#Fact1He and his Stairway to Heaven (1946), The Rogues (1964) and Prudence and the Pill (1968) co-star Robert Coote both played Captain Fritz von Tarlenheim in different adaptations of the 1894 novel "The Prisoner of Zenda" by Anthony Hope: Niven in The Prisoner of Zenda (1937) and Coote in The Prisoner of Zenda (1952).2He appeared in one film produced by his son David Niven Jr.: Escape to Athena (1979).3He was Michael Anderson's choice to play Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery in a Columbia Pictures epic, "16th of December: The Battle of the Bulge," which had the blessing of Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Defense Department, but the project was abandoned after Warner Brothers used the title Battle of the Bulge (1965) for a film starring Henry Fonda.4The title of his autobiography, "Bring on the Empty Horses", is taken from a command given by director Michael Curtiz during the filming of The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936) in which Niven had a featured part. Curtiz, a Hungarian notorious for his poor command of English, wanted a lot of riderless horses in the background of the climactic charge, but couldn't make himself understood to his assistant directors. Finally he exploded, "Bring on the empty horses!".5News that Niven--who was merely an extra at the time--had been signed by Irving Thalberg of MGM prompted independent producer Samuel Goldwyn to sign him to a long-term contract.6He was originally wanted for the role of Will Scarlet in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) but was on holiday in England, so the part went to Patric Knowles.7Niven wound up with the deepest pool in Europe due to a miscommunication with the builders. They thought he meant 15 meters when all he wanted was 15 feet.8Audrey Hepburn attended his funeral.9When he had motor neurone disease, his speech would slur in interviews. People used to think he was drunk. In the last two films he did, his voice had to be dubbed.10He died on 29 July 1983 at age 73 after being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (a variant of motor neurone disease) in 1981.11At his funeral,the largest wreath was from the porters at Heathrow Airport. There was a card which read, "To the finest Gentlemen who ever walked these halls. He made a porter feel like a King".12He was the visual inspiration for the original illustrations of super-villain and archenemy of the Green Lantern Corps, Sinestro (created in 1961). Niven was 51 years at the point.13During his final illness his weight dropped from 230 lbs to just 110 lbs.14Was too ill to attend Grace Kelly's funeral in September 1982.15As a joke he agreed to celebrate the wedding of two gorillas and to be the godfather of their first son.16Close friend of Michael Trubshawe. They served together in a Highland Regiment in Malta in the 1930s and Trubshawe figures prominently in Niven's biography, "The Moon's A Balloon". Niven states: "He swiftly made a name for himself in television and one of his earliest screen appearances was in The Guns of Navarone (1961)--a lovely bonus for me." Niven does not mention Trubshawe's earlier appearance in Around the World in Eighty Days (1956). Trubshawe was Niven's best man on the occasion of his two marriages, and also godfather to Niven's son, David Jr.17Met director Blake Edwards, when Edwards was writing and directing films for Four Star Television, a production company partly owned by Niven.18Joined the British Army's Rifle Brigade regiment and served through Dunkirk, joining the commandos and later the secret Phantom Reconnaissance Regiment. He spent most of the time behind German lines with the latter outfit, a rough, tough, hit-and-run group harassing the enemy.19Was born on St. David's Day, hence his Christian name. St. David is the patron saint of Wales.20Ex-father-in-law of Barbara Niven.21After he left the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst he was asked to write down his three preferred regiments; he wrote, "Anything but the HLI [Highland Light Infantry]". He was, of course, commissioned into the HLI, later being transferred to the Rifle Brigade.22Died the same day as his The Prisoner of Zenda (1937) and Stairway to Heaven (1946) co-star Raymond Massey.23His first wife, Primula Rollo, died tragically while attending a dinner at fellow actor Tyrone Power 's house. After dinner, while playing hide and seek, she opened what she thought was a closet door but instead tumbled down the basement stairs and onto the concrete floor. She died shortly after.24Became friends with Clark Gable during the 1930s. While Gable was serving in England during World War II, he used to stay over at the Nivens' cottage and spend time with Niven's wife and children. A few years later Niven's wife died in a tragic accident, and Gable did his best to comfort him. Niven said, "Clark was drawing on his own awful experience [his wife Carole Lombard 's tragic death] to steer me through mine".25Is portrayed by Nigel Havers in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004).26He knew his wife, Primula Rollo, 17 days before he married her. He knew his second wife 10 days before marrying her.27Has a grandson Ryan (born in 1998), from daughter Fiona. Grandson Michael (born in 1990) from daughter Kristina. Grandaughters Fernanda and Eugenie from son Jamie.28Was originally meant to play the lead role of Charlie Allnut in The African Queen (1951).29Once wrote that as a child, he felt superior to others. He attributed this to the fact that when reciting the Lord's Prayer in church, he thought for several years that the correct phrasing was, "Our Father, who art a Niven . . . "30His Scottish father was Lt. William Niven, who died during World War I at the battle of Gallipoli on 21 August 1915, aged 38, while serving with the Berkshire Yeomanry. He was reported missing until 1917. He was a landowner and left a widow Henrietta (a three-quarter Frenchwoman) two sons (Max and David) and two daughters (Joyce and Grizel).31He often used to say he was born in Kirriemuir, Scotland (he thought it sounded more romantic). However, during his appearance on the radio show "Desert Island Discs" he admitted he was born in London, England. His mother was there for the day visiting a specialist regarding the pregnancy when he was born.32Interred at Chateau D'Oex, Switzerland.33Father, with Primula Rollo, of David Niven Jr. and Jamie Niven; and the father, with Hjordis, of two adopted daughters, Kristina (adopted 1960) and Fiona (adopted 1962).34In the James Bond novel "You Only Live Twice," by Ian Fleming, he is referred to, and a pet bird in the story was named after him. Three years after the book was released, he played Bond in Casino Royale (1967).35Ian Fleming recommended him for the role of James Bond for Dr. No (1962), but producer Albert R. Broccoli thought that Niven was too old.36Contrary to a popular myth, he was not a cousin of actor Patrick Macnee. According to Macnee, in Sheridan Morley's 1985 biography "The Other Side of the Moon,", his elder brother Max and Patrick's mother were friends and Max was described as an "uncle," as opposed to a cousin. However, there was no blood link.37During his war service, his batman was Pvt. Peter Ustinov.38He once asked Greta Garbo while under a picnic table why she quit making movies. She answered, "I had made enough faces.".39After Great Britain declared war in 1939, he was one of the first actors to go back and join the army. Although Niven had a reputation for telling good old stories over and over again, he was totally silent about his war experience. He said once: "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."