Orson Bean, the free-spirited television, stage and film comedian who stepped out of his storybook life to found a progressive school, move to Australia, give away his possessions and wander around a turbulent America in the 1970s as a late-blooming hippie, was killed in a traffic accident on Friday in Venice, Calif. His death was confirmed on Saturday by the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, which said it was investigating his death as a vehicle accident. Mr. Bean was struck and killed by a car on Friday while crossing the street, Capt. Brian Wendling of the Los Angeles Police Department was quoted as telling reporters. Early in his career, in the 1950s and ’60s, Mr. Bean, a subtle comic who looked like a naïve farm boy, was ubiquitous on TV.

Source: New York Times February 08, 2020 12:03 UTC