Keith Allen

Besides his long resume listing many critically acclaimed appearances on stage and the small screen - Welsh comedian/actor/singer/writer Keith Allen is probably best known to younger audiences for his current role playing the charming, yet vicious Sheriff Vaysey of Nottingham on the new BBC hit series Robin Hood.
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Keith was born in Llanelly, North Wales on 2nd June 1953. His brother Kevin is also an actor and director.

Keith first came to notice as actor, writer and director in the comedy series The Comic Strips Presents in the 1980's where he worked alongside Rik Mayall, Ade Edmondson, Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. He also appeared in their movie The Supergrass.

Keith followed The Comic Strip with a wide range of roles in television, most noticably as Jonas Chuzzlewit in the BBC Production of Martin Chuzzlewit, Slick Sloan in The Young Person's Guide to Becoming a Rock Star and more recently has appeared in New Tricks, Bodies and Viva Blackpool again for the BBC and Marple and Mobile for ITV.

Keith has continued to appear in film. Some of his roles include Pepi in Carry on Columbus with an array of British comedy actors, Loch Ness with Ted Danson, Trainspotting with Ewan McGregor and Robert Carlyle, Twin Town which was written and directed by brother Kevin, 24 Hour Party People, and more recently as Irving Berlin in De-Lovely.

Often appearing in the press for his 'hellraising' antics, Keith is also know to the British public as one third of Fat Les (along with artist Damien Hirst and Alex James of Blur) whose song "Vindaloo" became an unofficial anthem for supporters of the England Football Team. he also co-wrote "World in Motion" with New Order, the official England Football Team anthem for the 1990 World Cup and appeared in the video.

Recently Keith has been mentioned in the press as his daughter Lily Allen reached number one in the UK charts with her debut single "Smile".

Bio by LadyEleanor1 (Robin Hood 2006)