Rowan Atkinson
Highest Rated: 97% The Witches (1990)
Lowest Rated: 30% Scooby-Doo (2002)
Birthday: Jan 6, 1955
Birthplace: Consett, County Durham, England
Best known to American audiences as the Black Adder and Mr. Bean, black-haired, bug-eyed, and weak-chinned comedian Rowan Atkinson is one of the most popular funnymen in England whose keen, often black humor and knack for physical comedy has earned him a huge international following. Born in Newcastle, Atkinson was educated at Newcastle University and Oxford. While at the latter, he teamed up with budding screenwriter Richard Curtis to write comedy reviews for the Oxford Playhouse. Shortly thereafter, the two created material for the Edinburgh Fringe. By 1978, Atkinson's humor had earned him a devoted fan base and he was offered leading roles in two British television comedies. Instead, Atkinson chose to get involved in the internationally acclaimed comedy series Not the Nine O'Clock News as a writer and a performer. His performances in the oft-distinguished show earned Atkinson a British Academy Award and got him designated "BBC Personality of the Year" in 1980. His stage performances also continued to significantly increase his popularity. In 1983, he and Curtis created the Black Adder, a cowardly and conniving Tudor Prince named Edmund who tries vainly to become King of England after inadvertently killing his father during a battle. Billed as a "situation tragedy" on the BBC, it ran three seasons and later spawned a couple of specials. Atkinson made his feature-film debut in the 1983 James Bond thriller Never Say Never Again. In the late '80s, he starred in a few films penned by Curtis. It was while they were filming The Tall Guy that Atkinson and Curtis created Mr. Bean, an average British Joe with a clumsy nature and a nasty streak and launched a series. Different from other shows in that it was largely silent, Atkinson's Bean demonstrated a rare gift for slapstick that has led to his being compared to Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. During its six year run, Mr. Bean became the most popular show in the U.K. and has since been shown in 89 countries where it has gained a cult following comparable to Monty Python and Fawlty Towers. Atkinson himself attributes his character's popularity to the fact that the socially awkward, middle-aged Bean's mundane adventures, largely due to his clumsy inability to cope with even the smallest of life's foibles, mirror the feelings and experiences of people the world over. In 1997, Atkinson brought the character to the big screen in Bean. Other notable Atkinson film performances include his voice characterization of Zazu in The Lion King and that of the hilariously inarticulate priest in Four Weddings and a Funeral.Atkinson oversaw an animated television series based on his beloved Mr. Bean character, and then took a cameo part in his longtime collaborator Richard Curtis' directorial debut Love Actually. In 2003 he starred in another international comedy hit, the spy spoof Johnny English, a movie so successful it spawned a sequel in 2011. In addition, Atkinson returned to the well yet again in 2007 with the feature length Mr. Bean's Holiday, which co-starred Willem Dafoe.
