Rowan Atkinson

Rowan Atkinson is a British actor, comedian and screenwriter known worldwide for his iconic role as Mr Bean; he revolutionized comedy on television.

Rewards

BAFTA Awards

1981 (Not the Nine O'Clock News), 1990 (Black Viper)

CableAce Awards

1993 (Rowan Atkinson Live)
Aftonbladet TV Prize

1994, 1996, 1998 (Best Foreign TV Personality)
Telvis Awards

2002 (Best Foreign Male TV Personality)
EMMA Awards

2015 (Best Charity Film: Mr. Bean: The Funeral), 2016, 2017 (Best Actor: Maigret), 2020 (Career Achievement Award)
Youtube Creator Awards

2018 (Mr. Bean)

Who are you, Rowan Atkinson?

Rowan Atkinson was born on January 6, 1955 in the north of England.

In 1975, during his first year at Oxford University, Rowan Atkinson met two men who would be decisive in his life and career: Richard Curtis and Howard Goodall.

It was in Oxford, in fact, that the character of Mr. Bean was born. During the first semester, he was asked to create a sketch; Atkinson practiced in front of a mirror, making faces, and created this mute and bizarre character that he developed over many years.

It was in 1979 that he first played the character of Mr. Bean on stage, who did not yet have that name, in the sketches " The Blind Man on the Beach " and " The Church ". These two sequences would later be included in the Mr. Bean pilot 10 years later.

Rowan Atkinson draws his inspiration from the French comedian Jacques Tati, after watching the film " Les vacances de M.Hulot " (Mr. Hulot's Holiday). It's no coincidence that in 2007, Mr. Bean's second feature film was titled " Les vacances de Mr. Bean " (Mr. Bean's Holiday).

First TV appearances

It was in 1979, in a series called " Canned Laughter ," that the character of Mr. Bean first appeared on television. Obviously, this "Bean" is not the "Bean" we all know. His name in the series is Robert. A sketch—the one with the coffee cup—was even reused in the opening of the first Mr. Bean feature film in 1997.

From "The Black Adder" to "Mr. Bean"

Rowan Atkinson then participated in the 1982 television program " Not the Nine O'Clock News ," which gave a chance to young comedic talents. During 1983, he made his big-screen debut with a small role in the James Bond film " Never Say Never Again " alongside Sean Connery.

Rowan Atkinson's first major success was " The Black Adder ." This series, which began in 1983, remains a classic. It can be compared to the French series " Kaamelott, " but well before its time. " The Black Adder " ran for four seasons and was broadcast in France on Arte.

In 1989, ITV commissioned a pilot for a series from the trio of Atkinson, Curtis, and Elton. This marked the true birth of Mr. Bean . Three sketches were filmed: the church, the exam, and the beach. The three men had no trouble making this pilot, given that these three gags had been performed on stage by Rowan Atkinson years earlier. The church sketch was filmed in barely an hour!

As fate would have it, the pilot episode of Mr. Bean aired on January 1st, 1990 at 8 PM, right after Coronation Street … and it was an immediate success, with British viewership reaching 18 million! This was a major achievement for Rowan Atkinson, who was then commissioned by ITV to produce 14 more episodes.

The success is worldwide, Atkinson is internationally famous, he will become the 7th most recognized face in the world!

Rowan Atkinson changed costumes in 1995, becoming Brigadier Fowler in a series of the same name, Mr. Fowler . Two years later, Bean returned… but on the big screen with a film titled: Bean . Once again, it was a smash hit, with 3 million admissions in France and $250 million in worldwide box office receipts.

Mr. Bean from TV to the cinema

In 1997, BEAN marked the first appearance of the famous character on the big screen. Directed by Mel Smith, the film follows Mr. Bean as he is sent to the USA to monitor a famous painting on display in Los Angeles, leading to a series of memorable blunders and absurd situations. This feature film was a great international success, confirming Rowan Atkinson's global popularity.

Successes in film

In cinema, Rowan Atkinson enjoyed a string of successes: Four Weddings and a Funeral in 1994, Johnny English and Love Actually in 2003, Keeping Up with Kristin Scott Thomas and Patrick Swayze in 2005.

After much speculation, Mr. Bean finally returned to the big screen in 2007 with a film titled " Mr. Bean's Holiday ." The film follows Bean on a chaotic journey to the South of France after winning a trip to Cannes. From Paris to the French Riviera, Bean encounters a series of misunderstandings, mishaps, and farcical situations in a film with a more visual and poetic tone than the first. This second feature film grossed $232 million. It was likely Rowan Atkinson's final appearance as Mr. Bean on screen.

In 2011 and then in 2018, Rowan Atkinson revived another of his characters: Johnny English.

Atkinson a hero at the London Olympics

In 2012, Rowan Atkinson caused a sensation with his participation in the opening ceremony of the London Olympic Games . Dressed—unintentionally—as Mr. Bean, he found himself playing a single note from Vangelis's Chariots of Fire on a synthesizer. His ironic and iconic performance was acclaimed internationally, and the scene remains one of the most memorable moments of the ceremony.

Back to the series

Between 2016 and 2017 he returned to television as Commissioner Maigret for 4 episodes, new audience successes: 5.5 million in the United Kingdom, 3.3 million in France.

In 2022, Rowan Atkinson appeared on Netflix in the comedy series Man vs. Bee . He played Trevor, a character reminiscent of Mr. Bean. In 2024, he played Father Julius on the big screen in the film Wonka .

At the end of 2025, Netflix releases the sequel to Trevor Bingley's adventures with Man vs Baby .

Trevor Bingley, a new Mr. Bean?

In " Man vs. Bee " and " Man vs. Baby ," Rowan Atkinson plays Trevor Bingley, a character strongly reminiscent of Mr. Bean. Clumsy and prone to causing chaos in every situation, he is nonetheless ingenious and always seeks the ideal solution to every problem, even if it often ends in disaster.
Atkinson, however, considers Trevor Bingley kinder and more mature than Mr. Bean.

Mr. Bean 1990-1995

Creators: Rowan Atkinson & Richard Curtis
Directors: John Birkin, Paul Weiland & John Howard Davies
Written by: Rowan Atkinson, Robin Driscoll, Richard Curtis & Paul Weiland
Produced by: Peter Bennett-Jones, Sue Vertue, John Howard Davies & Nick Mortimer
Theme Music: Howard Goodall
Nationality: British
Production Company: Tiger Aspect Productions
Television Broadcast: ITV

Rowan Atkinson, an iconic actor whose exceptional career, blending visual humor, satire and intelligent comedy, has influenced generations.