I loved mr bean as a kid. My mom said i watched reruns of that and Frasier over and over instead of cartoons etc. I don't know, maybe its his manner, I like him in pretty much anything he's in, even his stand up (and I dont generally like stand up). I do like the puppet dude too... Randy Writes a Novel is hilarious. 
Dont know much about Rowan Atkinson himself though, just know he's a good actor as others have stated.
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In my darkest hour I reached for a hand and found a paw.
"I sat with my anger long enough, until she told me her real name was grief."