Steven Anthony Lawrence is an American actor born on July 19, 1990, in Fresno, California. Audiences know him as Bernard “Beans” Aranguren, the bacon-loving neighbor from the Disney Channel series Even Stevens, a role that made him a familiar face for an entire generation of young viewers. 

He also played supporting roles in Cheaper by the Dozen and Kicking & Screaming. His television guest spots include Frasier and That’s So Raven. Now 36, he teaches acting, records personalized fan videos, hosts podcasts with his former castmates, and still takes screen roles, including an appearance on The Floor in 2026.

Quick Facts

Early Life and Family Background

Lawrence grew up in Fresno, where he attended a private school and first tried acting through community theater. That stage work led to local commercials, and the commercials led to auditions in Los Angeles. Fresno sits roughly three and a half hours from LA, so every audition meant a long drive.

His father handled that commute for years. During the Even Stevens shoot, the two stayed in a motel in Los Angeles on filming weeks and returned to Fresno on weekends. Lawrence has described his father as a supportive parent who never pushed him into the spotlight. He has called his experience far healthier than the one Shia LaBeouf portrayed in Honey Boy, LaBeouf’s film about his own childhood.

Lawrence has also mentioned that his mother had Sicilian roots. Both of his parents later died of cancer, a loss that shaped the second half of his story and appears in its own section below.

How Lawrence Broke Into Acting

Lawrence’s credits date back to 1996, when he was a young child actor working out of Fresno. He earned guest spots on Sabrina the Teenage Witch and The Amanda Show. He also played a young Art Alexakis, the lead singer of Everclear, in the band’s “Father of Mine” music video.

Around age nine, he auditioned for a small part on Even Stevens. He had a habit of ending every audition with a joke, and the producer he told it to wrote that joke into the script for the next callback. He also spent breaks between takes chatting with the show’s writers, which helped keep Beans in upcoming episodes.

Beans on Even Stevens

Lawrence joined Even Stevens as a guest star in its second season, and the writers soon made Beans a regular presence. The character lived next door to the Stevens family, pestered Louis and Ren, and loved bacon with unsettling intensity. Lawrence appeared in 22 episodes between 2001 and 2003. Beans also anchored part of The Even Stevens Movie in 2003, when Ren babysits him while his parents travel abroad.

The bacon gimmick produced unexpected fan mail. Lawrence has said that some viewers who avoided pork for religious reasons sent him pointed letters when he was a child. Behind the scenes, he grew close to the cast, describing Christy Carlson Romano as a mothering presence and LaBeouf as a mischievous one.

Movies After Even Stevens

Lawrence kept working in family films as the series wrapped. He played Dylan Shenk in Cheaper by the Dozen in 2003 and appeared in The Cat in the Hat the same year. In 2005, he took the role of Mark Avery in Kicking & Screaming, and he later appeared in Rebound. Earlier, he had played Ice Cream Boy in Bubble Boy in 2001.

His later roles turned quirkier. He played Plunger Man in Bratz in 2007 and Brainiac in My Suicide in 2009. In 2010, he appeared as Keith in an episode of Weeds. His independent work includes Her Side of the Bed from 2017.

Television Guest Roles and Commercials

Lawrence built a long list of television guest credits alongside his film work. He appeared in two Frasier episodes, including a season nine Halloween installment. He also took guest roles on That’s So Raven and ER. Later, he appeared in an episode of Eagleheart.

Commercial work kept him visible as well. In 2011, he played a pink elf in a T-Mobile holiday ad, and in 2012, he wore a dog costume for an Old Spice spot. He also appeared in music videos for Marshmello and Lil Peep’s “Spotlight” and for Phantoms and Vanessa Hudgens on “Lay with Me.”

Losing His Parents and Stepping Back From Acting

Lawrence began losing his hair at 14, around the time production started on Kicking & Screaming. The change made teen roles very hard to book. He has said he never cared much about appearances, and he now shaves his head.

On his 21st birthday, his father received a cancer diagnosis. Lawrence paused his career to serve as his father’s caregiver, since auditions and round-the-clock care could not coexist. His father died of the disease, and Lawrence has said he lost his mother to cancer as well. He has described feeling adrift without his dad, who had been his closest companion on those long drives between Fresno and LA.

