James David Graham Niven was born on March 1, 1910 in Kirriemuir, Angus, Scotland. He lost his father to World War I and when of age he trained at Sandhurst and served in the military for a time. He spent several years Commissioned in the Highland Light Infantry but soon tired of Army life. During a shore leave, Niven got a taste of high society life in New York City. Soon afterwards, he resigned his commission and moved to America.

Niven moved to Hollywood after a short career as the co-founder of the Pony Express Racing Association and took work on a fishing boat. He also signed on and worked as an 'Anglo-Saxon' extra in Mutiny on the Bounty (1935). His raw talent was recognized and he was signed by MGM and slowly began to work his way into bigger acting parts and better films. He developed into a light comedian and gallant hero in such films as The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936) and The Dawn Patrol (1938) which was his first major role.

At the outbreak of World War II, he felt an obligation to return to the service and so joined the Rifle Brigade, a Light Infantry Regiment in his home's British Army. By the end of the war he had worked his way up to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the British Commandos, his experience including some time in Normandy during the invasion. He did play in two films during the War, both of propaganda value, The First of the Few (1942) and The Way Ahead (1944). After the war, he was made a Legionnaire of the Order of Merit (the highest American order that can be earned by a non-citizen). This prestigious award was presented to Niven by the then General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

David resumed his Hollywood career, spending 30 years as a leading man, he even played Prince Charles in Bonnie Prince Charlie (1948). He was perfectly cast as the voyager Phineas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days (1956), and won an Academy Award for Separate Tables (1958). He later starred in the film version of Alastair Maclean's The Guns of Navarone . He played James Bond with Ursula Andress, but in the spoof version, Casino Royale . Some of Niven's other popular fims include, The Bishop's Wife, Please Don't Eat the Daisies, A Man called Intrepid and Pink Panther. His film career ended in 1982 with The Trail of the Pink Panther . But by then David had successfully carved out a second career as a writer with two very popular autobiographies, The Moon's a Balloon and Bring on the Empty Horses .

He married during the war. His wife, Primmie, was serving in the Royal Air Force when they met. They had two sons, David Junior and Jamie. They lived in Hollywood after the war, however, she died shortly after their second son was born. David remarried a couple years later and returned to Europe after winning his Academy Award for Separate Tables. There, the Nivens adopted two daughters to go with their two sons. David Niven died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig's Disease, on the 29th of July, 1983.

Brian Workman, January, 2000