David Niven

Biography

David Niven was an English actor who appeared as an extra in a British film before leaving the army. Born in London, he attended Sandhurst and served in the Highland Light Infantry before resigning in 1933 and moving to Hollywood. Small parts led to a contract with Samuel Goldwyn, and he appeared in Dodsworth (1936), The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936), and The Prisoner of Zenda (1937) before becoming a leading man in Wuthering Heights (1939). After the Second World War he starred in A Matter of Life and Death (1946), The Bishop's Wife (1947), and Around the World in 80 Days (1956). He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for Separate Tables (1958) and a Golden Globe for The Moon Is Blue (1953). He played Sir Charles Lytton in The Pink Panther (1963) and James Bond in Casino Royale (1967), and later appeared in Murder by Death (1976) and Death on the Nile (1978).

73years old at death

Born March 1, 1910London
Died July 29, 1983Château-d’Oex
Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20
David Graham Niven (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 48
Career span: 89 years1935 to 2024

Genres

Comedy56%, 27 films
Drama38%, 18 films
Romance35%, 17 films
Adventure25%, 12 films
War15%, 7 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

A role that slipped away
Ian Fleming wanted Niven to play Bond in Dr. No. Charles K. Feldman, who co-produced Casino Royale, later said Fleming wrote the book with Niven in mind, so he sent Niven a copy.
First role
After he developed an interest in acting, Niven got work as an extra in There Goes the Bride, a British film released in 1932.
Big break
Niven appeared in Mutiny on the Bounty, and his role there drew the notice of Samuel Goldwyn, an independent film producer. Goldwyn gave him a contract and set his career going.
Behind the camera
Niven founded Four Star Television with Ida Lupino, Dick Powell and Charles Boyer, and the company became a highly successful TV production company.
Behind the camera
Niven's 1971 autobiography The Moon's a Balloon sold over five million copies, and he followed it in 1975 with Bring On the Empty Horses.

David Niven movies on Netflix

Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger2024IMDb rating 7.9
Sir John Mills' Moving Memories2000IMDb rating 7.7as Himself
Curse of the Pink Panther1983IMDb rating 4.4as Sir Charles Litton
Trail of the Pink Panther1982IMDb rating 4.8as Sir Charles Litton
Rough Cut1980IMDb rating 5.7as Chief Insp. Cyril Willis
The Sea Wolves1980IMDb rating 6.3as Colonel W. H. Grice
Escape to Athena1979IMDb rating 5.7as Professor Blake
Death on the Nile1978IMDb rating 7.3as Colonel Race
Formula 1 - Speed fever1978IMDb rating 6.7as Himself
Candleshoe1977IMDb rating 6.7as Priory
Murder by Death1976IMDb rating 7.2as Dick Charleston
No Deposit, No Return1976IMDb rating 6.4as J.W. Osborne
Vampira1974IMDb rating 4.5as Count Dracula
The Extraordinary Seaman1969IMDb rating 3.5as Cmdr. John Finchhaven, RN
Casino Royale1967IMDb rating 5.0as Sir James Bond
Eye of the Devil1966IMDb rating 6.1as Philippe de Montfaucon
Lady L1965IMDb rating 5.5as Dicky, Lord Lendale
55 Days at Peking1963IMDb rating 6.7as Sir Arthur Robertson
The Pink Panther1963IMDb rating 7.0as Sir Charles Lytton
The Best of Enemies1961IMDb rating 6.7as Maj. Richardson
The Guns of Navarone1961IMDb rating 7.5as Miller
Please Don't Eat the Daisies1960IMDb rating 6.4as Laurence Mackay
Bonjour Tristesse1958IMDb rating 6.8as Raymond
Separate Tables1958IMDb rating 7.3as Angus Pollock
My Man Godfrey1957IMDb rating 6.3as Godfrey Smith
The Little Hut1957IMDb rating 5.7as Henry Brittingham-Brett
Around the World in Eighty Days1956IMDb rating 6.7as Phileas Fogg
The Birds and the Bees1956IMDb rating 5.3as Patrick Harris
The Moon Is Blue1953IMDb rating 6.7as David Slater
The Lady Says No1951IMDb rating 5.2as Bill Shelby
A Kiss for Corliss1949IMDb rating 5.8as Kenneth Marquis
The Bishop's Wife1947IMDb rating 7.6as Henry Brougham
The Other Love1947IMDb rating 6.1as Dr. Anthony Stanton
A Matter of Life and Death1946IMDb rating 8.0as Peter Carter
The Way Ahead1944IMDb rating 6.9as Lieutenant Jim Perry
The First of the Few1942IMDb rating 7.0as Geoffrey Crisp
Bachelor Mother1939IMDb rating 7.5as David Merlin
Eternally Yours1939IMDb rating 5.6as Tony aka The Great Arturo
Raffles1939IMDb rating 6.4as A.J. Raffles
The Real Glory1939IMDb rating 6.5as Lieut. McCool
Wuthering Heights1939IMDb rating 7.5as Edgar Linton
Bluebeard's Eighth Wife1938IMDb rating 7.1as Albert De Regnier
Four Men and a Prayer1938IMDb rating 6.2as Christopher Leigh
The Dawn Patrol1938IMDb rating 7.5as Lt. Scott
The Prisoner of Zenda1937IMDb rating 7.6as Captain Fritz von Tarlenheim
Dodsworth1936IMDb rating 7.7as Captain Lockert
The Charge of the Light Brigade1936IMDb rating 7.0as Capt. Randall
Barbary Coast1935IMDb rating 6.7as Cockney Sailor Thrown Out of Saloon

