Editing David Niven (section)

==Death and legacy ==
In 1978 Niven began experiencing weight loss, and by 1980 general fatigue, muscle weakness, and slurred speech. His interviews on the talk shows of [[Michael Parkinson]] and [[The Merv Griffin Show|Merv Griffin]] alarmed family and friends; viewers wondered if Niven had either been drinking or suffered a stroke. He blamed his slightly slurred voice on the shooting schedule of the film he had been making, ''Better Late Than Never''. He was diagnosed with [[ALS]] in 1980. His final appearance in Hollywood was hosting the 1981 [[American Film Institute]] tribute to his old friend [[Fred Astaire]].

In February 1983, using a false name to avoid publicity, Niven was hospitalised for 10 days, ostensibly for a digestive problem. Afterwards, he returned to his chalet at Château-d'Œx. Though his condition continued to worsen he refused to return to the hospital, a decision supported by his family. He died at his chalet on 29 July 1983, aged 73.<ref>{{cite book |last=Donnelley |first=Paul |title=Fade to Black: A Book of Movie Obituaries |publisher=Music Sales Group |date=2003 |pages=522 |isbn=0-711-99512-5}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Pace |first=Eric |title=David Niven Dead at 73; Witty Actor Won Oscar |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/30/obituaries/david-niven-dead-at-73-witty-actor-won-oscar.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=30 July 1983 |page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Pace |first=Eric |title=David Niven Dead at 73; Witty Actor Won Oscar |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/30/obituaries/david-niven-dead-at-73-witty-actor-won-oscar.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=30 July 1983 |page=2}}</ref> Niven was buried on 2 August in the local cemetery of Château-d'Œx.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Brooks |first1=Patricia |last2=Brooks |first2=Jonathan |title=Laid to Rest in California: A Guide to the Cemeteries and Grave Sites of the Rich and Famous |publisher=Globe Pequot |date=2006 |pages=522 |isbn=0-762-74101-5}}</ref>

A thanksgiving service for Niven was held at [[St Martin-in-the-Fields]], London, on 27 October 1983. The congregation of 1,200 included [[Prince Michael of Kent]], [[Margaret Campbell, Duchess of Argyll]], [[John Mills]], [[Richard Attenborough]], [[Trevor Howard]], [[David Frost]], [[Joanna Lumley]], [[Douglas Fairbanks Jr.]], and [[Laurence Olivier]].<ref>''Niv'' by Graham Lord, Orion, 2004, p. 420</ref> Biographer Graham Lord wrote, "the biggest wreath, worthy of a Mafia Godfather's funeral, was delivered from the porters at [[London Heathrow Airport|London's Heathrow Airport]], along with a card that read: 'To the finest gentleman who ever walked through these halls. He made a porter feel like a king.{{' "}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://paulburgin.blogspot.com/2006/01/in-thespian-praise-of-david-niven.html |title=In Thespian Praise of: David Niven |publisher=Paulburgin.blogspot.com |date=25 January 2006 |access-date=24 September 2010}}</ref>

In 1985, Niven was included in a series of British postage stamps, along with [[Alfred Hitchcock]], [[Charles Chaplin]], [[Peter Sellers]], and [[Vivien Leigh]], to commemorate "British Film Year".<ref>[[Alexander Walker (critic)|Walker, Alexander]]. ''Vivien: The Life of Vivien Leigh'', pp. 303, 304. Grove Press, 1987.</ref> Niven's appearance was the inspiration for that of Commander Norman in the ''[[Thunderbirds (TV series)|Thunderbirds]]'' franchise, as well as [[DC Comics]] villain [[Sinestro]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/004721821.cfm |title=WIZARD INSIDER: SINESTRO |access-date=5 October 2007 |last=Brown |first=Jeremy |date=10 June 2007 |publisher=Wizard |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011160927/http://wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/004721821.cfm |archive-date=11 October 2007 }}</ref>

Niven's ''[[Bonjour Tristesse (1958 film)|Bonjour Tristesse]]'' co-star, [[Mylène Demongeot]], declared about him, in a 2015 filmed interview:<blockquote>"He was like a Lord, he was part of those great actors who were extraordinary like [[Dirk Bogarde]], individuals with lots of class, elegance and humour. I only saw David get angry once. [[Otto Preminger|Preminger]] had discharged him for the day but eventually asked to get him. I said, sir, you had discharged him, he left for [[Deauville]] to gamble at the casino. So we rented a helicopter so they immediately went and grabbed him. Two hours later, he was back, full of rage. There I saw David lose his British phlegm, his politeness and class. It was royal. [Laughs]."<ref name=":0">{{Cite news 
|date=5 July 2015
|title=Rencontre avec mylène demongeot
|author=Mac Mahon Filmed Conferences Paris
|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I-cqo6QES8
|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/-I-cqo6QES8
|archive-date=2021-12-11 
|publisher=YouTube 
|url-status=live
|access-date=24 October 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref></blockquote>