--- name: "Keith Allen" canonical: "https://film.one/person/keith-allen" fi1m_id: "keith-allen" imdb_id: "nm0020717" tmdb_id: 20056 wikidata_id: "Q725519" roles: ["Actor","Director"] born: "2 September 1953" reviewed_on_fi1m: 11 average_fi1m_score: 75 average_as: "actor" average_over: 11 updated: "2026-10-07T16:32:38.870201+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Keith Allen ## Identity Keith Allen - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/keith-allen - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** keith-allen - **IMDb ID:** nm0020717 - **TMDB ID:** 20056 - **Wikidata ID:** Q725519 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Allen_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q725519, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0020717/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/20056 Actor and director. Born 2 September 1953 in Gorseinon, Glamorgan, Wales, UK. ## Details - **Work:** Actor, Director - **Born:** 2 September 1953, Gorseinon, Glamorgan, Wales, UK - **Active:** 1982–2017 - **Also known as:** Keith Philip George Allen, کیث آلن, Keith Howell Charles Allen - **Frequently works with:** [Christopher Eccleston](https://film.one/person/christopher-eccleston.md), [Stephen Frears](https://film.one/person/stephen-frears.md) - **Average Fi1m score:** 75, as actor, over 11 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 75 (3), 1990s 75 (3), 2000s 82 (3), 2010s 65 (2) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 69 to 66 across 5 titles - **Score spread:** 6 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 2 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 6 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 6, Comedy 4, Crime 3, Mystery 2, Thriller 2, Action 1 - **Screen time:** 12 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $721m across 5 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Allen_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q725519, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0020717/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/20056 ## Streaming the US now - **Pluto TV:** [*Black Books*](https://film.one/tv/black-books.md) (82) - **AMC+:** [*The Others*](https://film.one/film/the-others.md) (80) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Keith Allen > Keith Allen brings a comic’s readiness to disrupt a scene, but we prefer him when that energy is held in check. He is convincing as a villain who means business; less so when the film keeps asking him to be odd. In Steven Soderbergh’s *Kafka* (1991), Keith Allen and Simon McBurney play the assistants who nod together and finish sentences. The timing is clear, but so is the effort to be amusing. The synchronised nods made us laugh once, then the routine began to irritate us. Allen’s comic energy is useful, but here it is allowed to become a distraction. Soderbergh’s mystery is already short of dread, and this busy music-hall double act does little to help. Danny Boyle’s *Shallow Grave* (1994), with Allen as Hugo, is the more rewarding place to begin. Its three flatmates and money they should leave alone provide a brisk, nasty thriller, helped by performances that keep it entertaining. The early humour is sharper than the growing violence, a reservation worth keeping even when recommending the film. Allen has a supporting part, and the pleasure here belongs to the ensemble rather than to him alone. For Allen, it was a breakthrough, followed by another Boyle supporting role as the dealer in *Trainspotting* (1996). Those Boyle parts sit between his alternative-comedy beginnings and the later television villains. As the Sheriff of Nottingham in *Robin Hood* (2006–2009), and as John Cooper in *The Pembrokeshire Murders* (2021), he is effective when the intensity is controlled. The threatening authority suits him. These are useful roles for an actor whose rawness can otherwise encourage a film to keep pushing for another eccentric flourish. We would not ask him to abandon comedy; the fault in *Kafka* is the