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01
At his funeral, the largest wreath was from the porters at Heathrow Airport with a card reading: To the finest Gentleman who ever walked these halls. He made a porter feel like a King.
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02
During his war service, his batman was Private Peter Ustinov.
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03
He was one of the first expatriate British actors to return and join the army after the UK declared war in 1939. He remained largely silent about his war experiences, once saying: I will, however, tell you just one thing about the war, my first story and my last. I was asked by some American friends to search out the grave of their son near Bastogne. I found it where they told me I would, but it was among 27,000 others, and I told myself that here, Niven, were 27,000 reasons why you should keep your mouth shut after the war.
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04
He became friends with Clark Gable in the 1930s. During WWII, Gable stayed at Niven’s cottage and bonded with his family. After Primula Niven’s death, Gable comforted Niven, drawing on his own experience of losing Carole Lombard.
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05
Niven accidentally ended up with the deepest pool in Europe after a miscommunication with builders who thought he wanted 15 meters instead of 15 feet.
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06
He joined the British Army’s Rifle Brigade and served at Dunkirk, then with the commandos and the secret Phantom Reconnaissance Regiment, spending much time behind German lines.
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07
As a child, Niven thought the Lord’s Prayer phrase Our Father, who art in heaven was Our Father, who art a Niven, which made him feel superior.
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08
His first wife Primula Rollo died after tumbling down basement stairs at Tyrone Power’s home during a game of hide and seek.
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09
During his final illness with ALS, his speech slurred, leading some to think he was drunk. His voice was dubbed by Rich Little in his last three films.
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10
He was the visual inspiration for the original illustrations of the Green Lantern villain Sinestro in 1961.
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11
He died on July 29, 1983 at age 73, two years after being diagnosed with ALS. The disease causes the death of neurons controlling voluntary muscles.
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12
The title of his autobiography Bring on the Empty Horses comes from director Michael Curtiz’s command during filming of The Charge of the Light Brigade 1936.
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13
As a joke, he agreed to officiate the wedding of two gorillas and became godfather to their first son.
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14
In Ian Fleming’s James Bond novel You Only Live Twice, a pet bird is named after Niven. Three years later, Niven played Bond in Casino Royale 1967.
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15
He once asked Greta Garbo why she quit movies; she replied: I had made enough faces.
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16
His father, Lieutenant William Edward Graham Niven, was killed at the Battle of Gallipoli on August 21, 1915, aged 38.
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17
Niven claimed he was born in Kirriemuir, Scotland for romantic reasons, but admitted on Desert Island Discs he was born in London.
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18
He knew his first wife Primula Rollo for 17 days before marrying her, and his second wife Hjördis Genberg for 10 days before marriage.
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19
He appeared in one film produced by his son David Niven Jr.: Escape to Athena 1979.
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20
He was too ill to attend Grace Kelly’s funeral in September 1982.
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21
Ian Fleming recommended him for the role of James Bond in Dr. No 1962, but producer Albert R. Broccoli thought Niven was too old.
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22
He was the only major British star to join the military when WWII broke out.
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23
Audrey Hepburn attended his funeral.
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24
During his final illness, his weight dropped from 230 lbs to 110 lbs.
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25
He was close friend of Michael Trubshawe, who served with him in Malta and appears in Niven’s autobiography.
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26
He raced yachts for England and won the Cumberland Cup against France.
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27
He died on the same day as his co-star Raymond Massey, who appeared with him in The Prisoner of Zenda 1937 and A Matter of Life and Death 1946.
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28
After leaving Sandhurst, he requested any regiment but the Highland Light Infantry but was commissioned into it, later transferring to the Rifle Brigade.
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29
His favourite film was Around the World in 80 Days because it allowed him to meet up with old friends.
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30
He was attached to play Captain Phillip Blumburtt in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom 1984 but died before filming began.
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31
He is portrayed by Nigel Havers in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers 2004.
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32
He appeared in eight Best Picture nominees, two of which won Best Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty 1935 and Around the World in 80 Days 1956.
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33
He tried to leave the army in September 1944 to return to Hollywood.
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34
News that Niven had been signed by Irving Thalberg prompted Samuel Goldwyn to sign him to a contract.
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35
He was close friends with Robert Wagner and comforted him after Natalie Wood’s death, just as Clark Gable had comforted him.
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36
Four of his films have been selected for the National Film Registry: Dodsworth, The Prisoner of Zenda, Wuthering Heights, and The Pink Panther.
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37
He has grandchildren Ryan, Michael, Fernanda, and Eugenie.
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38
He was Michael Anderson’s choice to play Field Marshal Montgomery in a planned film that was abandoned.
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39
He became Glenn Miller’s commanding officer during WWII and reportedly never got over Miller’s decision to fly to Paris without permission.
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40
Contrary to myth, he was not a cousin of Patrick Macnee; his brother Max was described as an uncle to Macnee’s mother.
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41
He didn’t like watching his own films.
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42
He was originally wanted for the role of Will Scarlet in The Adventures of Robin Hood 1938 but was on holiday in England.
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43
A memorial service was held at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London on October 27, 1983.
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44
He was a graduate of Sandhurst and served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Commandos in Normandy.
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45
Ex-father-in-law of Barbara Niven.
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46
Started as a film extra.
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47
He and Robert Coote both played Captain Fritz von Tarlenheim in different adaptations of The Prisoner of Zenda.
