Mr Bean CBE is an English actor, comedian, and writer.
Early life and Education 
Rowan Sebastian Atkinson, born in Consett, County Durham, England on January 6, 1955, is the youngest of four boys. His parents, Eric Atkinson, a farmer and company director, and Ella May (née Bainbridge), married in 1945. His older brothers are Paul (who died as an infant), Rodney, a Eurosceptic economist who narrowly lost the UK Independence Party leadership election in 2000, and Rupert. He was raised Anglican and attended the Durham Chorister School and St Bees School. Alongside Rodney and Rupert, he grew up in Consett and attended school with future Prime Minister Tony Blair at Durham Choristers. Atkinson excelled academically, earning top grades in science A levels, and went on to study Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Newcastle University, graduating with a BSc degree in 1975. He furthered his education with an MSc degree in Electrical Engineering at The Queen’s College, Oxford, where his father also studied and where Atkinson later became an Honorary Fellow in 2006. Despite initially pursuing a PhD, he ultimately turned his focus to acting. Atkinson gained national recognition through The Oxford Revue at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 1976, having already showcased his talents in sketch writing and performance at Oxford University, where he met future collaborators such as writer Richard Curtis and composer Howard Goodall.
Career
Atkinson showcased his comedic talent across various mediums, including radio and television. In 1979, he starred in the BBC Radio 3 series “The Atkinson People,” co-written with Richard Curtis, featuring satirical interviews with fictional notable figures portrayed by Atkinson himself. Transitioning to television, Atkinson did a pilot for London Weekend Television in 1979 titled “Canned Laughter.” His performance at the third The Secret Policeman’s Ball in June 1979, broadcast on the BBC, further raised his profile. He collaborated with notable figures like Elton John, John Cleese, and Kate Bush, with whom he performed the humorous song “Do Bears…?” for Comic Relief in 1986. On solo skits, Atkinson displayed his physical comedy prowess, including performances with an invisible drum kit and piano. In October 1979, he made his debut on “Not the Nine O’Clock News,” a BBC show where he worked alongside Pamela Stephenson, Griff Rhys Jones, and Mel Smith, contributing as both a performer and sketch writer.
Following the success of “Not the Nine O’Clock News,” Atkinson took on the lead role of Edmund Blackadder in the BBC mock-historical comedy series “Blackadder.” His co-stars included Tony Robinson as his long-suffering sidekick Baldrick, as well as Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. The series underwent various transformations, with each season set in a different historical period. The first series, “The Black Adder” (1983), depicted a bumbling and naïve character in medieval times. The second series, “Blackadder II” (1986), marked a shift, portraying Blackadder as a cunning anti-hero during the Elizabethan era. This evolution continued with “Blackadder the Third” (1987) set in the Regency era, and “Blackadder Goes Forth” (1989) set in World War I. The series achieved great success and spawned television specials such as “Blackadder’s Christmas Carol” (1988) and “Blackadder: Back & Forth” (1999). The final scene of “Blackadder Goes Forth,” depicting Blackadder and his men going “over the top” into No-Man’s-Land, is renowned for its boldness and poignancy. Edmund Blackadder’s acerbic wit and quick put-downs earned him a place as one of the greatest TV characters in a Channel 4 poll, ranking third behind Homer Simpson and Basil Fawlty.
Atkinson’s iconic character, Mr. Bean, made his debut on New Year’s Day in 1990 in a special for Thames Television. The character, often compared to Buster Keaton but inspired by Jacques Tati’s Monsieur Hulot, is portrayed as entirely self-centered and oblivious to the world around him, embodying a childlike demeanor in an adult’s body. The series featured several sequels until 1995, followed by a feature film titled “Bean” (1997), directed by Mel Smith. A second film, “Mr. Bean’s Holiday,” was released in 2007. Additionally, Atkinson portrayed Inspector Raymond Fowler in the television sitcom “The Thin Blue Line” (1995–96), written by Ben Elton. He has also appeared in various commercials and charity events, notably as the bumbling espionage agent Richard Lathum for Barclaycard and as the Doctor in “The Curse of Fatal Death,” a Doctor Who special for Comic Relief. Atkinson’s versatility extends to his film roles, including supporting parts in “Four Weddings and a Funeral” (1994) and “The Lion King” (1994), where he voiced Zazu. He also starred in leading roles, notably as Johnny English in the James Bond parody film series (2003–2018). In 2023, Atkinson starred as Father Julius in “Wonka,” a prequel to Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” exploring Willy Wonka’s origins.
