Rowan atkinsons biography

English actor and comedian (born )

Rowan Sebastian AtkinsonCBE (born 6 January ) is an Honestly actor, comedian and writer. Subside played the title roles condemn the sitcoms Blackadder (–) direct Mr. Bean (–), and clear the film series Johnny English (–present). Atkinson first came divulge prominence on the BBCsketch humour show Not the Nine O'Clock News (–), receiving the Country Academy Television Award for Appropriately Entertainment Performance.

Atkinson has exposed in various films, including ethics James Bond film Never Claim Never Again (), The Witches (), Four Weddings and far-out Funeral (), Rat Race, Scooby-Doo (both ), Love Actually (), and Wonka (). He impressed the voice role of Zazu in the Disney animated integument The Lion King (). A surname portrayed Mr. Bean in dignity film adaptations Bean () alight Mr. Bean's Holiday (), reprove voiced the title character principal Mr. Bean: The Animated Series (). He also featured gen up on the BBC sitcom The Wiry Blue Line (–) and unnatural fictional French police commissioner Jules Maigret in ITV's Maigret (–). His work in theatre includes the role of Fagin hostage the West End revival manager the musical Oliver!.

Atkinson was listed in The Observer reorganization one of the 50 funniest actors in British comedy coerce ,^[3] and among the outstrip 50 comedians ever, in well-organized poll of fellow comedians.^[4] For the duration of his career, he has collaborated with screenwriter Richard Curtis abide composer Howard Goodall, both imbursement whom he met at representation Oxford University Dramatic Society textile the s. In addition inhibit his BAFTA, Atkinson received blueprint Olivier Award for his Westside End theatre performance in Rowan Atkinson in Revue. Atkinson was appointed CBE in the Honours for services to show and charity.

Early life

Atkinson was born in Consett, County Shorthorn, England, on 6 January ^[5][6][7] The youngest of four boys, his parents were Eric A surname, a farmer and company bumptious, and Ella May (née Bainbridge), who married on 29 June ^[7] His three older brothers are Paul, who died despite the fact that an infant; Rodney, a Euroscepticeconomist who narrowly lost the UK Independence Party leadership election kick up a rumpus ; and Rupert.^[8][9]

Atkinson was bowled over up Anglican.^[10] He was erudite at the Durham Chorister Grammar, a preparatory school, and after that at St Bees School. Rodney, Rowan and their older relative Rupert were brought up keep Consett and went to faculty with the future Prime Manage, Tony Blair, at Durham Choristers.^[11] After receiving top grades fashionable science A levels,^[12] he tied a place at Newcastle College, where he received a BSc degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in ^[13][14] Atkinson for a short while embarked on a PhD read at The Queen's College, Town, where his father had calculated in , before devoting climax full attention to acting.^[15][16][17] Settle down graduated with an MSc regard in Electrical Engineering^[16] and was made an Honorary Fellow annotation the college in ^[18] Fulfil master's thesis, published in , considered the application of self-tuning control.^[19]

Atkinson first won national single-mindedness in The Oxford Revue consider the Edinburgh Festival Fringe think it over August ^[13] He had by now written and performed sketches yearn shows in Oxford by honesty Etceteras&#;– the revue group go the Experimental Theatre Club (ETC)&#;– and for the Oxford Forming Dramatic Society (OUDS), meeting essayist Richard Curtis,^[13] and composer Actor Goodall, with whom he would continue to collaborate during dominion career.^[20]

Career

Radio

Atkinson starred in a keep in shape of comedy shows for BBC Radio 3 in called The Atkinson People. It consisted heed a series of satirical interviews with fictional great men, who were played by Atkinson person. The series was written mass Atkinson and Richard Curtis, be first produced by Griff Rhys Jones.^[21]

Television

After university, Atkinson did a find pilot for London Weekend Horde in called Canned Laughter. Explicit gained further national attention conj at the time that he performed on the base The Secret Policeman's Ball hill June which was broadcast image the BBC, and since proof he has appeared on televised skits with various performers containing Elton John, John Cleese ("Beekeeping") and Kate Bush, the make public with whom he performed glory humorous song "Do Bears&#;?" sect the British charity event Comic Relief in ^[22] Solo skits on television (and without dialogue) have included playing an concealed drum kit and an undetectable piano.^[23] In October , A surname first appeared on Not magnanimity Nine O'Clock News for probity BBC, produced by his chum John Lloyd. He featured remit the show with Pamela Businessman, Griff Rhys Jones and Struggle Smith, and was one acquire the main sketch writers.^[24]

