"Magnum Force" Actor Kip Niven Dies At 73

Kip Niven, Magnum Force Star Dies At 73

• Actor Kip Niven is no more!
• The Magnum Force actor died in his native Kansas City, Missouri on Monday, 6th May at the age of 73.
• Several local media reported Niven died from a heart attack.
• His recent film appearance was in Jayhawkers where he portrayed University of Kansas basketball coach Phog Allen.

Actor Kip Niven, who is best known for his role as a young rogue motorcycle cop in Magnum Force has died. He was aged 73.

The Missouri-native actor and theater artist died on Monday, 6th May from a heart attack in his hometown Kansas City, The Kansas City Star reported.

He rose to fame for his role on the '70s TV show, Alice. Recently, Niven was as legendary University of Kansas basketball coach Phog Allen in Jayhawkers by Kevin Willmott in 2014. Willmott said of Niven,

Kip was Kansas City theater and film in many ways. He was a symbol of its heart and beauty and community. He was our little piece of Hollywood right here in the backyard.

Niven's partner, Claudia Copping said Niven was an institution in the Kansas City theater community. She added he was a supportive and fun person. She said,

Anytime I went anywhere with him if we even went to dinner, he was fast friends with the cashier.

Born on May 27, 1945, in Kansas City, Missouri, Kip Niven graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School. Niven studied theater at the University of Kansas before he moved to Hollywood to pursue a career in acting.

He was previously married thrice; first to Susan Niven to whom he remained married from 1968 to 1981. Later, he got married to Linda Lavin in 1982 and divorced in 1992. Beth Reiff was his third wife from whom he divorced in 2012, but their wedding date is not revealed yet.

Along with his partner, Claudia, Niven is survived by his children Maggie, Kate, and Jim.