Orson Bean Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday Facts

Orson Bean Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

Orson Bean is an American actor, comedian, game-show panelist and storyteller recognized for his versatility across theatre, television and film.

Introduction

Born Dallas Frederick Burrows on July 22, 1928, the actor better known as Orson Bean forged a career that spanned decades—on Broadway, in cocktail-lounge comedy, television game shows and acclaimed film roles. His estimated net worth stands at approximately US $4 million.  In terms of relationships, Bean married three times; his final marriage to actress Alley Mills began in 1993 and endured through much of his life. 

Quick Facts

“From Night-club Magic to Screen Icon”

Bean’s story begins in Burlington, Vermont, where he was born into a politically active household—his father, George Frederick Burrows, helped found the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).  He left home as a teenager and served in the U.S. Army before gravitating toward stand-up comedy and magic routines in New York’s club circuit.  He adopted the stage-name “Orson Bean” after a chance suggestion during a nightclub set—an unforgettable moniker that eventually stuck. 

His early career featured Broadway appearances, most notably a Tony nomination for the musical Subways Are for Sleeping in 1961.  Meanwhile his television break came via panelist roles on game shows—he became a recurring favourite on To Tell the Truth, and later guest-starred in dozens of series across decades. 

Defining moments in Orson Bean’s journey include:

• Hosting NBC’s The Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street in 1952, receiving national exposure. 

• Being nominated for a Tony Award for Subways Are for Sleeping. 

• Regular panelist appearances on To Tell the Truth and other game shows, elevating his public profile. 

• A memorable film turn in Being John Malkovich (1999) as Dr. Lester, introducing him to a new generation. 

• A long-running role as Loren Bray in the TV series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman during the 1990s. 

The Core Pillars of Orson Bean’s Wealth

The core pillars of Orson Bean’s wealth include:

• Television earnings – decades of game-show, talk-show and series work.

• Stage and film roles – Broadway shows and character appearances in films that kept him working across generations.

• Author and voice work – Bean published autobiographical work (e.g., Me and the Orgone) and lent his voice to animated features. 

Relationships & Family Life

Bean’s personal life was full of chapters, each reflecting a different era of his growth:

• His first marriage (1956–1962) was to actress Jacqueline de Sibour; the couple had one child.

• His second marriage (1965–1981) was to actress and designer Carolyn Maxwell; they had three children—Max, Susannah and Ezekiel. 

• In 1993, he married actress Alley Mills; the two shared much of his later life together in Los Angeles. 

Key insights into Orson Bean’s relationships and personal life:

• His daughter Susannah married journalist and commentator Andrew Breitbart in 1997. 

• He and Alley Mills participated together in annual church productions and charitable activities in their community.

• Bean’s upbringing, marked by activism and early hardship (his mother’s suicide and leaving home at 16) influenced his worldview and work ethic.

Lifestyle, Assets & Interests

Beyond career success, Orson Bean led a lifestyle that reflects both passion and purpose, including:

• His membership in the international society The Sons of the Desert—a group devoted to the comedy duo Laurel and Hardy, reflecting his deep appreciation of film and humour history. 

• Participation in avant-garde educational experiments: In 1966 he helped found the 15th Street School, a democratic primary school modeled on Summerhill in New York City. 

• His home life in Los Angeles with Alley Mills, embracing theatre, local productions and community church involvement.

• He maintained interests in writing, personal exploration (notably in his book Me and the Orgone) and voice acting work late into his career. 

Net Worth Breakdown & Analysis

Bean’s net worth estimations vary, but a standard estimate places it at approximately US $4 million.  How did that figure accumulate?

The relatively modest net worth for a long career may reflect the character-actor path: consistent work but few blockbuster paydays or ownership stakes. Additionally, roles in theatre and game shows historically paid less, and assets/debt history is not fully public.

Public Image, Legacy & Influence

Publicly, Orson Bean is remembered as a warm, sharp-witted presence—someone who could hold his own on game shows, tell a story on Broadway, or lend his voice to an animated classic. His influence spans several realms:

• In television, he helped shape the game-show panelist genre and became a familiar face across generations.

• In theatre and film, he demonstrated longevity and adaptability—shifting seamlessly from nightclub comedy to mainstream film.

• In personal life and activism, his roots in civil-liberties and his involvement in unconventional educational and personal exploration mark him as more than a performer—a thinker and participant in cultural undercurrents.

• His legacy includes mentoring younger performers, appearing in community theatre productions with his wife, and sustaining relevance into late career (including voice roles and guest-starring parts).

Conclusion

From his birth on July 22, 1928 to decades of stage, screen and game-show work, Orson Bean achieved a quietly prolific career. With an estimated net worth of around US $4 million, he built his wealth through versatility, consistency and passion for storytelling. His relationships—from three marriages to a lifetime partnership with Alley Mills—reflect a personal life of deep bonds and shared creative pursuit. Bean’s birthday legacy, his age/birthdate milestones, and his personal life of commitment to family, craft and community combine to present a compelling figure: one whose influence may quietly ripple through show-business history. Beyond the numbers, his story reminds us that longevity, character and adaptability often matter as much as headline earnings.