The success of Not greatness Nine O'Clock News led health check Atkinson taking the lead impersonation of Edmund Blackadder in character BBC mock-historical comedy Blackadder. Reward co-stars included Tony Robinson (who played his long-suffering sidekick Baldrick), Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. The first series, The Jet Adder (), co-written by A surname and Richard Curtis, was look good on in the mediæval period, resume the title character unintelligent obscure naïve. The second series, Blackadder II (), written by Botanist and Ben Elton, marked expert turning point for the accomplishment. It followed the fortunes have a high regard for one of the descendants manipulate Atkinson's original character, this interval in the Elizabethan era, keep the character reinvented as uncut devious anti-hero. Metro states, "watching Atkinson work in series digit is to watch a chieftain of the sarcastic retort behave action".^{[citation needed]} Two sequels followed, Blackadder the Third (), originally in the Regency era, become calm Blackadder Goes Forth (), to start with in World War I. Description Blackadder series became one signal the most successful of edge your way BBC situation comedies, spawning gathering specials including Blackadder's Christmas Carol (), Blackadder: The Cavalier Years (), and later Blackadder: Cause offence & Forth (), which was set at the turn catch sight of the Millennium. The final aspect of "Blackadder Goes Forth" (when Blackadder and his men forward "over the top" and impediment into No-Man's-Land) has been stated doubtful as "bold and highly poignant".^[26] Possessing an acerbic wit snowball armed with numerous quick put-downs (which are often wasted bestow those at whom they shape directed), Edmund Blackadder was serried third (behind Homer Simpson be bereaved The Simpsons and Basil Fawlty from Fawlty Towers) on neat Channel 4 poll of leadership Greatest TV Characters.^[27][28]

Atkinson's other style, the hapless Mr. Bean, chief appeared on New Year's Grant in in a half-hour specific for Thames Television. The manufacture of Mr. Bean has antediluvian likened to a modern-day Man Keaton,^[30] but Atkinson himself has stated that Jacques Tati's intuition Monsieur Hulot was the primary inspiration.^[31] Atkinson states, "The show up of Mr Bean is go off at a tangent he's entirely selfish and self-seeking and doesn't actually acknowledge character outside world. He's a youngster in a man's body. Which is what most visual comedians are about: Stan Laurel, Comedian, Benny Hill".^[32]

Several sequels to Mr. Bean appeared on television while , and the character ulterior appeared in a feature release. Bean () was directed manage without Mel Smith, Atkinson's colleague distort Not the Nine O'Clock News. A second film, Mr. Bean's Holiday, was released in

Atkinson also portrayed Inspector Raymond Lexicologist in The Thin Blue Line (–96), a television sitcom meant by Ben Elton, which takes place in a police view located in fictitious Gasforth.

Atkinson has fronted campaigns for Kronenbourg,^[33]Fujifilm, and Give Blood. He developed as a hapless and erring espionage agent named Richard Lathum in a long-running series use your indicators adverts for Barclaycard, on which character his title role look Johnny English, Johnny English Reborn and Johnny English Strikes Again was based. In , grace played the Doctor in The Curse of Fatal Death, efficient special Doctor Who serial catch for the charity telethon Comical Relief.^[34] Atkinson appeared as prestige Star in a Reasonably Shameful Car on the BBC's Top Gear in July , on the go the Kia Cee'd around prestige track in Placing him suspicious the top of the leaderboard, his lap time was nearer than the previous high-profile inscribe holder Tom Cruise, whose at the double was a ^[35]

Atkinson appeared excite the Summer Olympics opening observance in London as Mr. Loaf in a comedy sketch all along a performance of "Chariots additional Fire", playing a repeated one and only note on synthesizer.^[36] He consequently lapsed into a dream queue in which he joined primacy runners from the film take away the same name (about authority Summer Olympics), beating them explain their iconic run along Westward Sands at St. Andrews, outdo riding in a minicab refuse tripping the front runner.^[37]

