Kip Niven, KC theater director and actor who played Phog Allen, dies at 73
The Kansas City Star
By Katie Moore
May 7, 2019
Kip Niven, a Kansas City actor and director well-known as a booster for the local theater scene, died Monday. He was 73.
A founder of the Equity Actors’ Readers’ Theatre, he played Phog Allen in University of Kansas film professor Kevin Wilmott’s movie “Jayhawkers,” and played other roles in film and television during his long career.
Doug Weaver, a longtime friend and collaborator, said Niven helped anyone who wanted to be involved in the theater community become part of it. Niven was a strong union activist who was passionate about equity.
For him, that meant young and old alike could participate in theater, Weaver said.
It seemed that Niven made it out to see every show, big or small. Actors waited for the night Niven would see their production and they would hear his laugh.
“The most amazing thing about Kip — he knew every actor in Kansas City,” Weaver said.
“He was so full of life and joy.”
Niven was a graduate of Shawnee Mission East High School and KU.
Weaver recalled first hearing of Niven when he was an undergraduate in KU’s theater program. Niven was a few years ahead of Weaver and had moved to Los Angeles where he garnered some success.
“We all grew up wanting to be Kip,” Weaver said.
Niven was in films such as “Magnum Force” and had roles in TV shows including “Alice.”
He later returned to the Kansas City area where he directed and performed in numerous shows. He had three children.
About seven years ago, Niven approached Weaver about starting a theater group. They formed Equity Actors’ Readers’ Theatre.
On stage, Niven was “a great actor” who gave other actors the chance to do their job in their performances, Weaver said.
He was like the “glue that held the theater world together,” Weaver said. “He’s going to be incredibly missed.”
On Monday Wilmott, who won an Oscar in March, wrote about Niven on social media.
“He was just terrific,” Wilmott posted. “We have lost a mighty man.”
Actor Manon Halliburton said Niven’s death was a tragic loss.
“Kip was a legend in his own right as a person and artist,” she said.
NIVEN, Kip (Clifford Wallace Niven)
Born: 5/27/1945, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A.
Died: 6/6/2029, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A.
Kip Niven’s westerns – actor:
Hec Ramsey (TV) – 1973 (Dave Perkins)
Davy Crockett on the Mississippi (TV) – 1976 (Running Wolf/Jake) [voice]
How the West Was Won (TV) - 1979 (Lieutenant Ayelers)
Dream West (TV) – 1986 (Senator John Crittenden)
Return to Lonesome Dove (TV) – 1993 (doctor)
Walker, Texas Ranger (TV) – 2000 (D.A. Phillip Moody)
The Only Good Indian – 2009 (Dr. Hummber)