Biography

Shaun Mark Bean was born in April 17, 1959, in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, to Brian and Rita Bean, He is the oldest of two children - him and his sister Lorraine. He is 5'10" (give or take) and has strawberry blonde hair and green eyes.

Before Sean knew he wanted to be an actor he was a welder at his father's welding company. He also had other odd jobs along the way including selling cheese. Not long after finishing school, he attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) where he soon found his natural talent.

Sean's first professional acting break was in Romeo & Juliet as Tybalt in 1983 with the Royal Shakespear Company. Sean is known best for his performance as 'Richard Sharpe' in the British mini-series based on the books by Bernard Cornwell and has the reputation for being a heartthrob. In North America he is known more for his bad guys roles (Patriot Games, GoldenEye, National Treasure).

Before acting he had jobs like selling cheese in the supermarket, shoveling snow and working in his father's welding estate. Sean soon discovered his nack for acting and successfully obtained a scholarship for RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London) in 1981. He graduated with a silver medal for his final performance in Waiting for Godot in 1983.

Sean bears several trademarks, including his "100% Blade" tattoo on his left arm (football team [UK], Sheffield United), the number 9 in Elvish on his right arm (nine members of the Fellowship in LOTR where he played Boromir as well as a scar above his left eye. The scar was from Harrison Ford during Patriot Games. Whilst fighting, Harrison accidentally cut him with a boat hook, requiring eight stitches!

Along with his Blade tattoo and his devotion to his home team, Sean is very devoted and stays true to his home in Sheffield. Always trying to make his hometown a better place, he won "Yorkshire Man of the Year" in 2002.

Sean has been married four times and divorced three times to Debra James, Melanie Hill, Abigail Cruttenden and as of February 19, 2008, to Georgina Sutcliffe. He has three daughters, two with Melanie, Lorna and Molly, and one with Abigail, Evie Natasha.