Talk:David Niven

A Man Called Intrepid

This article contains a statement which contains blantantly false, possibly opinionated information: "Also in 1979, Niven starred in the television miniseries A Man Called INTREPID, based on the supposed memoir of Sir William Stephenson, a Canadian master spy for British intelligence. (In fact the book was mostly invented by co-author William Stevenson (no relation), Sir William then being very old.)"

Clearly, the person who wrote this statement has never looked at the book in question. Firstly, at no point does the book pretend to be a memoir of Sir William Stephenson; rather, it is a biography, openly constructed by someone else (of a coincidentally near-identical name). Secondly, William Stevenson is the only named author of this book, not the "co-author". Thirdly, as far as I am aware, the book is, apart from a very small number of mistakes (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Stephenson#Disputed_accounts) factual and accurate, with nothing "invented" by the author. If the editors of this Wikipedia article know any evidence to the contrary, they should refer to this evidence or delete the statement. As it stands, this statement is a worrying piece of disinformation apparently trying to slur a historically significant book. Please be aware that the opinionist Revilo P. Oliver (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revilo_Oliver) published a vitriolic article trying to discredit this book (see http://www.revilo-oliver.com/rpo/Intrepid_Liar.html). The statement here against the book may have been written by someone under the influence of myths and rumours started by people like Oliver. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 138.37.33.46 (talk) 15:12, 24 August 2009 (UTC)

See British Security Co-ordination — Preceding unsigned comment added by 95.150.18.209 (talk) 17:31, 17 September 2017 (UTC)

Munn a reference?

Using Michael Munn as a reference or source is just asinine. Relying on a disreputable writer is the wrong way of sourcing information and decreases the value of Wikipedia. Sourcing writers like these are the reasons schools call Wikipedia unreliable. My kids have attended in schools in over five states and are at college now. NONE of them would allow Wikipedia as a source and it is because of the Michael Munn's of the book world that has made it that way. Geez! It's just absolutely disgusting. MagnoliaSouth ^(talk) 19:16, 22 August 2009 (UTC)

I'm not getting involved in why Wikipedia can't be used as a source, but I did come on this page to make a similar point about Munn. Pretty much every person he's written about has denied what he's said, he never offers any proof or claims proof he had was destroyed - he's lying about the dead.

If I write a book that says Michael Jackson once told me he likes punching ostriches, would you put that in his article? No. So please rewrite this article, because as it stands half of it is worthless and massively inaccurate. 62.255.248.225 (talk) 13:48, 6 August 2010 (UTC)

Why is the Munn travesty of a biography still used as a reference? David Jnr said "Why, if Michael Munn was such a good friend, did he never introduce him to us?" Munn claims to have taped Niven in 1982 when everyone else says that he couldn't speak. It should probably remain in the biography section because it does exist as a book, although I would be tempted to put it under fiction. It certainly shouldn't be used as a reference and nothing in it should be quoted -- SteveCrook (talk) 02:47, 20 September 2010 (UTC)

Born in London

David Niven was not born in Scotland. See the trivia section of IMDB. It says "He often used to say he was born in Kirriemuir, Scotland. It was only after his birth certificate was checked after his death that this was found to be incorrect. David thought it sounded more romantic. He was born in London, England." Mintguy (T) 01:33, 5 Nov 2004 (UTC)

IMDb is not a good source of information. What did his son say? MagnoliaSouth ^(talk) 19:16, 22 August 2009 (UTC)

IMDb is certainly not a good source and it wasn't wise to single it out in this matter. However, most sources now, including Niven's official biogs, say he was born in London. So I don't see why there should still be any doubt. Crisso (talk) 23:08, 28 September 2009 (UTC)

May I add to this apparent paradox about David Niven's birthplace. It seems that his father is of Scottish decent and certainly Niven's physical looks show some Scottish features. Living as I do at Kirriemuir (but not a son of the town) the local inhabitants maintain that while Niven's parents were journeying from Scotland to London that they stopped overnight at a hotel at Kirriemuir where he was born. This is the local's beliefs but I am not aware of anything which could substantiate this claim yet intriguingly Niven, on using this claim, causes one to wonder why he chose this little known town at the foothills of the south eastern corner of the Grampian mountains. It does appear that he may have some connection to it, so what could it be? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Delparc (talk • contribs) 23:38, 1 February 2010 (UTC)

His birth certificate was checked by Sheridan Morley for his biography The Other Side of the Moon. The birth certificate says that Niven was born in London -- SteveCrook (talk) 13:31, 2 February 2010 (UTC)

Streaker

"The only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping... and showing his shortcomings." David Niven, commenting on the streaker who crossed the stage while he was hosting the Academy Awards in 1974. His remarks appeared to be off-the-cuff, but were, in fact, prepared beforehand.

Is this true? (The prepartion of the comment, that is.) If so, a source would be nice. --Hamiltonian 06:17, 2 October 2005 (UTC)

It's unlikely, unless Niven knew the streaker was going to do it - which would imply some collusion SteveCrook 02:35, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

Nevins?

