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==Early life==
==Early life==

Atkinson was born to Eric Atkinson and Ella May, [[Anglican]] farmers in the town of Consett, north-west of the city of [[Durham]]. He was educated at [[Durham Choristers School]], followed by [[St Bees School]], and studied [[electrical engineering]] at [[University of Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle University]]. He continued with an [[MSc]] at [[University of Oxford|Oxford]] ([[The Queen's College, Oxford|Queen's College]]), starting his comedy career at the [[Edinburgh Fringe Festival]] in 1977. At Oxford, he also acted and performed early sketches for the [[Oxford University Dramatic Society]] (OUDS) and the [[Experimental Theatre Club]] (ETC), meeting writer [[Richard Curtis]] and composer [[Howard Goodall]], with whom he would continue to collaborate during his career.
Atkinson was born to Eric Atkinson and Ella May, [[Anglican]] farmers in the town of Consett, north-west of the city of [[Durham]]. He was educated at [[Durham Choristers School]], followed by [[St Bees School]], and studied [[electrical engineering]] at [[University of Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle University]]. He continued with an [[MSc]] at [[University of Oxford|Oxford]] ([[The Queen's College, Oxford|Queen's College]]), starting his comedy career at the [[Edinburgh Fringe Festival]] in 1977. At Oxford, he also acted and performed early sketches for the [[Oxford University Dramatic Society]] (OUDS) and the [[Experimental Theatre Club]] (ETC), meeting writer [[Richard Curtis]] and composer [[Howard Goodall]], with whom he would continue to collaborate during his career.


Atkinson toured with [[Angus Deayton]], who accompanied him as [[double act|straight man]]. The show was filmed for television, and is still popular on video. It characterises Atkinson's comedy style, which is rigorously planned and scripted, often visual-based — comedy as performance, rather than as observation or discussion, observant of life as many of the routines were. Atkinson's talent for visual comedy has seen him described as "the man with the rubber face". In 1978 he was offered his own television series by [[ITV]] but turned it down in favour of ''[[Not the Nine O'Clock News]]'', which also starred [[Pamela Stephenson]], [[Griff Rhys Jones]] and [[Mel Smith]].
Atkinson toured with [[Angus Deayton]], who accompanied him as [[double act|straight man]]. The show was filmed for television, and is still popular on video. It characterises Atkinson's comedy style, which is rigorously planned and scripted, often visual-based — comedy as performance, rather than as observation or discussion, observant of life as many of the routines were. Atkinson's talent for visual comedy has seen him described as "the man with the rubber face"
In 1978 he was offered his own television series by [[ITV]] but turned it down in favour of ''[[Not the Nine O'Clock News]]'', which also starred [[Pamela Stephenson]], [[Griff Rhys Jones]] and [[Mel Smith]].


==Career==
==Career==
The success of ''Not the Nine O'Clock News'' led to his starring in the [[medieval]] [[sitcom]] ''[[The Black Adder]]'', which he also co-wrote with [[Richard Curtis]], in 1983. Despite a mixed reception, a second series was written, this time by Curtis and [[Ben Elton]], and first screened in 1985. ''[[Blackadder II]]'' followed the fortunes of one of the descendants of Atkinson's original character, this time in the [[Elizabethan era]]. The same pattern was repeated in two sequels ''[[Blackadder the Third]]'' (1987) (set in the [[English Regency|Regency era]]), and ''[[Blackadder Goes Forth]]'' (1989), set in the [[First World War]]. The ''[[Blackadder]]'' series went on to become one of the most successful [[BBC]] [[situation comedy|situation comedies]] of the 1980s.
The success of ''Not the Nine O'Clock News'' led to his starring in the [[medieval]] [[sitcom]] ''[[The Black Adder]]'', which he also co-wrote with [[Richard Curtis]], in 1983. Despite a mixed reception, a second series was written, this time by Curtis and [[Ben Elton]], and first screened in 1985. ''[[Blackadder II]]'' followed the fortunes of one of the descendants of Atkinson's original character, this time in the [[Elizabethan era]]. The same pattern was repeated in two sequels ''[[Blackadder the Third]]'' (1987) (set in the [[English Regency|Regency era]]), and ''[[Blackadder Goes Forth]]'' (1989), set in the [[First World War]]. The ''[[Blackadder]]'' series went on to become one of the most successful [[BBC]] [[situation comedy|situation comedies]] of the 1980s.