Photos
Highest Rated Movies
Filmography
Movies
| Credit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37% | Johnny English Strikes Again | Johnny English | — | 2018 |
| No Score Yet | Maigret's Night at the Crossroads | Jules Maigret | — | 2017 |
| No Score Yet | Maigret in Montmartre | Jules Maigret | — | 2017 |
| No Score Yet | Red Nose Day Actually | Actor | — | 2017 |
| No Score Yet | Maigret Sets a Trap | Actor | — | 2016 |
| No Score Yet | Maigret's Dead Man | Maigret | — | 2016 |
| 38% | Johnny English Reborn | Johnny English | $8.3M | 2011 |
| 52% | Mr. Bean's Holiday | Mr. Bean | $32.6M | 2007 |
| 56% | Keeping Mum | Reverend Walter Goodfellow | $1.5M | 2006 |
| No Score Yet | Spider-Plant Man | Actor | — | 2005 |
| 64% | Love Actually | Rufus | $59.4M | 2003 |
| 33% | Johnny English | Johnny English | $28M | 2003 |
| 30% | Scooby-Doo | Mondavarious | $153.4M | 2002 |
| 44% | Rat Race | Enrico Pollini | $55.9M | 2001 |
| 50% | Maybe Baby | Mr. James | — | 2000 |
| No Score Yet | Blackadder Back & Forth | Actor | — | 1999 |
| No Score Yet | Comic Relief: Doctor Who and the Curse of Fatal Death | Actor | — | 1999 |
| 41% | Bean | Screenwriter Mr. Bean Executive Producer | — | 1997 |
| No Score Yet | Thin Blue Line, The - The Complete Line-Up | Actor | — | 1995 |
| No Score Yet | Full Throttle | Actor | — | 1995 |
| 93% | The Lion King | Zazu | $94.3M | 1994 |
| 96% | Four Weddings and a Funeral | Father Gerald | — | 1994 |
| 57% | Hot Shots! Part Deux | Hayman | — | 1993 |
| No Score Yet | Rowan Atkinson Live! | Actor Screenwriter | — | 1992 |
| No Score Yet | Bernard and the Genie | Charles Pinkworth | — | 1992 |
| No Score Yet | Rowan Atkinson Presents: The Driven Man | Actor Screenwriter | — | 1991 |
| 89% | The Tall Guy | Ron Anderson | — | 1990 |
| 97% | The Witches | Mr. Stringer | — | 1990 |
| No Score Yet | Blackadder's Christmas Carol | Actor | — | 1988 |
| 67% | Never Say Never Again | Nigel Small-Fawcett | — | 1983 |
| 89% | The Secret Policeman's Other Ball | Actor | — | 1982 |
| No Score Yet | The Secret Policeman's Ball | Himself | — | 1981 |
| No Score Yet | Canned Laughter | Actor | — | 1979 |
TV
| Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No Score Yet |
The Graham Norton Show 2007 |
Guest |
2018 |
| No Score Yet |
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert 2015 |
Guest |
2018 |
| No Score Yet |
The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 1992-2014 |
Guest |
2011 2003 |
| 100% |
Mr. Bean 1990-1995 |
Screenwriter Mr. Bean |
1994 1992 |
| 100% |
Blackadder Goes Forth 1989 |
Edmund Blackadder |
1989 |
| 83% |
Blackadder the Third 1987 |
Edmund Blackadder |
1987 |
| 100% |
Blackadder II 1986 |
Lord Edmund Blackadder | |
| No Score Yet |
Not the Nine O'Clock News 1979-1982 |
Performer | |
| 57% |
The Black Adder 1983 |
Screenwriter Edmund | |
| No Score Yet |
The Thin Blue Line 1996 |
Insp. Raymond Fowler Insp. Raymond C. Fowler |
QUOTES FROM Rowan Atkinson CHARACTERS
Mr. Bean says: Bean!
Zazu says: Wrong! The only checking out you will do, is to check out of here.
Young Simba says: Aww, man!
Zazu says: We're way beyond the boundaries of the Pride Lands.
Simba says: Old banana beak is scared.
Zazu says: That's Mr. Banana Beak to you fuzzy. And I sense right now we are all in very real danger.
Young Simba says: Danger, ha! I look on the wild side. I laugh at the face of danger, hahahaha.
Johnny English says: Pegasus, we have another lead! Vortex was in Mozambique. They were responsible for the death of President Chambal.
Pamela Thornton says: No! You were responsible for the death of President Chambal.
Johnny English says: Come off it, Fisher. You, a paid assasin? You couldn't even hit a barn door with a banana.
Mr. Bean says: Are you feeling lucky, punk?
Zazu says: [muffled] I beg your pardon ma'am, but GET OFF! Simba? Nala?
Det. Brutus says: Mr. Bean, are you presently on any kind of medication?
Mr. Bean says: Not that I know of.
Det. Brutus says: Well you could certainly use some.
Johnny English says: (Concerning Sauvage) You know, I think I'd rather have my bottom impaled on a giant cactus than exchange pleasantries with that jumped-up Frenchman.
