---
name: "Orson Bean"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/orson-bean"
fi1m_id: "orson-bean"
imdb_id: "nm0004730"
tmdb_id: 863
wikidata_id: "Q1120700"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "22 July 1928"
died: "7 February 2020"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 83
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-09-23T10:57:22.373092+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Orson Bean

## Identity

Orson Bean

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/orson-bean
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** orson-bean
- **IMDb ID:** nm0004730
- **TMDB ID:** 863
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1120700
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orson_Bean, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1120700, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004730/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/863

Actor. Born 22 July 1928 in Burlington, Vermont, USA. Died 7 February 2020.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 22 July 1928, Burlington, Vermont, USA
- **Died:** 7 February 2020
- **Active:** 1959–2005
- **Also known as:** Dallas Frederick Burrows, اورسن بین
- **SAG Awards:** 1 SAG Award nomination
- **Average Fi1m score:** 83, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1950s 87 (1), 1990s 89 (1), 2000s 74 (1)
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 2, Drama 2, Crime 1, Fantasy 1, Mystery 1
- **Screen time:** 5 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $31m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orson_Bean, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1120700, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004730/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/863

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Anatomy of a Murder*](https://film.one/film/anatomy-of-a-murder.md) (87)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Orson Bean was an American actor and comedian. Born Dallas Frederick Burrows on 22 July 1928 in Burlington, Vermont, he died on 7 February 2020 in Los Angeles after being struck by vehicles while walking.

Bean began his career in the early 1950s as a stand-up comedian and stage performer, appearing on Broadway and in cabaret. He was a regular panelist on the game show *To Tell the Truth* from the 1960s to the 1980s and had recurring television roles in series including *Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman* (as Loren Bray) and *How I Met Your Mother*.

His film credits include *Anatomy of a Murder* (1959) and the role of Dr. Lester in *Being John Malkovich* (1999). He was married to actress Alley Mills from 1993.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *How I Met Your Mother* (2005), Fi1m 74, as Bob — [page](https://film.one/tv/how-i-met-your-mother.md)
- *Being John Malkovich* (1999), Fi1m 89, as Dr. Lester — [page](https://film.one/film/being-john-malkovich.md)
- *Anatomy of a Murder* (1959), Fi1m 87, as Dr. Matthew Smith — [page](https://film.one/film/anatomy-of-a-murder.md)

