Although primarily known to audiences in the United States for his roles in two long-running film series – Mr. Bean and Johnny English – Rowan Atkinson has long been a comedy stalwart in his native England, where he has been writing and performing since 1978.
He is well-known for his own talents, and for collaborating with an astounding amount of some of the UK’s finest comics and comedy writers – among them actor/writer Stephen Fry, writer/director Richard Curtis, and the inimitable actor/writer Hugh Laurie – Atkinson is also a collector of luxury goods, including cars and watches.
We thought it would be a warm and fun way to start the New Year by learning more about the formative years, and early comedy career, and watch collection of this iconic British comedy legend.
Who Is Rowan Atkinson?
Rowan Atkinson was born on January 6th, 1955, in Consett, County Durham, England. His father, Eric, was both a farmer and company director, and his mother, Ella, was a homemaker. He has two older brothers – Rodney, an economist who previously ran for political office, and Rupert.
After high school, he would obtain both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in electrical engineering. He briefly began working on obtaining a PhD, but ultimately chose to focus on acting full-time instead. He would begin showing an interest in writing and performing comedy in college, where he would meet Richard Curtis, with whom he would collaborate several times throughout his career.
Rowan Atkinson’s Early Career
Atkinson began his early career working in radio and television. He co-wrote and starred in The Atkinson People, a series of satirical interviews for the BBC with prominent fictional men that aired in 1979. This would mark his first professional collaboration with Curtis upon graduating from university.
That same year, he would write and star in a half-hour comedy special, Canned Laughter, which aired on ITV. The program would feature two notable comic stylings that Atkinson would continue to rely on in his career – a penchant for physical comedy, and playing multiple roles in one project.
Blackadder and Mainstream Success
Atkinson’s proper breakthrough, though, would happen in 1983, when he starred in the first series of Blackadder. The program starred Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Stephen Fry, and Hugh Laurie, the latter two of whom would go on to become a successful sketch comedy duo in their own right.
The first season was written by Atkinson and Curtis, and would prove to be a massive success with audiences. The series focused on the devious anti-hero Edmund Blackadder and his long-suffering associates. The primary program would conclude in 1989, though there have been several reunion specials since that time.
In 1990, Atkinson would unveil his next character, the near-silent Mr. Bean, as the lead of a new ITV sitcom. Mr. Bean became a global phenomenon, largely because his comedy did not rely on dialogue, meaning that non-English speaking audiences could also enjoy his antics. Mr. Bean would star in two feature-length films, Bean, released in 1997, and Mr. Bean’s Holiday, released in 2007.
Atkinson also starred in three films in the Johnny English series, which parodied the James Bond films. The most recent entry, Johnny English Strikes Again, was released in 2018.
Future Projects
Atkinson is planning a new television series entitled Old Bean, although few details are available about the project as of this time.
What Watches Are in Rowan Atkinson’s Watch Collection?
Atkinson has an interesting and eclectic collection of watches, including the following pieces:
· IWC Pilot Watch Mark XVIII Le Petit Prince
· MWC Classic Aviator
· Casio Data Bank
· Ulysse Nardin Marine Chronometer
What Separates Rubber B From Other Watch Straps?
Rubber B has become well-known as a highly respected crafter of custom rubber watch bands for timepieces from some of the watchmakers in the field, including such brands as Patek Philippe, IWC, and Breitling. Rubber B has a variety of straps in different colors and styles in its product portfolio that are appropriate for both business/formal wear and more casual situations as well.
In contrast to companies that emulate or attempt to copy its products from inception, Rubber B is the single innovative company behind the production and creation of integrated rubber straps for luxury watches (such as Rolex in 2010) that previously only came with factory leather or metal bracelets.
Every Rubber B custom rubber watch strap is made only from 100% vulcanized rubber, and all of their products are FDA and BVGG compliant as well.
Do You Need a Custom Rubber Watch Band For Your Luxury Watch? Visit Rubber B Today
For those who would like to learn more about Rubber B’s complete list of products, shipping policies, and pricing, or have questions about their custom rubber watch straps, please visit the Rubber B website today for more information. One of their valued team members will be happy to answer any inquiries in a timely manner.
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