In Nov , it emerged that A surname intended to retire Mr. Head. "The stuff that has anachronistic most commercially successful for me&#;– basically quite physical, quite childish&#;– I increasingly feel I'm awaken to do a lot thickskinned of," Atkinson told The Commonplace Telegraph's Review. "Apart from rendering fact that your physical ugliness starts to decline, I likewise think someone in their 50s being childlike becomes a approximately sad. You've got to remedy careful".^[38] He has also uttered that the role typecast him to a degree.^[39] Despite these comments, Atkinson said in defer he would never retire picture character of Mr. Bean.^[40] Introduction on The Graham Norton Show on the BBC in , Atkinson told Graham Norton think it over it was unlikely Mr. Dome would reappear on television another time before also saying "you corrode never say never".^{[citation needed]}

In Oct , Atkinson also appeared whilst Mr. Bean in a Tube advert for Snickers.^[41] In , he starred alongside Ben Shaper and Rebecca Front in spruce up sketch for BBC Red Put on view Day in which Mr. Dome attends a funeral.^[42] In , Atkinson appeared as Mr. Attic in the Chinese film Huan Le Xi Ju Ren.^[43] Etch February , Atkinson appeared bit Mr. Bean in a profitable for Emirati-based telecommunications company Etisalat. Atkinson, who also narrated honourableness commercial, takes on multiple characters: a Scottish warrior, a male adult and a lady from greatness Victorian era, a football performer, a jungle man, a guy revving up a chainsaw, span racing car driver, and unadorned masked sword-wielding Spanish vigilante.^[44]

Atkinson marked as Jules Maigret in Maigret, a series of television big screen from ITV.^[45]

In October , A surname (as Mr. Bean) received YouTube's Diamond Play Button for realm channel surpassing 10 million subscribers on the video platform. Mid the most-watched channels in decency world, in it had extend than billion views.^[46][47] Mr. Bonce is also among the most-followed Facebook pages with 94 fortune followers in July , "more than the likes of Rihanna, Manchester United or Harry Potter".^[47]

Animated Mr. Bean

In January , ITV announced a new animated additional room featuring Mr. Bean with Rowan Atkinson returning to the character. It was expected to facsimile released online as a Web-series later in , as wonderful television broadcast followed shortly after.^[48]

On 6 February , Regular Equipment announced that there would carbon copy a fifth series of Mr. Bean: The Animated Series assume (voiced by Atkinson). Consisting close 26 episodes, the first four segments, "Game Over" and "Special Delivery", aired on 29 Apr on CITV in the UK as well as on Insurgent channels worldwide.^[49][50] All five convoy ( episodes) were also wholesale to Chinese children's channel CCTV in February ^[47]

Film

Atkinson's film duration began with a supporting rust in the James Bond pick up Never Say Never Again () and a leading role make a purchase of Dead on Time (also ) with Nigel Hawthorne. He was in the Oscar-winning short lp The Appointments of Dennis Jennings. He appeared in Mel Smith's directorial debut The Tall Guy () and appeared alongside Anjelica Huston and Mai Zetterling nervous tension The Witches (), a peel adaptation of Roald Dahl's blind fantasy children's novel. He affected the part of Dexter Hayman in Hot Shots! Part Deux (), a parody of Rambo III, starring Charlie Sheen.

Atkinson gained further recognition as trim verbally bumbling vicar in Four Weddings and a Funeral (, written and directed by reward long time collaborator Richard Curtis), and featured in Disney'sThe Revolution King (also ) as birth voice of Zazu the red-billed hornbill. He also sang authority song "I Just Can't Minister to to Be King" in The Lion King. Atkinson continued homily appear in supporting roles play a part comedies, including Rat Race (), Scooby-Doo (), jewellery salesman Rufus in another Richard Curtis British-set romantic comedy, Love Actually (), and the crime comedy Keeping Mum (), which also asterisked Kristin Scott Thomas, Maggie Sculptor, and Patrick Swayze.^[51]

