Rowan Atkinson, the man behind the globally adored clumsy character Mr. Bean, is celebrated as a hallmark of British humor. Yet, Atkinson himself has mixed feelings about his iconic creation. In a 2018 interview, he described Mr. Bean as “a terribly selfish and self-righteous bastard—a spoiled child trapped in an adult’s body.” Atkinson, who turns 70 this Monday, has left an indelible mark on comedy.
Born on January 6, 1955, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, Atkinson grew up in an entrepreneurial family with three older brothers, one of whom passed away in infancy. His brother Rodney later gained recognition as an anti-EU politician. Atkinson attended Durham’s Chorister School, sharing an alma mater with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. He later pursued electrical engineering at Newcastle and Oxford universities, where he discovered his passion for comedy, performing sketches with a theater group and collaborating with friend Richard Curtis, the future filmmaker.
A Career Rooted in Satire and Comedy
Atkinson’s career began in 1979 with satirical interviews on BBC radio, leading to his breakout role as the presenter on the BBC’s news satire Not the Nine O’Clock News. He gained further fame as the lead in the historical comedy series Blackadder starting in 1983.
His career-defining role as Mr. Bean debuted on ITV in 1990 and transitioned to the big screen with major success. Atkinson also found acclaim in the Johnny English series, a parody of James Bond. Comparing the two, Atkinson once said, “Johnny English has more in common with reality than James Bond, who is ultimately a kind of Superman.”
Notably, Atkinson’s first film role was in the James Bond movie Never Say Never Again (1983), though he later admitted dissatisfaction with his performance. He also made memorable appearances in Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) as a bumbling priest and Love Actually (2003) as a meticulous gift-wrapper.
Atkinson showcased his versatility by starring in the British crime series Maigret (2017), set in 1950s Paris. In 2022, he returned to comedy with Netflix’s Man vs. Bee.
Champion of Free Speech and Comedy’s Boundaries
Atkinson is a staunch advocate for free speech, often defending comedy’s right to offend. He has spoken against laws targeting hate speech and supported Boris Johnson’s controversial burka “letterbox” analogy as a valid joke, stating, “Insults are the essence of comedy, and every joke has a victim.”
A Private Life and Unexpected Heroics
Atkinson is private about his personal life. He has two children with his first wife, Sunetra Sastry, and a daughter with actress Louise Ford, whom he began dating after their 2015 divorce. Off-screen, Atkinson is a car enthusiast, known for collecting luxury sports cars and surviving several crashes. In 2001, however, he shed his clumsy persona, taking control of a plane and safely landing it when the pilot fell unconscious during a family trip in Kenya.
Rowan Atkinson remains a versatile talent, from portraying slapstick humor to exploring darker roles, leaving audiences around the world in awe of his artistry.