persistence of the routine, not the fact that he is funny. What he needs is a director who knows when the audience has understood the joke, or registered the threat. We prefer the briskness of *Shallow Grave*, though that film gives him only a supporting part. Start there for the film; try *Robin Hood* for a longer acquaintance with the actor. ## Biography Keith Allen is a Welsh actor, comedian, musician and writer. Born on 2 September 1953 in Gorseinon, West Glamorgan, he began performing in the late 1970s and appeared in early episodes of the Channel 4 series The Comic Strip Presents.... His film roles include Hugo in Shallow Grave (1994), the Dealer in Trainspotting (1996), Mr Marlish in The Others (2001), Roger Ames in 24 Hour Party People (2002), Terry in Eddie the Eagle (2016) and Charles in Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017). He has also appeared in television series such as Black Books, Midsomer Murders and Death in Paradise. Allen is the brother of actor and director Kevin Allen, and the father of singer Lily Allen and actor Alfie Allen. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (11) - *Kingsman: The Golden Circle* (2017), Fi1m 42, as Charles — [page](https://film.one/film/kingsman-the-golden-circle.md) - *My Mad Fat Diary* (2013), Fi1m 88, as Victor — [page](https://film.one/tv/my-mad-fat-diary.md) - *Bodies* (2004), Fi1m 84, as Tony Whitman — [page](https://film.one/tv/bodies.md) - *The Others* (2001), Fi1m 80, as Mr. Marlish — [page](https://film.one/film/the-others.md) - *Black Books* (2000), Fi1m 82, as Dave 'Mouse Ear' Smith — [page](https://film.one/tv/black-books.md) - *Trainspotting* (1996), Fi1m 88, as Dealer — [page](https://film.one/film/trainspotting.md) - *Shallow Grave* (1994), Fi1m 78, as Hugo — [page](https://film.one/film/shallow-grave.md) - *Kafka* (1991), Fi1m 58, as Ass. Ludwig — [page](https://film.one/film/kafka.md) - *Scandal* (1989), Fi1m 66, as Kevin — [page](https://film.one/film/scandal.md) - *The Young Ones* (1982), Fi1m 82, as Pestilence — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-young-ones.md) - *Walter* (1982), Fi1m 78, as Mike - Stockroom — [page](https://film.one/film/walter.md) ## Complete filmography (145) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Crookhaven* (2026), series, as Erasmus Sisman - *Bampi's Soup* (2026), as Bampi - *The Buckingham Murders* (2024), as Miller - *Steeltown Murders* (2023), series, as Dai Williams - *Save the Cinema* (2022), as Superintendent Roberts - *La Cha Cha* (2021), as Paulie - *Rise of the Footsoldier: Origins* (2021), as Dave Simms - *The Pembrokeshire Murders: Catching the Gameshow Killer* (2021), Actor - *The Pembrokeshire Murders* (2021), series, as John Cooper - *Suicidal: In Our Own Words* (2019), as Narrator - *2:Hrs* (2018), as Groad - *I Am Vengeance* (2018), as Dougie - *Kingsman: The Golden Circle* (2017), as Charles — Fi1m 42, [page](https://film.one/film/kingsman-the-golden-circle.md) - *Genius* (2017), series, as Sagot - *Eddie the Eagle* (2016), as Terry - *We're Doomed! The Dad's Army Story* (2015), as Paul Fox - *Hector* (2015), as Jimbo - *North v South* (2015), as Tony Lefevre - *SunTrap* (2015), series, as Señor Big - *In a Heartbeat* (2014), as Peter Smith - *The Last Showing* (2014), as Collins - *Talking to the Dead* (2013), series, as Robbie Griffiths - *By Any Means* (2013), series, as Nicholas Mason - *The Magnificent Eleven* (2013), as Dave - *My Mad Fat Diary* (2013), series, as Victor — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/my-mad-fat-diary.md) - *Gadget Man* (2012), series, Actor - *30 Years of Comic Strip* (2012), Actor - *Rise of the Zombies* (2012), as Tash - *London: The Modern Babylon* (2012), as Spoken Quotations (voice) - *Vinyl* (2012), as Minto - *Damien Hirst: The First Look* (2012), Actor - *Treasure Island* (2012), series, as Pew - *Treasure Island* (2012), as Pew - *Death in Paradise* (2011), series, as Neil Jenkins - *The Body Farm* (2011), series, as D.I. Hale - *The Body Farm* (2011), as D.I. Hale - *Case Histories* (2011), series, as