Share on Facebook

David Niven Biography

Actor / Writer

For four decades David Niven was the very image of the urbane British gentleman in films like Raffles (1940), Around the World in 80 Days (1956, based on the book by Jules Verne) and The Pink Panther (1964, with Peter Sellers). Niven's slender figure and even more slender mustache were well-known to film audiences around the world. Though he specialized in light comedy, Niven also handled drama in movies like Separate Tables (1958), for which he won a Oscar as Best Actor. In the 1970s Niven published two humorous autobiographies of his life in the movies, The Moon's A Balloon (1971) and Bring On the Empty Horses (1975).

Extra credit: Niven served with the British commandos in World War II, leaving at war's end with the rank of colonel... According to the BBC's 2004 obituary of actor Peter Ustinov, Ustinov served as Niven's batman (orderly) during World War II... Niven's place of birth is uncertain. According to the official site of Niven's estate, "Some say he was born in Belgrave Mansions, Grosvenor Gardens in London, while others assert that he was born in Kirriemuir in Scotland."

Niven made a famous quip after spotting a streaker at the Academy Awards in 1974; read all about it in our loop on Oscar Night Gaffes... Niven joins Pierce Brosnan in our loop on actors who have Played James Bond.

Other famous Scots include Sean Connery, Ewan McGregor, David McCallum and the Loch Ness Monster.

Blog posts mentioning David Niven:

• "He Looked Like David Niven in an Airplane Uniform"