Orson Bean, R.I.P.

As a boy, and throughout my early adulthood, I enjoyed seeing
Orson Bean, a wonderful comedic actor and stand-up comedian
whenever the opportunity arose --- and did it ever! Having made
over 200 visits on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,
being a recurring character or a guest on many television shows,
among which were Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman; How I Met Your
Mother; Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman; Fernwood 2Night; 
Normal, Ohio; and The Ed Sullivan Show. his film credits include
doing some voices for two characters in two animated movies
based on  The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Bilbo and Frodo Baggins;
Being John Malkovich; and The Equalizer 2. And there were
appearances on many TV game shows, as a panelist or as host:
To Tell The Truth, What's My Line, Super Password, Match Game,
and Concentration were just a few of the game shows that Bean
appeared on. And there were many, many appearances in night
clubs and comedy clubs from Boston to Los Angeles, not to
mention theatre, including appearances on Broadway.

Born Dallas Frederick Burrows on July 22, 1928 in Burlington,
Vermont to one of the founding members of the American Civil
Liberties Union, George Frederick Burrows, the young comic
received considerable exposure to both politics and the law.
A staunch liberal for most of his life, Bean turned conservative
in his later years, but always had a wide variety of politically
active friends and never, ever disrespected anyone for having
a different political point of view. His third cousin, twice removed
was Calvin Coolidge, President of the United States and a rock-
ribbed conservative. His daughter married the late Andrew Breit-
bart, founder and publisher of Breitbart News, an online
conservative political publication in which Bean wrote a column.
He once opined that being a conservative in 21st century
Hollywood was a lot like being a suspected communist in the
1950s; Bean spoke from personal experience here, as he was
blacklisted during that period for having, as he humorously
put it, "a cute communist girlfriend". His squeeze at the time
was a communist party member. Despite being blacklisted,
Bean still had steady work through the '50s, although he did
not work in television for a year.

Along the way Orson Bean won an Oboe Award, and was
nominated for a Grammy and a Tony. And he attracted lots
of fans and made lots of friends. He also was a nurturer and
encourager of young talent trying to rise in a challenging
business, giving his best advice to many a newcomer to
the footlights, the big screen, and to TV.

This selflessly generous gentleman who loved people (and
was in turn loved right back) and his country, along with
the right to speak your mind without reprisal and the many
other rights afforded to her citizens, lived to the great old age
of 91, and would still be advancing to an even greater, older
 age if it weren't for a fatal accident in which he was crossing
a street in the Venice district of Los Angeles where he lived
in his later years, being struck by two cars (!). Although we
never got a chance to say a proper goodbye to this fine
entertainer who brought smiles and laughter to so many
people, your appreciative Peasant is giving Orson Bean
a tribute here on my humble blog. Orson, you left us
suddenly and tragically, but you left us a legacy of comedy,
mirth, and joy. For that we shall always remember you with
great fondness and gratitude. Requiescat in pace.


MEM