## Complete filmography (84)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Equalizer 2* (2018), as Sam Rubinstein
- *Teachers* (2016), series, as Jerry
- *Superstore* (2015), series, as Dr. Fogler
- *Another Period* (2015), series, as Laverne Fusselforth V
- *Grace and Frankie* (2015), series, as Bruno
- *Sleep Cycle* (2014), as Insomniac #1
- *A Golden Christmas 3* (2012), as Mr. Cole
- *Two-Legged Rat Bastards* (2011), as Eddie
- *D-Minus* (2011), as Andre
- *Hot in Cleveland* (2010), series, as Dan
- *Ashley's Ashes* (2010), as Dan
- *Modern Family* (2009), series, as Marty — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/modern-family.md)
- *Mattie Fresno and the Holoflux Universe* (2007), as Raff Buddemeyer
- *Women's Murder Club* (2007), series, Actor
- *Game of Life* (2007), as Dennis
- *The Sarah Silverman Program* (2007), series, as Mr. Myron
- *Crossroads* (2006), as Father McIlhenny
- *The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman* (2006), series, as Chick
- *Alien Autopsy* (2006), as Homeless Man
- *Commander in Chief* (2005), series, as Bill Harrison
- *How I Met Your Mother* (2005), series, as Bob — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/how-i-met-your-mother.md)
- *The Closer* (2005), series, as Donald Baxter
- *Yesterday's Dreams* (2005), as Tony Vicedomini
- *Desperate Housewives* (2004), series, as Roy Bender — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/desperate-housewives.md)
- *Soccer Dog 2: European Cup* (2004), as Mayor Milton Gallagher
- *The Gristle* (2004), as Mr. Bowen
- *Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Charlie's Angels* (2004), as Voice of John Forsythe (voice)
- *Knee High P.I.* (2003), as Macintyre
- *Cold Case* (2003), series, as Harland Sealey
- *Two and a Half Men* (2003), series, as Norman — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/tv/two-and-a-half-men.md)
- *Frank McKlusky, C.I.* (2002), as Mr. Gafty
- *Burning Down the House* (2001), as Sy
- *Normal, Ohio* (2000), series, as Bill Gamble
- *UnBowed* (1999), as Purdy
- *Being John Malkovich* (1999), as Dr. Lester — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/film/being-john-malkovich.md)
- *Family Law* (1999), series, as Archbishop Phillips
- *Becker* (1998), series, as Mr. Bennett
- *The King of Queens* (1998), series, as Carl Tepper
- *Will & Grace* (1998), series, as Joseph Dudley
- *Ally McBeal* (1997), series, as Marty Brigg — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/ally-mcbeal.md)
- *7th Heaven* (1996), series, as Patient
- *Ellen* (1994), series, as Gameshow Contestant
- *Diagnosis: Murder* (1993), series, as Lewis Sweeney
- *Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman* (1993), series, as Loren Bray
- *Just My Imagination* (1992), as Jeremy Sticher
- *Final Judgement* (1992), as Monsignor Corelli
- *Chance of a Lifetime* (1991), as Fred
- *Tiny Toon Adventures* (1990), series, as Gepetto (voice)
- *Instant Karma* (1990), as Dr. Berlin
- *Monsters* (1988), series, as Dr. Hubbard
- *Innerspace* (1987), as Lydia's Editor
- *Smart Alec* (1986), as Arthur Fitzgerald
- *Garfield in the Rough* (1984), as Billy Rabbit (voice)
- *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Ebeneezer McEnery
- *Forty Deuce* (1982), as Mr. Roper
- *The Return of the King* (1980), as Frodo Baggins / Bilbo Baggins (voice)
- *The Facts of Life* (1979), series, Actor
- *The Hobbit* (1977), as Bilbo Baggins (voice)
- *Forever Fernwood* (1977), series, Actor
- *The Love Boat* (1977), series, as Artie D'Angelo
- *Ellery Queen* (1975), series, as Warren Wright
- *The Spy Who Returned from the Dead* (1974), as Bob
- *A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court* (1970), as Hank / Sir Boss (voice)
- *Twinky* (1970), as Hal
- *Love, American Style* (1969), series, as Artie Kaufman
- *The Star Wagon* (1966), as Stephen Minch
- *NET Playhouse* (1966), series, as Stephen Minch
- *Vacation Playhouse* (1963), series, Actor
- *Two by Saroyan: 'Once Around the Block' and 'My Heart's in the Highlands'* (1960), as Jimmy London
- *Miracle On 34th Street* (1959), as Dr. William Sawyer
- *The Twilight Zone* (1959), series, as James B.W. Bevis — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-twilight-zone.md)
- *The DuPont Show with June Allyson* (1959), series, as John Monroe
- *Anatomy of a Murder* (1959), as Dr. Matthew Smith — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/film/anatomy-of-a-murder.md)
- *Naked City* (1958), series, as Arnold Platt
- *Where's Charley?* (1957), as Jack Chesney
- *Showdown at Ulcer Gulch* (1956), as Llewelyn Throckmorton, III
- *The Phil Silvers Show* (1955), series, as Pvt. Wally Gunther / Pete Gunther
- *How to Be Very, Very Popular* (1955), as Toby Marshall
- *The Millionaire* (1955), series, as Newman Johnson
- *The Blue Angel* (1954), series, as Host
- *Robert Montgomery Presents* (1950), series, Actor
- *Studio One* (1948), series, as Harvey B. Hines, Charlie Digger, Joey
- *Kraft Television Theatre* (1947), series, as George Sanford
- *Mr. Bevis*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Orson Bean](https://film.one/media/person/88384/gallery-e2807612d7bc.jpg) Orson Bean — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/Orson_Bean_1965.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Photo of Orson Bean as Mr. Bevis and William Schallert as the policeman from the Twilight Zone episode "Mr. Bevis". (1960)](https://film.one/media/person/88384/gallery-e8d759a2c1c3.jpg) Photo of Orson Bean as Mr. Bevis and William Schallert as the policeman from the Twilight Zone episode "Mr. Bevis". (1960) — CBS Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Orson_Bean_Mr._Bevis_episode_The_Twilight_Zone_Los_Angeles_CA_May_1960.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Actor Orson Bean in a kayak on the Carroll Canal in Venice, California, with ducks (1984)](https://film.one/media/person/88384/gallery-b1831e8fd5ed.jpg) Actor Orson Bean in a kayak on the Carroll Canal in Venice, California, with ducks (1984) — Tony Barnard, Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Orson_Bean_on_the_Carroll_Canal_in_Venice_CA.jpg/1280px-Orson_Bean_on_the_Carroll_Canal_in_Venice_CA.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Scene from The Elgin Hour presentation of San Francisco Fracas. Joe Mantell holds a gun on seated Orson Bean, Theodore Bikel and Polly Bergen.](https://film.one/media/person/88384/gallery-f061f78c06f8.jpg) Scene from The Elgin Hour presentation of San Francisco Fracas. Joe Mantell holds a gun on seated Orson Bean, Theodore Bikel and Polly Bergen. — ABC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e1/The_Elgin_Hour_San_Francisco_Fracas_1955.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Orson Bean](https://film.one/media/person/88384/gallery-c8ec91051710.jpg) Orson Bean — Image via TMDB
- ![Orson Bean](https://film.one/media/person/88384/gallery-db526a3c77fd.jpg) Orson Bean — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### SAG Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 2000: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (nominated), for *Being John Malkovich*

### Other awards — 3 won, 2 nominated

- Grammy Award for Best Children's Music Album 1979: Grammy Award for Best Children's Music Album (nominated), for *The Hobbit*
- Amateur Cartoonist Extraordinary Award 1970: Amateur Cartoonist Extraordinary Award (won)
- Obie Award 1964: Obie Award (won), for *Home Movies*
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play 1962: Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play (nominated), for *Subways Are For Sleeping*
- Theatre World Award 1954: Theatre World Award (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/orson-bean