Johnny English says: [concerning Sauvage] You know, I think I'd rather have my bottom impaled on a giant cactus than exchange pleasantries with that jumped-up Frenchman.
Mr. Bean says: Jennifer...Jennifer...wakey wakey...breakfast's ready!... Jennifer...
Zack says: We have to find that heart!
Mr. Pollini says: Don't worry, I have lost my heart many times.
Zack says: What?
Mr. Pollini says: I made a joke to distract you from how screwed you are.
Mr. Pollini says: It's a race! I'm winning! I'm winning!
Mr. Bean says: Brace yourself!
Agent Tucker says: Sir, I don't think he's a Susan
Johnny English says: Well your not a linguist Tucker, are you? It's pronounced Shu-Shang, from the Zingzhou region I presume.
Johnny English says: "It can't be!"
Johnny English says: It can't be!
Johnny English says: It's time to kick some bottom.
Kate says: "Come to the bedroom."
Kate says: Come to the bedroom.
Johnny English says: "Gladly."
Johnny English says: Gladly.
Kate says: "Hide here."
Kate says: Hide here.
Johnny English says: "Keep your eyes pealed Tucker. Were looking for a Chinease man in specticles."
Johnny English says: Keep your eyes pealed Tucker. Were looking for a Chinease man in spectacles.
Johnny English says: "Come on Tucker."
Johnny English says: Come on Tucker.
Ling says: "Good concentration, English.
Ling says: Good concentration, English.
Johnny English says: "Sorry?"
Johnny English says: Sorry?
Johnny English says: "That's a good pussy cat."
Johnny English says: That's a good pussy cat.
Johnny English says: "Give me 24 hours."
Johnny English says: Give me 24 hours.
Johnny English says: "Wheres the governor?"
Johnny English says: Wheres the governor?
Special Agent Simon Ambrose says: "It's me."
Special Agent Simon Ambrose says: It's me.
Johnny English says: "You wish.''
Johnny English says: You wish.
Kate says: Let's kick some bottom.
Johnny English says: Let's kick some bottom.
Johnny English says: I may not know much about golf Tiger, but I know how to hold the bat.
Johnny English says: I may not know much about golf Tucker, but I know how to hold the bat.
Zazu says: i've got a lovely bunch of coconuts
Zazu says: [singing] I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts.
Mufasa says: Zazu!
Zazu says: Yes, sire?
Mufasa says: Take Nala home. I've got to teach my son a lesson.
Young Simba says: (Ducks down slowly)
Young Simba says: [ducks down slowly]
Zazu says: Come, Nala. Simba, good luck.
Mufasa says: Simba!
Zazu says: (Singing depressingly) Nobody knows, the trouble I've seen. Nobody knows, my sorrow...
Zazu says: [singing] Nobody knows the trouble I've seen. / Nobody knows my sorrow.
Scar says: Oh, Zazu, do lighten up. Sing something with a little bounce in it.
Scar says: Oh, Zazu, do lighten up. Sing something with a little bounce in it.
Zazu says: (Sings) It's a small world after all...
Zazu says: [singing] It's a small world after all...
Scar says: NO! NO! Anything but that!
Scar says: NO! No, *anything* but that!
Zazu says: [singing] I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts. / Here they are just standing in a row.
Johnny English says: As far as I'm concerned, the only thing the French should be allowed to host is an invasion.
Simba says: Zazu help me!
Zazu says: Don't worry your father is on his way!
Zazu says: Your father is on the way! Hold on!
Simba says: Hurry!
Simba says: [Losing grip] Hurry!
Johnny English says: Observe boff...the dull incompetence of the criminal mind...it can never hope to match our level of technical expertise...
Johnny English says: Observe, Bough, the dull incompetence of the criminal mind. It can never hope to match our level of technical expertise.
Zazu says: LET ME OUT, LET ME OUT!
Zazu says: [caged while the battle rages around him] Let me out! Let me out!
Timon says: LET ME IN!
Timon says: [fleeing the hyenas] Lemme in! Lemme in!