Atkinson's other famous creation, the hapless ''[[Mr. Bean]]'', first appeared the following year in a half-hour special for [[Thames Television]]. Several sequels followed at irregular intervals before the character transferred to film in 1997. Entitled ''[[Bean (1997 film)|Bean]]'', it was directed by his former co-star from ''Not the Nine O'Clock News'', Mel Smith. As of 2006, a second film is in production, which Atkinson says will be the last time he plays the character.
Atkinson's other famous creation, the hapless ''[[Mr. Bean]]'', first appeared the following year in a half-hour special for [[Thames Television]]. Several sequels followed at irregular intervals before the character transferred to film in 1997. Entitled ''[[Bean (1997 film)|Bean]]'', it was directed by his former co-star from ''Not the Nine O'Clock News'', Mel Smith. As of [[2006]], a second film is in production, which Atkinson says will be the last time he plays the character


⚫
Atkinson has made appearances at the [[Just for Laughs]] comedy festival in [[Montreal]], which also airs on television. He was present at the fifth festival in 1987 and the seventh in 1989.
⚫
In 2003, Atkinson was listed in ''[[The Observer]]'' as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy, and in a 2005 poll to find ''[[The Comedian's Comedian]]'', he was voted amongst the top 50 comedy acts ever by fellow comedians and comedy insiders.


⚫
In 2003, Atkinson was listed in ''[[The Observer]]'' as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy, and in a 2005 poll to find ''[[The Comedian's Comedian]]'', he was voted amongst the top 50 comedy acts ever by fellow comedians and comedy insiders
⚫
==Private life==
⚫
[[Image:Blackadder the Third.jpg|thumb|left|Rowan Atkinson as [[Edmund Blackadder]].]]
⚫
He suffered from a [[stutter]] as a child and it sometimes returns when he is in stressful situations. In particular, the letter "B" poses a problem for him. He managed to overcome the problem through over-articulation. However, this over-articulation — somewhat ironically — evolved into one of his trademark [[comedic device|comic devices]] (his pronunciation of "[[Bob (Blackadder character)|Bob]]" in [[Blackadder]] being a famous example). His other trademark is his [[Received Pronunciation]] (RP) British accent.


In June 2005, Atkinson led a coalition of the UK's most prominent actors and writers, including [[Nicholas Hytner]] and [[Ian McEwan]], to the British Parliament in an attempt to force a review of the controversial [[Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006|Racial and Religious Hatred Bill]] — on the grounds that the Bill would give religious groups a "weapon of disproportionate power" whose threat would engender a culture of self-censorship among artists.
In June 2005, Atkinson led a coalition of the UK's most prominent actors and writers, including [[Nicholas Hytner]] and [[Ian McEwan]], to the British Parliament in an attempt to force a review of the controversial [[Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006|Racial and Religious Hatred Bill]] — on the grounds that the Bill would give religious groups a "weapon of disproportionate power" whose threat would engender a culture of self-censorship among artists.


===Advertising===
He has also appeared in television [[advertising]] campaigns for [[Hitachi, Ltd.|Hitachi]] electrical goods, Fujifilm, the [[blood donor|Give Blood]] campaign and, most famously, as an [[espionage]] agent for [[Barclaycard]] on which his title role was based for the film ''[[Johnny English]]''.
A regular to appear in television [[advertising]], he has fronted campaigns for [[Hitachi, Ltd.|Hitachi]] electrical goods, Fujifilm, the [[blood donor|Give Blood]]. Most famously, he appeared as a hapless and error prone [[espionage]] agent in a long running series for [[Barclaycard]], on which his title role was based for the film ''[[Johnny English]]''