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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The Pink Panther1963 Comedy, Crimeas Sir Charles Lytton
IMDb rating 7.062K votes
The Guns of Navarone1961 Action, Adventure, Dramaas Miller
IMDb rating 7.561K votes
Around the World in Eighty Days1956as Phileas Fogg
IMDb rating 6.732K votes
A Matter of Life and Death1946as Peter Carter
IMDb rating 8.028K votes
Casino Royale1967as Sir James Bond
IMDb rating 5.035K votes
Murder by Death1976as Dick Charleston
IMDb rating 7.246K votes
The Bishop's Wife1947as Henry Brougham
IMDb rating 7.624K votes
Wuthering Heights1939as Edgar Linton
IMDb rating 7.523K votes

Most often with

Blake Edwards directed three of these films, J. Lee Thompson two and William Wyler two. Deborah Kerr appears in six of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Deborah Kerr

Harry Andrews

Peter Sellers

Donald Crisp

C. Aubrey Smith

Peter Ustinov

Blake EdwardsDirector, 3 films

J. Lee ThompsonDirector, 2 films

William WylerDirector, 2 films

Films together

Deborah Kerr6 films together, 1958 to 2024
Deborah Kerr's page
- Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger2024IMDb rating 7.9
- Sir John Mills' Moving Memories2000IMDb rating 7.7Niven as HimselfKerr as Himself
- Casino Royale1967IMDb rating 5.0Niven as Sir James BondKerr as Agent Mimi (Alias Lady Fiona)
- Eye of the Devil1966IMDb rating 6.1Niven as Philippe de MontfauconKerr as Catherine de Montfaucon
- Bonjour Tristesse1958IMDb rating 6.8Niven as RaymondKerr as Anne Larson
- Separate Tables1958IMDb rating 7.3Niven as Angus PollockKerr as Sibyl Railton-Bell
Harry Andrews4 films together, 1961 to 2000
Harry Andrews's page
- Sir John Mills' Moving Memories2000IMDb rating 7.7Niven as HimselfAndrews as Himself
- Death on the Nile1978IMDb rating 7.3Niven as Colonel RaceAndrews as Barnstaple
- 55 Days at Peking1963IMDb rating 6.7Niven as Sir Arthur RobertsonAndrews as Father de Bearn
- The Best of Enemies1961IMDb rating 6.7Niven as Maj. RichardsonAndrews as Capt. Rootes
Peter Sellers4 films together, 1963 to 1982
Peter Sellers's page
- Trail of the Pink Panther1982IMDb rating 4.8Niven as Sir Charles LittonSellers as Chief Insp. Jacques Clouseau
- Murder by Death1976IMDb rating 7.2Niven as Dick CharlestonSellers as Sidney Wang
- Casino Royale1967IMDb rating 5.0Niven as Sir James BondSellers as Evelyn Tremble (James Bond - 007)
- The Pink Panther1963IMDb rating 7.0Niven as Sir Charles LyttonSellers as Insp. Jacques Clouseau
Donald Crisp3 films together, 1936 to 1939
Donald Crisp's page
- Wuthering Heights1939IMDb rating 7.5Niven as Edgar LintonCrisp as Dr. Kenneth
- The Dawn Patrol1938IMDb rating 7.5Niven as Lt. ScottCrisp as Phipps
- The Charge of the Light Brigade1936IMDb rating 7.0Niven as Capt. RandallCrisp as Col. Campbell
C. Aubrey Smith3 films together, 1937 to 1939
C. Aubrey Smith's page
- Eternally Yours1939IMDb rating 5.6Niven as Tony aka The Great ArturoSmith as Gramps aka Bishop Peabody
- Four Men and a Prayer1938IMDb rating 6.2Niven as Christopher LeighSmith as Loring Leigh
- The Prisoner of Zenda1937IMDb rating 7.6Niven as Captain Fritz von TarlenheimSmith as Colonel Zapt
Peter Ustinov3 films together, 1944 to 1978
Peter Ustinov's page
- Death on the Nile1978IMDb rating 7.3Niven as Colonel RaceUstinov as Hercule Poirot
- Lady L1965IMDb rating 5.5Niven as Dicky, Lord LendaleUstinov as Prince Otto of Bavaria
- The Way Ahead1944IMDb rating 6.9Niven as Lieutenant Jim PerryUstinov as Rispoli
Blake EdwardsDirector, 3 films, 1963 to 1983
All films by Blake Edwards
- Curse of the Pink Panther1983IMDb rating 4.4Niven as Sir Charles Litton
- Trail of the Pink Panther1982IMDb rating 4.8Niven as Sir Charles Litton