The Santa’s Helper Story

In December 2015, fans photographed Lawrence working at a Christmas photo center in a mall outside San Francisco. Headlines framed the job as a fall from fame. Lawrence explained that his father loved Christmas, and the work made him feel close to his dad during the holidays. He has also said he was going through depression at that time.

Acting Teacher and Fan Videos

Teaching became Lawrence’s main focus after he stepped back from auditions. By 2015, he was running seminars at USC, Berkeley, and Pepperdine, along with sessions at Los Angeles high schools. He has said he enjoys the instant payoff when a concept clicks for a student, and his lessons cover acting technique and the business side of the industry.

During the pandemic, he moved lessons online and offered one-on-one classes through Koji. He hopes to open a physical studio for underprivileged young actors someday. Fans can also book him on Cameo, where he records personalized messages and replays moments from Even Stevens.

Politics and The Rice and Beans Show

In late 2020, Lawrence began co-hosting The Rice and Beans Show with Max Rice. The show mixes political news and opinion with guest interviews, and Lawrence has described it as bipartisan. He has said he raised money for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and for groups including the Human Rights Campaign and Americans for Responsible Solutions.

He has credited the rise of Donald Trump for pushing him toward more political activity. He also rejected the idea that actors should stay quiet on public issues.

Even More Stevens Podcast and Cast Reunions

Lawrence launched the Even More Stevens Podcast on March 2, 2023, with Christy Carlson Romano and Nick Spano. The three cast members rewatched the series and traded behind-the-scenes stories. The show ran through July 2023 and produced 22 episodes.

He also sat down for episode 16 of the Vulnerable podcast, an Even Stevens reunion conversation. The host introduced him as a former child star, and praised him as an acting teacher. Lawrence remains close to Romano and Spano.

Charity Work and Personal Life

In 2004, Lawrence donated signed headshots for an auction tied to the Toy Mountain Campaign. The money helped buy toys for less fortunate children. It was an early sign of the community focus that later shaped his teaching plans.

Outside of work, he owns a French Bulldog named Pooter. He also enjoys meeting fans in person, and he has said he would rather chat than only pose for a selfie.

What Is Steven Anthony Lawrence Doing Now?

In 2026, Lawrence appeared as himself in season five of The Floor. He also voiced a horse character in an episode of Kabu that year. He continues to teach, record Cameo videos, and make appearances tied to his Even Stevens fame.

Conclusion

Steven Anthony Lawrence turned a small guest part into one of the most memorable sidekick roles in Disney Channel history. Beans still draws recognition two decades later, and that lasting recall is the main reason people search his name. His work in Cheaper by the Dozen, Kicking & Screaming, and dozens of guest spots shows a steady career that began in early childhood.

His story also stretches well beyond the character. He cared for his father through cancer, lost both parents, and rebuilt his working life around teaching and community. Today he balances classes, fan videos, podcasts, and occasional screen work, which makes him a former child star with a clear second act.

FAQs

Who is Steven Anthony Lawrence?

Steven Anthony Lawrence is an American actor best known for playing Bernard “Beans” Aranguren, the bacon-loving neighbor on the Disney Channel series Even Stevens in the early 2000s.

How old is Steven Anthony Lawrence?

Steven Anthony Lawrence was born on July 19, 1990, in Fresno, California, which makes him 36 years old as of September 2026.

Which character did he play in Even Stevens?

He played Bernard “Beans” Aranguren, the quirky neighbor and sidekick of Louis Stevens, appearing in 22 episodes between 2001 and 2003 and in The Even Stevens Movie.

Where did Steven Anthony Lawrence grow up?

He grew up in Fresno, California, where he attended a private school and commuted to Los Angeles for auditions and filming while working on Even Stevens.

What does Steven Anthony Lawrence do now?

He teaches acting, records personalized Cameo videos, hosts podcasts, and appeared as himself in season five of The Floor in 2026.

Why did he work as a mall Santa’s helper?

In December 2015, he worked at a mall photo center near San Francisco because his late father loved Christmas, and the job helped him feel close to him.

Which podcasts has he hosted?

He co-hosted the Even More Stevens Podcast with Christy Carlson Romano and Nick Spano in 2023, and he co-hosted The Rice and Beans Show with Max Rice.

Which movies has he appeared in?

He appeared in Cheaper by the Dozen, The Cat in the Hat, Kicking & Screaming, Rebound, and Bubble Boy, among other films.