⚫
==Private life==
⚫
[[Image:Blackadder the Third.jpg|thumb|left|Rowan Atkinson as [[Edmund Blackadder]].]]
⚫
He suffered from a [[stutter]] as a child and it sometimes returns when he is in stressful situations. In particular, the letter "B" poses a problem for him. He managed to overcome the problem through over-articulation. However, this over-articulation — somewhat ironically — evolved into one of his trademark [[comedic device|comic devices]] (his pronunciation of "[[Bob (Blackadder character)|Bob]]" in [[Blackadder]] being a famous example). His other trademark is his [[Received Pronunciation]] (RP) British accent.


Atkinson married [[Sunetra Sastry]] in [[1990]] in a quiet ceremony in the [[Russian Tea Rooms]] in [[New York]] - [[Stepehen Fry]] was [[Best Man]]. The couple live in a manor house in [[Oxfordshire]], and have two children, Lily and Benjamin
⚫
He also made appearances at the [[Just for Laughs]] comedy festival in [[Montreal]], which also airs on television. He was present at the fifth festival in 1987 and the seventh in 1989.


Atkinson married [[Sunetra Sastry]] in 1990; they have two children, Lily and Benjamin. A [[millionaire]] with an estimated wealth of [[Pound sterling|£]]60 million, his major hobby is fast [[automobile|cars]], of which he has a large collection, consisting of mostly [[Aston Martin]]s, various other models, and a purple [[McLaren F1]] (his second, he crashed the first in the Oxfordshire countryside). He has written for the British magazines ''Car'' and [[Evo]];. He holds a UK [[Heavy Goods Vehicle|HGV]] licence. In 1995 he appeared in the straight role of racing driver [[Henry Birkin]] in the television play ''Full Throttle''.
A [[millionaire]] with an estimated wealth of [[Pound sterling|£]]60 million, his major hobby is fast [[automobile|cars]]. He has a large and numerous collection, consisting of mostly [[Aston Martin]]s, and a purple [[McLaren F1]] - his second, he crashed the first in Lancashire [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/485692.stm] He has written for the British magazines ''Car'' and [[Evo]]; and holds a UK [[Heavy Goods Vehicle|HGV]] licence. In [[1995]] he appeared in the straight role of racing driver [[Henry Birkin]] in the television play ''Full Throttle''.


==Selected television appearances==
==Selected television appearances==

Revision as of 23:41, 28 August 2006

Rowan Atkinson
Rowan Atkinson on promotion tour for his movie Bean in Hürth, Germany August, 1997

Rowan Sebastian Atkinson (born January 6, 1955 in Consett, County Durham, England) is an English comedian, actor and writer best known for playing the title role in the British television comedy Mr. Bean and for his iconic Britcom role as Blackadder in the series of the same name.

In 1980, he won the Variety Club Award for BBC Personality of the Year.

Early life

Atkinson was born to Eric Atkinson and Ella May, Anglican farmers in the town of Consett, north-west of the city of Durham. He was educated at Durham Choristers School, followed by St Bees School, and studied electrical engineering at Newcastle University. He continued with an MSc at Oxford (Queen's College), starting his comedy career at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1977. At Oxford, he also acted and performed early sketches for the Oxford University Dramatic Society (OUDS) and the Experimental Theatre Club (ETC), meeting writer Richard Curtis and composer Howard Goodall, with whom he would continue to collaborate during his career.

Atkinson toured with Angus Deayton, who accompanied him as straight man. The show was filmed for television, and is still popular on video. It characterises Atkinson's comedy style, which is rigorously planned and scripted, often visual-based — comedy as performance, rather than as observation or discussion, observant of life as many of the routines were. Atkinson's talent for visual comedy has seen him described as "the man with the rubber face"


In 1978 he was offered his own television series by ITV but turned it down in favour of Not the Nine O'Clock News, which also starred Pamela Stephenson, Griff Rhys Jones and Mel Smith.