Where does this idea that he was born James David Graham Nevins come from? It's mentioned on quite a few web sites, but they might have all copied it from each other. Nobody gives any sources. SteveCrook 02:45, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

I've checked not only in Niven's own biographical books (not always strictly accurate) and also in Sheridan Morley's The Other Side of the Moon. There is no mention of anyone called Nevins and Morley had access to the family records and birth certificates. Please jump hard all over the next person that tries to change the surnames in this article to Nevins again, if I don't spot them in time. SteveCrook 13:10, 13 March 2006 (UTC)

ALS?

I have no idea if Niven actually died from ALS or another motor neurone disease, but ALS is incorrectly listed here as being synonymous with the term "motor neurone disease." There are many motor neurone diseases, and ALS is only one of them. 69.168.108.191 19:44, 7 July 2006 (UTC)

Most sources say he died from ALS (often calling it Lou Gehrig's disease). I've tidied up the section about his death SteveCrook 23:15, 7 July 2006 (UTC)

In the US ALS is commonly used to mean any form of MND. MND is more commonly used in Britain and it is not normally specified which variety, as there are on a spectrum. Niven was British Jooler 03:50, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

First sentence in biography section...

...is very unclear. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.7.232.188 (talk) 04:10, 17 December 2007 (UTC)

Mixed race?

Upon reading of an affair which supposedly took place between David Niven and Merle Oberon it occurred to me that these two had something in common. Has it occurred to anyone else that David Niven gave every appearance of being a mixed race Anglo-Indian. This would go some way towards explaining the confusion surrounding his antecedents. I am almost certain Mr Niven had Indian blood in his ancestry. 118.92.194.56 (talk) 20:50, 24 November 2008 (UTC)

Do you have anything apart from a suspicion or feeling that leads you to believe it? I've never seen any mention of it in all that I've read about him -- SteveCrook (talk) 05:05, 2 March 2009 (UTC)

Merle Oberon was Irish-Indian as her Grandfather was Irish & her Grandmother(on her mother"s side was Irish named O'Brien) which she took the name Oberon from O'Brien. 2A02:C7C:4081:D700:B130:717:B16:F317 (talk) 15:45, 20 February 2024 (UTC)

I don't know what makes you think David Niven "gave every appearance of being a mixed race Anglo-Indian." There is nothing to suggest he was anything but white. 2600:1700:BC01:9B0:A876:E05C:2F8C:AB97 (talk) 00:20, 9 February 2022 (UTC)

War service

Apparently he took part in the disastrous Dieppe Raid of 1942, but did not want to talk about this until late in life, as revealed by Michael Munn in a recent Sunday Times interview. 86.138.158.107 (talk) 17:23, 22 May 2009 (UTC)

And I'm sure that more will be revealed in Munn's book, when it comes out in due course. --Simon Harley (talk | library | book reviews) 22:39, 22 May 2009 (UTC)

Munn's book appears to be based on interviews with Niven. But did he check the facts with other sources? Niven isn't the most reliable source of information about Niven's life. He spent most of his life playing a character called David Niven and he made up a lot of "facts" about that character -- SteveCrook (talk) 16:03, 24 May 2009 (UTC)

The latest issue of Private Eye (Eye 1240) is pretty damning about Munn's book, and also states Graham Lord believes that Munn lifted alot of the content from "Niv", an accusation which he was prevented from making in his review of Munn's book for The Daily Telegraph. It is remarkable just how many famous people Munn is supposed to have befriended in his youth - Ava Gardner, Niven, Richard Burton, Laurence Olivier - and none connected with any of them seems to remember him at all. A page reference on the Eye piece will be forthcoming if necessary. --Simon Harley (talk | library | book reviews) 16:46, 9 July 2009 (UTC)

I think the most telling part of that piece in the Eye is that Munn claimed that Niven confessed a lot of this from his sick bed shortly before dying. But the ALS meant that Niven couldn't speak properly, even those who were caring for him couldn't understand him most of the time. It looks like Munn's a total fantasist -- SteveCrook (talk) 13:29, 19 July 2009 (UTC)

The reference to Hjordis Niven being shot in the face with buckshot is quite unlikely for two reasons. Pheasant are generally hunted with #4, 5 or 6 birdshot (diameters 0.130, 0.120 or 0.110 inch respectively), rather than buckshot (generally between 0.24 and 0.33 inch diameter); Buckshot to the face would be expected to inflict a very serious, life-threatening inujury - which does not appear to have been the case. —Preceding unsigned comment added by JFrawley032759 (talk • contribs) 14:34, 28 June 2010 (UTC)

The book 'Commando Country' has probably the best account of Inverailort. It says that Niven attended a course at Inverailort in July 1940, there is nothing to suggest that he was on the staff there. Many servicemen went on courses to learn 'irregular warfare' so they could pass on the skills to their colleagues. There are lots of myths about both Inverailort and Niven! A recent article describes it as being SOE (which it was not) and says he was a SOE staff officer there. jmb (talk) 10:06, 25 April 2014 (UTC)

Anyone being shot in the face by a shotgun if it doesn't kill them outright is likely to need immediate hospital treatment whatever the ammunition and as doctors and hospitals in both the UK and US are required by law to inform the police when treating gunshot wounds it is almost certain the person responsible would have been arrested for attempted murder.

