Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Orson Bean is the kind of all-purpose entertainer I wish television still made room for. Born in Burlington, Vermont, he spent decades as a comedian, stage actor, film and TV performer, and was a familiar face on game shows like To Tell the Truth from the 1960s onward. His Theatre World and Obie awards remind me he had genuine theatrical chops underneath the witty panelist persona. I find his career admirable precisely because it was so durable and varied, anchored in Los Angeles small theater right to the end. He worked into his nineties, which to me reflects a real love of the craft rather than just fame.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Orson Bean
- Name (Japanese)
- オーソン・ビーン
- Reading
- おーそん・びーん
- Born
- July 22, 1928 – February 7, 2020
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Cancer / Dragon
- Origin
- Burlington, Vermont, United States
- Height
- 2 cm
- Occupation
- autobiographer / stage actor / film actor / television actor / voice actor
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- 1954 Theatre World Award
- 1964 Obie Award
- 1970 Amateur Cartoonist Extraordinary Award
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | How to Be Very, Very Popular | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Orson Bean born?
July 22, 1928 – February 7, 2020.
Where is Orson Bean from?
Orson Bean is from Burlington, Vermont, United States.
What does Orson Bean do?
Orson Bean works as autobiographer, stage actor, film actor, television actor, voice actor.
How tall is Orson Bean?
Orson Bean is 2 cm.
What is Orson Bean known for?
Notable works include How to Be Very, Very Popular.
Autobiographer — see all → · Stage actor — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.