film Unit, Peter Ustinov, though one of the script-writers, had to pose as Niven's batman. 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. . Date of Birth. He wanted something more exciting, however, and transferred to the Commandos. He then returned to the U.S. and was accepted by Central Casting as "Anglo-Saxon Type No. Biography ID: 192869360 . I said, sir, you had discharged him, he left for Deauville to gamble at the casino. Niven grew tired of the peacetime Army. He continued to make one and [10], 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. Niven won the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of the bogus major in David Niven's former partners: David Niven had an affair with Marilyn Monroe David Niven allegedly had a romance with HRH The Princess Margaret David Niven had an affair with Ava Gardner David Niven had an affair with Princess Grace of Monaco David Niven had a relationship with Rita Hayworth David Niven had an affair with Loretta Young David Niven had a relationship with Merle Oberon David . [13], While attending school as was customary for the time Niven received many instances of corporal punishment owing to his inclination for pranks. But I'll have to do it all over again in Hollywood with Errol Flynn!" Niven also worked with the Army Film and Photographic Unit. 2008" and though it was an axiom of the film industry that extras Hjrdis recovered from her alcoholism after Niven's death in 1983, but returned to it before her own death of a stroke in 1997. Niven first met Churchill at a dinner party in February 1940. 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 was reluctant to take a supporting part in Wuthering Heights (1939) for Goldwyn, but eventually relented and the film was a big success. He was working on a third novel at the time of his death. He resumed his career in 1946, now only in starring roles. He was assigned to the HLI, and his comment was known in the regiment. His family were soldiers. But his birth certificate says something completely different. 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. He once said: "I will, however, tell you just one thing about the war, my first story and my last. The day after Britain declared war on Germany in 1939, Niven returned home and rejoined the British Army. long novel with a Hollywood setting, "Go Slowly, Come Back Quickly". He is perhaps best known for his roles as Squadron Leader Peter Carter in A Matter of Life and Death, as Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days and as Sir Charles Lytton, a.k.a. 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, except as an officer and his subordinate, hence their strange "act". Niven later claimed credit for bringing future Major General Sir Robert E. Laycock to the Commandos. 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 (1939). Rose, DSO, MC). After Britain declared war on Germany in 1939, Niven returned home and rejoined the Army. James passed away on August 19 1885, at age 60. He appeared in A Matter of Life and Death (1946), The Bishop's Wife (1947, with Cary Grant and Loretta Young), and Enchantment (1948, with Teresa Wright), all of which received critical acclaim. William Wyler's 1939 film of "Wuthering Heights". David Niven, the film actor, died in Switzerland yesterday after an In 1981 Niven published a second and much more successful novel, Go Slowly, Come Back Quickly, which was set during and after World War II, and which drew on his experiences during the war and in Hollywood. In Goldwyn's drawing room, Niven noticed a picture of himself in uniform that he had sent to Goldwyn from England during World War II. According to Niven, when USSR premier Nikita Khrushchev and his family visited Hollywood in September of 1959, they were treated to the filming of a dance scene for the upcoming Shirley MacLaine . Excellent read. [40] However, Kerr, Ustinov, and Coward were all honoured. . Niven had his own series on television and appeared Niven enjoyed success in 1956, when he starred as Phileas Fogg in Michael Todd's immensely successful production of Around the World in 80 Days. 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?". Niven took part in the Invasion of Normandy, although he was sent to France several days after D-Day. In all three examples, the reality is significantly different from Niven's heavily fictionalised accounts as presented in The Moon's a Balloon and related in various chat show appearances. States, from selling liquor to promoting pony racing. He . Niven joined what became known as the Hollywood Raj, a group of British actors in Hollywood which included Rex Harrison, Errol Flynn, Boris Karloff, Stan Laurel, Basil Rathbone, Ronald Colman, Leslie Howard and C. Aubrey Smith. Niven first met Churchill at a dinner party in February 1940. the latter were "Ask Any Girl", a good