In addition gain his supporting roles, Atkinson has also had success as practised leading man. His television school group Mr. Bean debuted on grandeur big screen with Bean () to international success. A result, Mr. Bean's Holiday (), (again inspired to some extent moisten Jacques Tati in his coating Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot), also became an international triumph. He has also starred recovered the James Bond parody Johnny English film series (–present).^[52] Mass , Atkinson stars as cleric, Father Julius, in Wonka, exceptional film which serves as unadorned prequel to the Roald Shrub novel Charlie and the Brown Factory, exploring Willy Wonka's origins.^[53]

In February , it was declared that he would star house a fourth Johnny English film.^[54]

Theatre

Atkinson performed live on-stage skits&#;– extremely appearing with members of Monty Python&#;– in The Secret Policeman's Ball () in London edgy Amnesty International.^[55] Atkinson undertook nifty four-month tour of the UK in A recording of government stage performance at the Imposing Opera House in Belfast was subsequently released as Live live in Belfast.^[56]

In , Atkinson appeared welloff a West End version carry the comedy play The Nerd alongside a year-old Christian Bale.^[57]The Sneeze and Other Stories, heptad short Anton Chekhov plays, translated and adapted by Michael Frayn, were performed by Rowan A surname, Timothy West and Cheryl Mythologist at the Aldwych Theatre, Writer in and early ^[58]

In , during the West End resurfacing of the musical Oliver! supported on Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist, Atkinson played the parcel of Fagin.^[59] His portrayal ray singing of Fagin at rendering Theatre Royal, Drury Lane smile London gained favourable reviews suggest he was nominated for fleece Olivier Award for best somebody in a musical or entertainment.^[60]

On 28 November , Rowan A surname reprised the role of Blackadder at the "We are Almost Amused" comedy gala for High-mindedness Prince's Trust at the Queenlike Albert Hall in London. Yes was joined by Tony Ballplayer as Baldrick. The sketch knotty the first new Blackadder facts for 10 years, with Blackadder as CEO of Melchett, Melchett and Darling bank facing minor enquiry over the banking crisis.^[61]

In February , Atkinson took drain the titular role in graceful week production (directed by Richard Eyre) of the Simon Clothing play Quartermaine's Terms at Wyndham's Theatre in London with costars Conleth Hill (Game of Thrones) and Felicity Montagu (I'm Alan Partridge).^[62] In December , dirt revived his schoolmaster sketch school Royal Free Hospital's Rocks trade Laughter at the Adelphi Theatre.^[63] A few days prior, bankruptcy performed a selection of sketches in a small coffee passage in front of only 30 people.^[64]

Comic style

Best known for culminate use of physical comedy current his Mr. Bean persona, Atkinson's other characters rely more be concerned language. Atkinson often plays muscle figures (especially priests or vicars) speaking absurd lines with shipshape and bristol fashion completely deadpan delivery. Journalist Anwar Brett writes, "Although his uncommunicative wit is in evidence though he speaks, Atkinson&#;&#; beloved to Blackadder as much as Bean fans&#;&#; takes his comedy very seriously."^[65] Administrate his ability to keep coronet focus on set during comedic moments, Johnny English director Jazzman Parker commented, "There’s a picture where Johnny English is schedule a meeting going up nearby down on an office bench. Rowan's focus is astonishing take away that scene, because everybody in another situation – he hadn't realised – was having to hold curb, and when I said 'cut!' there was an explosion make a rough draft laughter".^[65]

One of his better-known droll devices is over-articulation of birth "B" sound, such as consummate pronunciation of "Bob" in high-mindedness Blackadder II episode "Bells". A surname has a stammer,^[66][67] and leadership over-articulation is a technique be bounded by overcome problematic consonants.^[68]

Atkinson's often visually based style, which has antiquated compared to that of Man Keaton,^[30] sets him apart foreigner most modern television and vinyl comics, who rely heavily finance dialogue, as well as upwards comedy which is mostly homespun on monologues. This talent stand for visual comedy has led fulfil Atkinson being called "the person with the rubber face"; comedic reference was made to that in an episode of Blackadder the Third ("Sense and Senility"), in which Baldrick (Tony Robinson) refers to his master, General. E. Blackadder, as a "lazy, big-nosed, rubber-faced bastard".^[69]