Atkinson’s talents extend beyond screen performances to live theater. He participated in The Secret Policeman’s Ball (1979) for Amnesty International, sharing the stage with members of Monty Python. In 1980, he embarked on a four-month tour of the UK, showcasing his comedic skills. A recording of his stage show at the Grand Opera House in Belfast was released as “Live in Belfast.” In 1984, he appeared in the West End production of the comedy play “The Nerd” alongside a young Christian Bale. Additionally, Atkinson performed in “The Sneeze and Other Stories,” a series of short plays by Anton Chekhov, at the Aldwych Theatre in London in 1988 and early 1989.
In 2009, Atkinson took on the role of Fagin in the West End revival of the musical “Oliver!” to critical acclaim, earning a nomination for an Olivier Award. He later reprised his role as Blackadder for a special comedy gala for The Prince’s Trust in 2012 at the Royal Albert Hall. In February 2013, Atkinson starred in the Simon Gray play “Quartermaine’s Terms” at Wyndham’s Theatre in London, directed by Richard Eyre and alongside Conleth Hill and Felicity Montagu. He also revived his schoolmaster sketch for a charity event at the Adelphi Theatre in December 2013, and performed a selection of sketches in an intimate coffee venue in front of a small audience.
Influence
Atkinson’s comedic roots trace back to influential figures such as the sketch comedy troupe Beyond the Fringe, comprised of Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Jonathan Miller, and Alan Bennett, as well as Monty Python. He recalls watching them avidly during his university days, finding inspiration in their work. John Cleese, particularly known for his physical comedy, became a significant influence on Atkinson, whom he considers a major inspiration, despite their differing styles. Atkinson also draws inspiration from Peter Sellers, with characters like Hrundi Bakshi from “The Party” and Inspector Clouseau from “The Pink Panther” influencing his creations such as Mr. Bean and Johnny English.
Barry Humphries’ Dame Edna Everage also left an impression on Atkinson, appreciating the character’s blend of respectability and underlying suburban prejudice. Among visual comedians, Atkinson cites Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Lloyd as influential, praising their ability to create comedy through purely visual means. He was particularly struck by French comedian Jacques Tati’s film “Mr. Hulot’s Holiday,” which introduced him to a new comedic perspective, emphasizing deliberate pacing and visual storytelling.
Personal life
Atkinson’s personal life includes significant relationships and a passion for cars. He met makeup artist Sunetra Sastry in the late 1980s, and they married in February 1990, having two children together. However, in 2013, Atkinson began a relationship with comedian Louise Ford, who he met while performing in a play together. The relationship led to his separation from Sastry in 2014 and subsequent divorce in 2015. Atkinson has one child with Ford.
Known for his love of cars, Atkinson holds a lorry driving license and has a keen interest in car racing. He has owned various vehicles over the years, including a rare McLaren F1, which was involved in two accidents, one in 1999 and another in 2011. Atkinson has also owned cars like the Honda NSX, Audi A8, Škoda Superb, and Honda Civic Hybrid. Notably, he appeared on Top Gear as the “Star in a Reasonably Priced Car” in July 2011, setting a fast lap time.
In addition to his car-related exploits, Atkinson’s comments on electric vehicles in a 2023 Guardian article were criticized by the House of Lords in a February 2024 report, partly blaming him for poor sales of electric cars in the UK. Despite this, Atkinson’s quick thinking saved the day during a holiday in Kenya in March 2001 when the pilot of his private plane fainted. Atkinson managed to keep the plane airborne until the pilot recovered, allowing for a safe landing in Nairobi.
Activism
Atkinson has been vocal about various issues related to freedom of speech and expression. In June 2005, he led a coalition of prominent actors and writers to the British Parliament to challenge the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill, expressing concerns that it would empower religious groups to censor the arts. He also criticized legislation targeting homophobic speech in 2009, advocating for the preservation of free speech clauses in anti–gay hate laws.
Opposing the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, Atkinson argued for the freedom to criticize ideas, including religious beliefs. He supported the Reform Section 5 campaign in 2012, aiming to amend or repeal a statute allowing arrest and punishment for insults, which he viewed as a restriction on freedom of expression. His advocacy led to the removal of the word “insulting” from the law in 2014.
In 2018, Atkinson defended Boris Johnson’s controversial remarks about the burqa, citing the importance of freedom to joke about religion. However, his stance faced criticism from former colleagues and fans. Atkinson also signed a letter expressing concerns about proposed hate crime legislation in Scotland in August 2020, warning against the potential stifling of freedom of expression.
In January 2021, Atkinson criticized the rise of cancel culture, emphasizing the importance of being exposed to a wide spectrum of opinions. He expressed concern about the simplistic, binary view of society perpetuated by algorithms on online platforms, which he likened to a digital mob seeking to silence dissenting voices.
Net Worth
Estimated to be over 150 million dollars