- The Pink Panther1963IMDb rating 7.0Niven as Sir Charles Lytton
J. Lee ThompsonDirector, 2 films, 1961 to 1966
All films by J. Lee Thompson
- Eye of the Devil1966IMDb rating 6.1Niven as Philippe de Montfaucon
- The Guns of Navarone1961IMDb rating 7.5Niven as Miller
William WylerDirector, 2 films, 1936 to 1939
All films by William Wyler
- Wuthering Heights1939IMDb rating 7.5Niven as Edgar Linton
- Dodsworth1936IMDb rating 7.7Niven as Captain Lockert
Also three films together11 more actors
- Roger MooreCurse of the Pink Panther (1983), The Sea Wolves (1980) and Escape to Athena (1979)
- Olivia de HavillandThe Extraordinary Seaman (1969), Raffles (1939) and The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936)
- Errol FlynnThe Extraordinary Seaman (1969), The Dawn Patrol (1938) and The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936)
- E.E. CliveBachelor Mother (1939), Raffles (1939) and The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936)
- Spring ByingtonPlease Don't Eat the Daisies (1960), Dodsworth (1936) and The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936)
- Loretta YoungThe Bishop's Wife (1947), Eternally Yours (1939) and Four Men and a Prayer (1938)
- Eugene BordenThe Bishop's Wife (1947), Bluebeard's Eighth Wife (1938) and Dodsworth (1936)
- Roland CulverRough Cut (1980), Bonjour Tristesse (1958) and The First of the Few (1942)
- Flora RobsonEye of the Devil (1966), 55 Days at Peking (1963) and Wuthering Heights (1939)
- CapucineCurse of the Pink Panther (1983), Trail of the Pink Panther (1982) and The Pink Panther (1963)
- Michael TrubshaweThe Pink Panther (1963), The Best of Enemies (1961) and The Guns of Navarone (1961)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What David Niven's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$241 million

17 of the 48 films have a worldwide figure.

17Worldwide figure
5US gross only
1Never in cinemas
25Figure not found

Top grosser

Around the World in Eighty Days1956Phileas Fogg$42.0 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 83% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Around the World in Eighty Days1956as Phileas Fogg
$42M17.4% of the total
2
Casino Royale1967as Sir James Bond
$42M17.3% of the total
3
Murder by Death1976as Dick Charleston
$33M13.5% of the total
4
The Guns of Navarone1961as Miller
$29M12.0% of the total
5
Rough Cut1980as Chief Insp. Cyril Willis
$17M6.9% of the total
6
Death on the Nile1978as Colonel Race
$15M6.0% of the total
7
Bonjour Tristesse1958as Raymond
$13M5.5% of the total
8
The Pink Panther1963as Sir Charles Lytton
$11M4.5% of the total

Trail of the Pink Panther (1982), $9.1 million

Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1960), $5.2 million

The Prisoner of Zenda (1937), $5.0 million

Curse of the Pink Panther (1983), $4.5 million

The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936), $2.7 million

A Matter of Life and Death (1946), $1.8 million

$40.4 millionfrom the other 9 films with a worldwide figure, 17% of the total

Awards

Five awards and honors from 1953 to 1959, three of them major.

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David Niven's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Academy Awards
1959	Best Actor	Separate Tables	Won
Golden Globes
1958	Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama	Separate Tables	Won
1953	Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy	The Moon Is Blue	Won
Other honors
	Legion of Merit		Won
	Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame		Honored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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