Biography
Who is Rowan Atkinson?
Early Years and Education
Rowan Sebastian Atkinson was born in Consett, County Durham on January 6, 1955. He is the youngest child of Eric and Ella May Atkinson. His three older brothers are named Paul, Rodney, and Rupert. The family was raised in the Anglican faith. He attended the Durham Chorister School as a young boy. Later, he went to St Bees School. He studied alongside Tony Blair at the Durham institution.
Television Comedy Beginnings
His first major public performances happened at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 1976. He appeared in The Oxford Revue. During his university years, he worked with the Experimental Theatre Club and the Oxford University Dramatic Society. It was here that he met collaborators Richard Curtis and Howard Goodall. In 1979, he starred in a BBC Radio 3 series titled The Atkinson People. This show featured him playing various fictional men in satirical interviews. Also in 1979, he appeared in a pilot called Canned Laughter for London Weekend Television. He gained significant attention at The Secret Policeman's Ball in June 1979. This performance was broadcast on the BBC.
The Blackadder Series
Rowan Atkinson joined the cast of Not the Nine O'Clock News in October 1979. He worked with fellow performers Griff Rhys Jones, Mel Smith, and Pamela Stephenson. He was also a primary writer for the sketches. This show ran until 1982. Following this success, he played the lead character in the BBC sitcom Blackadder. The first series, The Black Adder, aired in 1983. It was set in the medieval period and co-written with Richard Curtis.
Mr. Bean and Filmography
In 1990, he introduced the character Mr. Bean in a half-hour special on Thames Television. He drew inspiration from the French character Monsieur Hulot. He later produced two feature films based on this character, titled Bean and Mr. Bean's Holiday. He also voiced the character for an animated series starting in 2002.
Awards and Recognition
Rowan has received significant recognition for his entertainment work. He won the British Academy Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance in 1981 for Not the Nine O'Clock News. He received the same award again in 1990 for his work on Blackadder. He earned a Laurence Olivier Award for his 1981 stage performance in Rowan Atkinson in Revue. In 2013, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his contributions to drama and charity.
Birthday and age
Rowan Atkinson was born on January 6, 1955, which makes Rowan 71 years old today. That birthday falls under the Capricorn sign. Rowan shares the date with 33 other famous people.
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