Atkinson to retire Mr. Bean character

LONDON, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- British actor Rowan Atkinson says he plans to phase out the comedic Mr. Bean character because he feels he's too old to play the childlike role.

"The stuff that has been most commercially successful for me -- basically quite physical, quite childish -- I increasingly feel I'm going to do a lot less of," he told The Daily Telegraph.

"Apart from the fact that your physical ability starts to decline, I also think someone in their 50s being childlike becomes a little sad," he said. "You've got to be careful."

Atkinson, 57, said he's more interested in taking on serious roles in the theater, but to some degree playing the bumbling buffoon Mr. Bean has typecast him.

The actor played Fagin in "Oliver!" in the West End in 2009 and said he felt "comfortable" in the role.

Atkinson is preparing for his lead in a West End revival of "Quartermaine's Terms," a dark comedy by Simon Gray, The Telegraph reported Saturday.