Orson Bean RIP
 Orson Bean July 22, 1928 – February 7, 2020 |
LA police report he was clipped by a vehicle while walking in the area of Venice Boulevard and Shell Avenue.
Then he was struck by another driver who could not be warned by bystanders.
This has the appearance of an accident and both drivers remained at the scene.
The Los Angeles County Coroner's office confirmed Bean's Friday night death, saying it was being investigated as a "traffic-related" fatality.
Los Angeles police say a pedestrian was walking in the area of Venice Boulevard and Shell Avenue when he was clipped by one vehicle and fell.
Other bystanders tried to warn a second driver, but he also struck the pedestrian.
Police say the second collision was fatal. Both drivers stayed at the scene.
Bean was a veteran performer of 100 appearances in television and film with a career in acting that spanned some 60 years.
I used to watch him on various game shows, cameos and other parts which ran on the television back in the day.
Recently, he appeared in "The Equalizer 2" and earlier had roles in "Being John Malkovich" and "Miracle on 34th Street" as well as teevee shows like "Modern Family" and "The Bold and the Beautiful." He had a recurring role in "Desperate Housewives" from 2009 to 2012.
I was most touched by his portrayal of Sam Rubinstein in Equalizer 2 where the poignancy was palpable up til that moment in time he was reunited with his Sister whom he believed he had lost in The Holocaust. Having spent a long time searching for her picture she came walking in the door, looked at him and said 'My Sammy?' and they embraced and I became overcome with the moment, got all teary eyed, and stopped everything I was doing for about an hour immersed in that single moment.
It was a wonderful moment in time and his portrayal was so touching I will never forget it. It is most certainly tragic to reach 91 and be at the pinnacle of your career to be struck down in a traffic accident.
All I can do is wring my hands miss that which he was — and all that he might have become in this, his late but very significant blooming.