David Niven

Birth Name:

James David Graham Niven

Birth Place:

London, England, United Kingdom

Profession

Actor, Producer, Soundtrack, Director, Writer

After serving in the armed forces across Europe, he moved to New York City in 1933 where he would find odd jobs as a whisky salesman, rodeo promoter and later a gun cleaner in Mexico
Quote: "I've been lucky enough to win an Oscar and write a best seller -- my other dream would be to have a painting in the Louvre․ The only way that's going to happen is if I paint a dirty one on the wall of the gentlemen's lavatory․"
Following a second tour of service during WWII, he returned to entertainment in both film and television through the 1960s
He gained instant success after signing a contract with MGM in the mid-1930s and would eventually appear in more than 19 films in the next four years
Married both of his two wives within weeks of meeting them
Shortly after being diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease, his final appearance in Hollywood came as host of the American Film Institute tribute to Fred Astaire in 1981

1939Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (February):Winner
1939Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (September):Winner
1939Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (October):Winner
1939Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (November):Winner
1947Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (March):Winner
1949Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (March):Winner
1954Golden Globe - Best Actor - Comedy or Musical:Winner
1955BAFTA Film Award - Best British Actor:Nominated
1955Primetime Emmy - Best Actor in a Single Performance:Nominated
1957Primetime Emmy - Best Continuing Performance by an Actor in a Dramatic Series:Nominated
1958Golden Globe - Best Actor - Comedy or Musical:Nominated
1958NYFCC Award - Best Actor:Winner
1959Oscar - Best Actor in a Leading Role:Winner
1959Golden Globe - Best Actor - Drama:Winner
1959Golden Laurel - Top Male Dramatic Performance:Nominated
1960Sant Jordi - Best Foreign Actor (Mejor Actor Extranjero):Winner

Fast Facts