Clifford Wallace "Kip" Niven (May 27, 1945 – May 6, 2019) was an American actor and theatre director.

Kip Niven
Born
Clifford Wallace Niven

(1945-05-27)May 27, 1945
DiedMay 6, 2019(2019-05-06) (aged 73)
EducationBaylor University
University of Kansas (BA)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • theatre director
Spouses
Susan Tisdall
(m. 1968; died 1981)
(m. 1982; div. 1992)
Beth Reiff
(m. 1994; died 2012)
PartnerClaudia Copping
Children3

Early life edit

Niven was born in Kansas City, Missouri and grew up in Prairie Village, Kansas, the son of William Watson Niven and Elizabeth Hopkins Niven.[1] He graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School and briefly attended Baylor University, before graduating from University of Kansas.[1][2] After college, he joined the Army, serving three years, including a tour in Vietnam.[3]

Career edit

In 1972, Niven was featured in the premiere episode of The Sixth Sense. In 1973, he joined David Soul, Robert Urich and Tim Matheson as one of the four rogue cops in Magnum Force, starring Clint Eastwood. He amassed nearly 100 credits in film and television, enjoying recurring roles on TV series such as The Waltons, Alice and Emergency!.

Personal life edit

Niven's first wife, Susan Tisdall Niven, whom he married in 1968 and with whom he had two children, died in a car accident in 1981. In 1982, he married actress Linda Lavin. They divorced in 1992.[4] In 1994, Niven married Beth Reiff, with whom he had a daughter. They remained together until her death in 2012.[5]

Death edit

Niven died of a heart attack on May 6, 2019, in Leawood, Kansas, aged 73.[1][6][7][8]

Filmography edit

Year Title Role Notes
1972-1973 Emergency! (TV Series) Clive Jonas in "Nurse's Wild" and Stan Taylor in "Peace Pipe" (1972)

Bo Jensen in "The Promise" and Billy Hanks in "School Days" (1973)

1973 Maneater Shep Saunders
1973 Magnum Force Officer Alan "Red" Astrachan
1974 Newman's Law Assistant Coroner
1974 Airport 1975 Lt. Thatcher
1974 Earthquake Walter Russell
1975 The Hindenburg Lieutenant Truscott
1976 Midway Lt. Howard P. Ady, PBY Pilot
1976 Swashbuckler Willard Culverwell
1976 Once an Eagle Ryetower
1976 The Bionic Woman - Episode: "Welcome Home, Jaime: Part 2" Donald Harris [9]
1977 Damnation Alley Perry
1978 A Fire in the Sky Mac
1979 Blind Ambition Egil Krogh
1980 New Year's Evil Richard Sullivan
1980 Barnaby Jones Ted Singleton episode" Murder in the Key of C"
1982 Hart to Hart Ford Beebe Season 4 Episode "Harts On Campus"
1993 Dead Before Dawn Ken Fuller
2001 The Painting Doctor
2002 More than Puppy Love Vincent
2006 Raising Jeffrey Dahmer Attorney Howard Parker
2009 The Only Good Indian Dr. Hummber
2014 Jayhawkers Forrest 'Phog' Allen
2017 The Tree Wade Garrison
2017 Goodland Hal Bloom
2019 The Land Farmer Jim (final film role)

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "In Memory of Clifford "Kip" Niven". Ara Cremation. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  2. ^ Senter, Jay (May 8, 2019). "Kip Niven, PV native who went on to notable acting career, dies at 73". Shawnee Mission Post. Archived from the original on May 12, 2019. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  3. ^ Niccum, Jon (October 5, 2007). "Building character". Lawrence Journal-World. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  4. ^ Brozan, Nadine (July 3, 1992). "Chronicle". The New York Times. p. B4.
  5. ^ "Beth Niven Obituary (2012)". The Kansas City Star. Legacy.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  6. ^ Pedersen, Erik (May 8, 2019). "Kip Niven Dies: 'Magnum Force' Rogue Cop & Actor In 'Alice', 'The Waltons' & Sensurround Films Was 73". Deadline Hollywood.
  7. ^ Barnes, Mike (May 8, 2019). "Kip Niven, Actor in 'Magnum Force,' 'Alice' and 'The Waltons,' Dies at 73". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  8. ^ France, Lisa Respers (May 9, 2019). "Kip Niven, actor from 'Magnum Force' and 'Alice,' dies at 73". CNN.
  9. ^ ""The Bionic Woman" Welcome Home, Jaime: Part 2 (TV Episode 1976) - IMDb". IMDb.

External links edit