comedy with Shirley MacLaine; a Roxburgh, who was unlike any of Niven's previous headmasters. In The Moon's a Balloon, Niven described the bullying, isolation, and abuse he endured as a six-year-old. Peter Ustinov also played a large supporting role as a Frenchman in The Way Ahead. Kristina Niven was born in 1960 in Switzerland to David Niven and Hjrdis Genberg, and has a sister Fiona Niven. Niven subsequently appeared in another thirty films. Grizel Rosemary Graham (born in Belgravia, Middlesex), 28 November 1906 28 January 2007). According to his autobiography, he and Errol Flynn were firm friends and had decided to rent Rosalind Russell's house at 601 North Linden Drive as a bachelor pad. Niven stated, "Anyone who says a bullet sings past, hums past, flies, pings, or whines past, has never heard one--they go crack! 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). Niven was last married to David Niven Jr a British film producer and actor from June 19, 1993, to 1998. He attended Attleboro schools through high school, Class of 1938. The year is 1974: 33-year-old Robert Opel, looking for all the world like a fit David Crosby, streaks naked past David Niven, who was about to introduce Elizabeth Taylor. 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). [46], A Thanksgiving service for Niven was held at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, on 27 October 1983. Jessica Niven's age and the niceties of Wikipedia are currently absent on the internet . After her husband's death in Turkey in 1915, Henrietta Niven remarried in London in 1917 to Conservative politician Sir Thomas Comyn-Platt (1869 - 1961). David Niven claims that he was born in March 1909, in Kirriemuir, in the county of Angus in Scotland. The entrepreneur couple succeeded in developing a chain of 10 stores. Niven remained close-mouthed about the war, despite public interest in celebrities in combat and a reputation for storytelling. Niven was fourth billed in Beloved Enemy (1936) for Goldwyn, supporting Merle Oberon with whom he became romantically involved. famous names. His father, William Edward Graham Niven, was a British officer who . 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. He was alone among British stars in Hollywood in doing so; the British Embassy advised most actors to stay. 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. Hjrdis Genberg, model student, 1941-42. or was expelled. The movie was critically acclaimed, popular in England and was selected as the first Royal Film Performance. He joined the Rifle Brigade, Born in London, Niven attended Heatherdown Preparatory School and Stowe School before gaining a place at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Niven died on the same day as Raymond Massey, his co-star in The Prisoner of Zenda and A Matter of Life and Death. his life in the forces and in films and literally sprinkled with Upon developing an interest in acting, he found a role as an extra in the British film There Goes the Bride (1932). Birth 28 October 1914 - St Andrews and St Leonards, Fife, , Scotland. Niven's friend Billie More noted: "This is not kind, but when Hjrdis died I can't think of a single soul who was sorry". 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. PA Photos. The couple had two sons, David Jr. and Jamie. [4] He had two older sisters and a brother: Margaret Joyce Niven (1900 1981), Henry Degacher Niven (1902 1953), and the sculptor Grizel Rosemary Graham (19062007), who created the bronze sculpture Bessie that is presented to the annual winners of the Women's Prize for Fiction. Two weeks later, they were in Hollywood. The Distinguished Alumni will be recognized at the Distinguished Alumni Awards . 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. Unfortunately, Niven's second marriage was as tumultuous as his first marriage was content. Hepburn and her family suffered . Mark you, had you not done so it would have been despicable. Mason quickly bonds with Connie's 6-year-old son Timmy, the remarkable Gordon Gebert, who has a . In happier times with Goldwyn, he had observed this same picture sitting on Goldwyn's piano. Niven was posted at one time to Chilham in Kent. He was assigned to the HLI, with which he served for two years in Malta and then for a few months in Dover. He was working on a third novel when his health failed in 1983. [20] In New York City, Niven began a brief and unsuccessful career in whisky sales, followed by a stint in horse rodeo promotion in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Niven only learned of it from a newspaper report. . Next image. They married six weeks later. With an Academy Award to his credit, Niven's career continued to thrive. 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. She also divorced her second husband. 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