Career

The success of Not the Nine O'Clock News led to his starring in the medieval sitcom The Black Adder, which he also co-wrote with Richard Curtis, in 1983. Despite a mixed reception, a second series was written, this time by Curtis and Ben Elton, and first screened in 1985. Blackadder II followed the fortunes of one of the descendants of Atkinson's original character, this time in the Elizabethan era. The same pattern was repeated in two sequels Blackadder the Third (1987) (set in the Regency era), and Blackadder Goes Forth (1989), set in the First World War. The Blackadder series went on to become one of the most successful BBC situation comedies of the 1980s.

Atkinson's other famous creation, the hapless Mr. Bean, first appeared the following year in a half-hour special for Thames Television. Several sequels followed at irregular intervals before the character transferred to film in 1997. Entitled Bean, it was directed by his former co-star from Not the Nine O'Clock News, Mel Smith. As of 2006, a second film is in production, which Atkinson says will be the last time he plays the character

Atkinson has made appearances at the Just for Laughs comedy festival in Montreal, which also airs on television. He was present at the fifth festival in 1987 and the seventh in 1989.

In 2003, Atkinson was listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy, and in a 2005 poll to find The Comedian's Comedian, he was voted amongst the top 50 comedy acts ever by fellow comedians and comedy insiders

In June 2005, Atkinson led a coalition of the UK's most prominent actors and writers, including Nicholas Hytner and Ian McEwan, to the British Parliament in an attempt to force a review of the controversial Racial and Religious Hatred Bill — on the grounds that the Bill would give religious groups a "weapon of disproportionate power" whose threat would engender a culture of self-censorship among artists.

Advertising

A regular to appear in television advertising, he has fronted campaigns for Hitachi electrical goods, Fujifilm, the Give Blood. Most famously, he appeared as a hapless and error prone espionage agent in a long running series for Barclaycard, on which his title role was based for the film Johnny English

Private life

Rowan Atkinson as Edmund Blackadder.

He suffered from a stutter as a child and it sometimes returns when he is in stressful situations. In particular, the letter "B" poses a problem for him. He managed to overcome the problem through over-articulation. However, this over-articulation — somewhat ironically — evolved into one of his trademark comic devices (his pronunciation of "Bob" in Blackadder being a famous example). His other trademark is his Received Pronunciation (RP) British accent.

Atkinson married Sunetra Sastry in 1990 in a quiet ceremony in the Russian Tea Rooms in New York - Stepehen Fry was Best Man. The couple live in a manor house in Oxfordshire, and have two children, Lily and Benjamin

A millionaire with an estimated wealth of £60 million, his major hobby is fast cars. He has a large and numerous collection, consisting of mostly Aston Martins, and a purple McLaren F1 - his second, he crashed the first in Lancashire [1] He has written for the British magazines Car and Evo; and holds a UK HGV licence. In 1995 he appeared in the straight role of racing driver Henry Birkin in the television play Full Throttle.

Selected television appearances

Filmography

Movie poster for Johnny English
Year Title Role Notes
2007 French Bean Mr. Bean (filming)
2005 Keeping Mum Reverend Walter Goodfellow
2003 Love Actually Rufus
Johnny English Johnny English
2002 Scooby-Doo Emile Mondavarious
2001 Rat Race Enrico Pollini
2000 Maybe Baby Mr. James
1997 Bean Mr. Bean
1994 The Lion King Zazu (voice)
Four Weddings and a Funeral Father Gerald
1993 Hot Shots! Part Deux Dexter Hayman
1990 The Witches Mr. Stringer
1989 The Tall Guy Ron Anderson
The Appointments of Dennis Jennings Dr. Schooner
1983 Never Say Never Again Nigel Small-Fawcett
1982 The Secret Policeman's Other Ball Himself / Various Roles

Discography

Albums

Compilations

  • The Secret Policeman's Ball (1979)
  • Not The Nine O'Clock News-The Album (1980)
  • We Are Most Amused: The Best Of British Comedy (1981)
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