Rowan Atkinson has captivated audiences for decades with his unparalleled comedic talent and unique characters. From his early days as a fledgling comedian in the 1980s to becoming an international icon, Atkinson’s journey is one of remarkable transformation.
This article explores the evolution of Rowan Atkinson’s career, highlighting key moments and characters that have defined his legacy from 1980 to 2024.
Join us as we delve into the life and work of the man behind Mr. Bean and countless other unforgettable roles, tracing his path from humble beginnings to comedy legend.
#1 The Rowan Atkinson Special – which came straight from the ’70s via time machine, is solid proof that the brilliant comedian already possessed all the qualities back then that made him a cult figure in the ’90s.
#2 Comic Relief Archive 1980’s LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH: Rowan Atkinson wears the Red Nose of 1988 in March 1989 in London, England.
#3 Rowan Atkinson, British Comedian, Writer And Satirist, 16.11.1980.
#4 Rowan Atkinson from the ‘Not the Nine O’Clock News’ team, helping to launch the team’s book ‘Not The Royal Wedding’ at the Tower of London.
#5 English comedian and actor Rowan Atkinson (in costume as ‘Bernard Fripp’) films ‘Dead On Time’ (directed by Lyndall Hobbs) outside The White Lion on Floral Street (at the intersection with James Street), Covent Garden, London, 8/4/1981.
#6 Rowan Atkinson of BBC2’s Not the Nine O’Clock News is on location at Lyndhurst, Hampshire for the new series.
#7 English actor, comedian and writer Rowan Atkinson at his Oxfordshire home in the UK on June 19, 1983.
#8 English comedian and actor Rowan Atkinson holds a toy bear for Bear Aid/Comic Relief, Shaftesbury Theatre, London, 4/25/1986.
#9 Rowan Atkinson, Secret Policemans Third Ball Amnesty International Benefit, London Palladium 3/26/87.
#10 Comedian, Rowan Atkinson pictured at Nth Sydney. September 18, 1987.
#11 Rowan Atkinson as Captain Edmund Blackadder (left) with Tony Robinson as Private Baldrick. They are promoting the new series of Blackadder, which is set during the First World War.
#12 British comedian , actor and writer Rowan Atkinson, circa 1990.
#13 ENGLAND : Rowan Atkinson wears a Red Nose motorcycle helmet for Red Nose Day 1991 in 1991 in England.
#14 Studio shot for the Comic Relief single ‘I Wanna Be Elected’, by Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson) and The Smear Campaign (Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson), released in 1992 in England.
#15 Scene from the filming of the sketch shown on the Night TV of Red Nose Day 1993 in which Mr Bean appears on Cilla Black’s Blind Date and wins: with Rowan Atkinson, Cilla Black, Barbara Durkin, Alan Cumming, Paul Opacic, Graham Skidmore in 1993, England.
#16 Rowan Atkinson as Mr Bean in a go-kart with the 1993 car nose on the front in 1993, England.
#17 Rowan Atkinson and Jayne Torvill during the “Torvill & Bean” sketch shown on the Night of TV of Red Nose Day in 1995, England.
#18 British actor Rowan Atkinson poses for photographers before attending the world movie premiere of his “BEAN” movie July 12, 1997 in Sydney, Australia.
#19 Johnny English” is a James Bond spoof also starring James Malkovich and Natalie Imbruglia in Rome, Italy on April 02nd, 2003.
#20 London – November 2004: British actor Rowan Atkinson poses for a Comic Relief photo session at the BBC Studios in Shepards Bush, London.
#21 Rowan Atkinson (Mr Bean) posing with his bear for Red Nose Day 2005, in the studio on 18 November 2004 in London.
#22 British actor Rowan Atkinson attends the Charity Premiere of ‘Mystic India’ at the Science Museum Imax cinema in aid of the Bhartiya Yuva Shakti Trust on June 07, 2005 in London, England.
#23 Rowan Atkinson attends a press conference, June 20, 2005, in London, England. A coalition of actors, writers and representatives of the arts and civil liberties groups join MPs to voice their concern over the Goverments plan to introduce a Racial and Religious Hatred Bill and to support a proposed amendment to the bill.
#24 Rowan Atkinson in character on the set of Mr Bean’s Wedding, a Red Nose Day special on 20 February, 2007 in London.
#25 Actor Rowan Atkinson in character as Mr Bean arrives at Bondi Beach to promote his new film “Mr Bean’s Holiday” on March 7, 2007 in Sydney, Australia.
#26 Actor Rowan Atkinson at New York City Photocall for “Mr. Bean’s Holiday” on July 19, 2007, New York.
#27 Rowan Atkinson performs in the role of Fagin during a rehearsal of Lionel Bart’s musical adaptation of ‘Oliver’ at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on January 12, 2009 in London, England.
#28 Rowan Atkinson and Sunetra Sastry attend The Laurence Olivier Awards, at the Grosvenor House Hotel on March 21, 2010 in London, England.
#29 Rowan Atkinson attends the world premiere of the movie “Johnny English Reborn” at Fox Studios on September 4, 2011, in Sydney, Australia.
#30 Actor Rowan Atkinson attends the “Johnny English Returns” photocall at Villamagna Hotel on September 26, 2011, in Madrid, Spain.
#31 Horse Racing – 2012 Glorious Goodwood Festival – Ladies’ Day – Goodwood Racecourse
#32 British actor and comedian Rowan Atkinson (L) reads a poem by First World War poet Wilfred Owen, while visiting “No Man’s Land: The Soldiers’ Charity Garden” at the Chelsea Flower Show in west London, on May 19, 2014.
#33 Rowan Atkinson as Mr Bean celebrates 25 years at Buckingham Palace on September 4, 2015 in London, England.
#34 British actor Rowan Atkinson attends the ‘Johnny English – Man lebt nur dreimal’ photo call on September 6, 2018, at The Fontenay Hotel in Hamburg, Germany.
#35 An official disinfects actor Rowan Sebastian Atkinson’s wax sculpture within precautions against coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic at Wax Sculpture Museum of Antalya Aquarium in Antalya, Turkey on August 12, 2020.
#36 Rowan Atkinson seen with Bee attends the UK Premiere of “Man Vs Bee” at Everyman Borough Yards on June 19, 2022, in London, England.
#37 Rowan Atkinson during a photo call with the cast of Wonka at Potter’s Field Park, London. Picture date: Monday, November 27, 2023.
#38 Rowan Atkinson, comedian and actor, is attending the Formula 1 Qatar Airways British Grand Prix 2024 in Silverstone, Great Britain, on July 7, 2024.
#39 Actor Rowan Atkinson follows the Formula 1 British Grand Prix, the 12th race of the season at Silverstone Circuit in Silverstone, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom on July 07, 2024.
#40 British Grand Prix 2024