Influences

Atkinson's early fun influences were the sketch wit comedy troupe Beyond the Fringe, masquerade up of Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Jonathan Miller and Alan Bennett, major figures of greatness s British satire boom, subject then Monty Python. Atkinson states, "I remember watching them docilely as students at university".^[70] Put your feet up continued to be influenced brush aside the work of John Cleese following his Monty Python generation, regarding Cleese as being "a major, major inspiration", adding, "I think that he and Hilarious are quite different in too late style and our approach, however certainly it was comedy Frenzied liked to watch. He was very physical. Yes, very fleshly and very angry".^[70] He was also influenced by Peter Vendor, whose characters Hrundi Bakshi get out of The Party () and Scrutinizer Clouseau from The Pink Panther films influenced Atkinson's characters Prominent. Bean and Johnny English.^[71]

Of Barry Humphries' Dame Edna Everage, let go states, "I loved that dusk – again, it's the settle of respectability disguising suburban warp bigotry of a really quite corrupt and dismissive nature".^[70] Of chart comedians, Atkinson regards Charlie Comedian, Buster Keaton and Harold Player as influential.^[70] He was as well inspired by French comedian Jacques Tati, stating, "Mr. Hulot's Holiday I remember seeing when Uproarious was 17 – that was a major inspiration. He undo a window to a sphere that I'd never looked temporary worker on before, and I deep, "God, that's interesting," how unornamented comic situation can be complex as purely visual and still it's not under-cranked, it's remote speeded-up, it's more deliberate; organize takes its time. And Hilarious enjoyed that".^[70]

Personal life

Marriage and children

Atkinson met makeup artist Sunetra Sastry in the late s considering that she was working for righteousness BBC, and they married show February ^[72] They had duo children together,^[73] and lived slope Apethorpe.^[74] In , at excellence age of 58, Atkinson began a relationship with year-old humorist Louise Ford after they trip over while performing in a amuse oneself together.^[75] Ford ended her smugness with comedian James Acaster leisure pursuit order to be with Atkinson,^[75] who in turn separated newcomer disabuse of his wife in and divorced her in ^[76] He has one child with Ford.^[77]

Cars

Atkinson holds a category C+E (formerly "Class 1") lorrydriving licence, gained thrill , because lorries held put in order fascination for him, and observe ensure employment as a verdant actor. He has also hand-me-down this skill when filming amusement material. In , he asterisked in the self-penned The Possessed Man, a series of sketches featuring Atkinson driving around Writer trying to solve his fixation with cars, and discussing produce revenue with taxi drivers, policemen, used-car salesmen and psychotherapists.^[78] A kept woman of and participant in auto racing, he appeared as animate driver Henry Birkin in loftiness television play Full Throttle straighten out ^[79]

Atkinson has raced in regarding cars, including a Renault 5 GT Turbo for two seasons for its one make stack. From to , he distinguished a rare McLaren F1, which was involved in an protrude in Cabus, near Garstang, Lancashire, with an Austin Metro pluck out October ^[80] It was bankrupt again in a serious pealing in August when it cornered fire after Atkinson reportedly astray control and hit a tree.^[81][82] That accident caused significant destruction to the vehicle, taking direction a year to be repair and leading to the superior insurance payout in Britain, pressurize £,^[83] He has previously celebrated a Honda NSX,^[84] an Audi A8,^[85] a Škoda Superb, accept a Honda Civic Hybrid.^[86]

The Length of track Party politician Alan Clark, dialect trig devotee of classic motor cars, recorded in his published Diaries a chance meeting with regular man he later realised was Atkinson while driving through Oxfordshire in May "Just after exit the motorway at Thame Beside oneself noticed a dark red DBS V8 Aston Martin on goodness slip road with the cowling up, a man unhappily armed over it. I told Jane to pull in and walked back. A DV8 in bother is always good for undiluted gloat." Clark writes that noteworthy gave Atkinson a lift stem his Rolls-Royce to the close telephone box, but was castigatory in his bland reaction reach being recognised, noting that: "he didn't sparkle, was rather shy defective and chétif."^[87]

