David Niven, the British actor known for his charm and wit on screen, spent his final years battling a devastating illness that ultimately took his life at age 73. Born James David Graham Niven in London on March 1, 1910, he came from a military family. His father, William Edward Graham Niven, was killed during World War I in 1915. His mother later remarried Sir Thomas Comyn-Platt, and some sources have suggested the relationship may have begun before her first husband’s death, leading to speculation that Sir Thomas could have been Niven’s biological father.
As a boy, Niven was known for his mischievous behavior and pranks. He was expelled from Heatherdown Preparatory School because of his antics. He later attended Stowe School before enrolling at the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, graduating in 1930 as a second lieutenant in the British Army. He served with the Highland Light Infantry for over two years but found little satisfaction in military life.
Though promoted to lieutenant in 1933, he saw no future in the armed forces. His rebellious streak also caused problems in his career. He left the army and traveled abroad in search of a more interesting profession. After brief stays in Bermuda and Cuba, Niven arrived in Hollywood in 1934.
He struggled at first but eventually landed minor acting roles. In 1935, his performance in Mutiny on the Bounty caught the attention of producer Samuel Goldwyn, who signed him to a contract. Over the following years, Niven appeared in supporting roles in major films, including Rose Marie (1936) and The Prisoner of Zenda (1937). His reputation as a dependable actor led to leading roles in The Dawn Patrol (1938), Three Blind Mice (1938), and Wuthering Heights (1939).
He shared the screen with legendary performers including Errol Flynn, Loretta Young, and Laurence Olivier. When Britain declared war on Germany in 1939, Niven returned home to fight in World War II. He was recommissioned as a lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade in 1940 and took part in the invasion of Normandy, ending the war as a lieutenant colonel. After the war, he resumed his acting career with leading roles in successful films such as A Matter of Life and Death (1946), The Bishop’s Wife (1947), and Enchantment (1948).
His career continued to flourish through the 1950s. In 1956, he starred as Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days, and in 1958 he won an Academy Award for his role in Separate Tables. The 1960s brought roles in The Guns of Navarone (1961), The Pink Panther (1963), and Where the Spies Are (1965). In 1967, he played Sir James Bond in Casino Royale.
A highly active performer, he continued acting well into the 1970s, with later films including Death on the Nile (1978) and The Sea Wolves (1980). Niven married Primmie, born Primula Susan Rollo, in 1940. The couple had two sons before tragedy struck in 1946, when Primmie died in a freak accident. Years later, he married Hjördis Paulina Tersmeden, a Swedish fashion model, and the couple adopted two daughters.
One of the daughters was rumored to be Niven’s biological child from a relationship with a teenage girl. During the early 1980s, Niven’s health began to decline. He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 1981.
After suffering for several months, he died on July 29, 1983, at the age of 73.