Early film career

Under this heading in the article it states:-

"According to his autobiography, he and Errol Flynn shared a house, which they dubbed Cirrhosis-by-the-Sea although in actual fact the co-habitee was Robert Newton, a less well-known actor and thus perhaps less noteworthy for Niven's dinner table anecdotes."

The source is given as Sheridan Morley's book "The Other Side of the Moon" (1985). This has been badly misquoted by the writer of this article for in actual fact he did share a house with Flynn and Robert Coote (not Robert Newton) was a resident also as page 74 states:-

"He (Niven) and Flynn were firm friends and had decided to rent Rosalind Russell's house at 601 North Linden Drive as a bachelor pad. Flynn was at that time seperated from Lili Damita, but he was by no means the only other tenant at 601 - Robert Coote stayed there for a while before Miss Damita returned briefly to the Flynn marital nest and Coote and Niven had to move down to the beach, and the address later became a kind of refuge for actors on the run from tricky marriages and/or girlfriends. It was Miss Russell herself, a sharply witty woman, who therefore named it Cirrhosis-by-the-Sea." Peter 10:20, 14 June 2011 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Majorsam (talk • contribs)

Education and army service

This section states that Niven's request to join "anyone but the HLI" was known in the regiment, and therefore he didn't enjoy his time in the army. However, Niven indicates otherwise in "The Moon's a Balloon" - his CO mentions it to him but then says something to the effect of keeping it to himself. As the article says, his decision to leave the army was because he was bored with it, not that he had a hard time with it. However, it's a while since I read the book, and other sources may say different, so I'll check before I make any changes. Halmyre (talk) 14:44, 20 February 2012 (UTC)

Never take "The Moon's a Balloon" as an accurate reference for anything. It's an interesting story about a character called David Niven. That was the best performance of David Niven's career, playing the character called David Niven :) -- SteveCrook (talk) 05:59, 22 February 2012 (UTC)

That's true; but is there any other source which says "Niven did not enjoy his time in the army", and implies that it was because of his flippant request, as it says in the article? Halmyre (talk) 16:56, 22 February 2012 (UTC)

The Morley & Lord biographies might have something top say on the subject, they're both mainly accurate. But that's one problem with Wikipedia, they want a citation, but it doesn't matter how accurate it is. As long as it's cited somewhere, it meets their rules. They even include citations from some of Munn's "biographies" :) -- SteveCrook (talk) 21:29, 22 February 2012 (UTC)

Inspiration behind Sinestro

Niven's likeness was given to the super-villain Sinestro -- this should be added in a "Legacy" or "Cultural references" section. Stopde (talk) 08:03, 29 March 2012 (UTC)

Suicide attempt

The mention of a suicide attempt cites the Daily Mail, one of the most scurrilous of all the scurrilous scandal rags in the UK. Many of their stories are just made up. But this article in the Mail is referring to the Michael Munn book. So it's one bad source based on another bad source. Should it be kept in the article? -- SteveCrook (talk) 15:36, 19 July 2012 (UTC)

Personal life?

There is information on other Wikipedia bios that Niven had quite a number of affairs with a few prominent actresses as well as other women. But there is nothing on his bio that corroborates these details. Is there information about this is any biographies or autobiographies? Or are the writers here trying to be discrete? 69.125.134.86 (talk) 15:03, 15 June 2013 (UTC)

I am reading a biography of Elizabeth Taylor right now and it says that Niven had numerous affairs/one-night stands with a number of men as well. But this is common in Hollywood/the acting profession. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 88.105.37.38 (talk) 01:03, 30 March 2014 (UTC)

These things are normally only written about after the person has died. So you'd need to find biographies/autobiographies who have been published after Niven's death if that's what you find necessary to explore. An accident like happened to his first wife is included in Lilli Palmer's autobiography. There is no name, but to me it seemed like it was that one. 58.174.224.4 (talk) 04:26, 5 May 2015 (UTC)

User talk:88.105.37.38: How "common"? More so than in other walks of life, say, like "Wikipedia editors"? You provide no proof, not even the name of the biography you said you were reading that discusses Niven. You should review Wikipedia:Identifying reliable sources. As is, your comment does not signify. Thank you, Wordreader (talk) 23:08, 6 May 2014 (UTC)

What also might be mentioned is the fact he had tuberculosis as a child. He mentioned it as a guest on Dick Cavett's show in 1981: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUbTn-aLix4 --Maarten1963 (talk) 16:22, 30 April 2022 (UTC)