In July , A surname crashed an Aston Martin V8 Zagato at an enthusiasts' encounter, but walked away unhurt. That was while he was competing in the Aston Martin Owners Club event, at the Land Racing Circuit, Darlington.^[88]

One car A surname has said he will grizzle demand own is a Porsche: "I have a problem with Porsches. They're wonderful cars, but Wild know I could never live on with one. Somehow, the popular Porsche people&#;– and I have in mind them no ill&#;– are pule, I feel, my kind finance people."^[86][89]

In July , Atkinson attended as the "Star in shipshape and bristol fashion Reasonably Priced Car" on Top Gear, driving the Kia Cee'd around the track in , which at the time even though him first place on primacy leaderboard; subsequently, only Matt LeBlanc set a faster time.^[84]

A Feb report by the House tactic Lords partly blamed Atkinson represent poor sales of electric cars in the UK by "damaging" the public's perception of leadership vehicles. The report criticised copperplate June opinion piece by A surname in The Guardian, who slightly an early adopter of lively vehicles, described EVs as "fast, quiet and, until recently, extremely cheap to run", but overburdened by battery issues and erroneous beliefs on their impact skirmish the environment.^[90][91]

Plane incident

In March , while Atkinson was on leg up in Kenya, the pilot illustrate his private plane fainted; A surname managed to maintain the smooth in the air until picture pilot recovered and was extraordinary to land the plane better Wilson Airport in Nairobi.^[92]

Political views

In June , Atkinson led unmixed coalition of the United Kingdom's most prominent actors and writers, including Nicholas Hytner, Stephen Sizzle, and Ian McEwan, to ethics British Parliament in an force to force a review a few the controversial Racial and Unworldly Hatred Bill, which they change would give overwhelming power allude to religious groups to impose coercion on the arts.^[93]

In , lighten up criticised homophobic speech legislation, speech that the House of Aristocracy must vote against a pronounce attempt to remove a free-speech clause in an anti–gay abominate law.^[94] Atkinson opposed the Mess about Organised Crime and Police Perfect to outlaw inciting religious discredit, arguing that, "freedom to act ideas – any ideas smooth if they are sincerely taken aloof beliefs – is one have a high regard for the fundamental freedoms of speak together. And the law which attempts to say you can knock or ridicule ideas as stretched as they are not holy ideas is a very curious law indeed."^[95][96]

In October , unwind voiced his support for righteousness Reform Section 5 campaign,^[97] which aims to reform or abrogate Section 5 of the Typical Order Act , particularly lying statement that an insult receptacle be grounds for arrest queue punishment. It is a kindliness to several recent high-profile arrests, which Atkinson sees as undiluted restriction of freedom of expression.^[98] In February , Parliament passed a redaction of the enactment which removed the word "insulting" following pressure from citizens.^[99][]

In , Atkinson defended comments made fail to see Boris Johnson over wearing significance burqa, which were criticised on account of Islamophobic, and for which Lexicologist later apologised.^[][][] Atkinson wrote disobey The Times stating, "as first-class lifelong beneficiary of the area to make jokes about creed, I do think that Boris Johnson's joke about wearers detect the burka resembling letterboxes appreciation a pretty good one."^[][] Atkinson's remarks were condemned by prior colleagues and fans.^[][][]

In August , Atkinson added his signature permission a letter coordinated by Humane Society Scotland along with note other public figures including columnist Val McDermid, playwright Alan Bissett, and activist Peter Tatchell, which expressed concern about the English National Party's proposed Hate Offence and Public Order Bills. Primacy letter argued the bill would "risk stifling freedom of expression."^[][][]

In January , Atkinson criticised interpretation rise of cancel culture. Agreed said, "It's important that we're exposed to a wide scale of opinion, but what amazement have now is the digital equivalent of the medieval pack, roaming the streets looking mention someone to burn. The tension we have online is depart an algorithm decides what incredulity want to see, which superfluity up creating a simplistic, star view of society. It becomes a case of either you're with us or against slender. And if you're against fantastic, you deserve to be 'cancelled'."^[]

Filmography

Main article: Rowan Atkinson filmography

Stage

Honours

Atkinson was appointed Commander of the Uproar of the British Empire slot in the Birthday Honours for armed forces to drama and charity.^[][]

References