Mr. Bean Retiring: Rowan Atkinson Stepping Away From Famous Character

Mr. Bean is retiring. Rowan Atkinson said today that he has no plans of playing his famous character again.

Atkinson said that he’s getting too old for the physical comedy inherent in Mr. Bean sketches. The comedian also believes that at he shouldn’t be playing such a bumbling idiot at 57-years-old.

Atkinson said:

“The stuff that has been most commercially successful for me – basically quite physical, quite childish – I increasingly feel I’m going to do a lot less of. I also think someone in their 50s being childlike becomes a little sad. You’ve got to be careful.”

Atkinson introduced Mr. Bean in the late 80s and has played the character in several TV movies, short films, TV shows and full-length features. Mr. Bean was turned into an animated series in 2002 and last Summer he played the character during the opening ceremonies of the 2012 London Olympics.

Atkinson has seen huge success with his comedic character but says that he wants to move on to serious roles. Sky News reports that Atkinson will soon appear in Richard Eyre’s revival of Quartermaine’s Terms by Simon Gray.

Are you sad that Mr. Bean is retiring?

Here’s a look at some classic Mr. Bean skits.

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