Richard Moat - *Unlawful Killing* (2011), Director - *The Runaway* (2011), series, as Danny Dixon - *Come on Eileen* (2010), as Martin - *7 Days on the Breadline* (2009), series, Actor - *Keith Meets Keith* (2009), Director - *The Londoners* (2008), series, as Richard Mansfield - *A Film with Me in It* (2008), as Jack - *Keith Allen Will Burn in Hell* (2007), Director - *Mobile* (2007), series, as Sir James Corson - *The Good Night* (2007), as Norman - *Tourette de France* (2007), Director - *Robin Hood* (2006), series, as Sheriff of Nottingham - *Michael Carroll: King of Chavs* (2006), Director - *Manchester Passion* (2006), as Pontius Pilate - *Hotel Babylon* (2006), series, as Mr. Irwin - *Art School* (2005), series, Actor - *Twisted Tales* (2005), series, as G.R. - *Happily Ever After* (2004), as L'homme de la piscine - *De-Lovely* (2004), as Irving Berlin - *Bodies* (2004), series, as Tony Whitman — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/bodies.md) - *Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London* (2004), as Diaz - *Home* (2003), as Repo Man - *Spine Chillers* (2003), series, Actor - *Killing Hitler* (2003), as Major General Colin Gubbins - *Loving You* (2003), as Adam - *Bear's Kiss* (2002), as Lou - *24 Hour Party People* (2002), as Roger Ames - *My Wife Is an Actress* (2001), as David - *Is Harry on the Boat?* (2001), as Trevor - *The Others* (2001), as Mr. Marlish — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/the-others.md) - *Murder in Mind* (2001), series, as James Napeworth - *Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years* (2001), series, Actor - *Breath* (2001), as Vagitus Aspiration - *blur | The Best Of* (2000), as Successful Fella (video 'Country House') - *Black Books* (2000), series, as Dave 'Mouse Ear' Smith — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/black-books.md) - *Bob Martin* (2000), series, as Vinnie - *Rancid Aluminium* (2000), as Dr Jones - *The Escort* (1999), as Jessica's Husband - *Jack of Hearts* (1999), series, as Jack Denby - *You Are Here* (1998), as Ken · Writer - *What's a Carry On?* (1998), as Pepi the Portuguese Poisoner (archive footage) (uncredited) - *The Young Person's Guide to Becoming a Rock Star* (1998), series, as Slick Sloan - *The Life and Crimes of William Palmer* (1998), as Dr. William Palmer - *Roger Roger* (1998), series, as Dexter - *Preaching to the Perverted* (1997), as Milkman - *Born to Run* (1997), series, as Byron Flitch - *Twin Town* (1997), as Emrys - *Midsomer Murders* (1997), series, as Harry Marx — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/midsomer-murders.md) - *Loch Ness* (1996), as Gordon Shoals - *The Bite* (1996), series, as Shelley - *Trainspotting* (1996), as Dealer — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/trainspotting.md) - *Hanging Around* (1996), as Marcus - *TFI Friday* (1996), series, Actor - *Blue Juice* (1995), as Mike - *Help! War Child* (1995), Presenter, Director - *Sharman* (1995), series, as Brady - *Shallow Grave* (1994), as Hugo — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/shallow-grave.md) - *Martin Chuzzlewit* (1994), series, as Jonas Chuzzlewit - *Second Best* (1994), as John - *Faith* (1994), series, as Jeff Wagland - *Captives* (1994), as Lenny - *Beyond Bedlam* (1994), as Gilmour - *Class Act* (1994), series, as Quentin - *(All Quiet on the) Preston Front* (1994), series, as Dave Basker - *The Young Americans* (1993), as Jack Doyle - *New Order Story* (1993), as Game Show Host - *Demonella* (1993), as French Maid - *Gregory: Diary of a Nutcase* (1993), as Ghenghis - *Space Virgins from Planet Sex* (1993), as Martin Aimless · Director - *Detectives on the Edge of a Nervous Breakdown* (1993), as Bonehead/Gourmet Detective · Writer, Director - *Carry On Columbus* (1992), as Pepi the Portuguese Poisoner - *Between the Lines* (1992), series, Actor - *The Crying Game* (1992), as Roy Brush · Director, Writer - *Red Nose of Courage* (1992), as Foreign Secretary - *Rebecca's Daughters* (1992), as Davy - *Floating* (1992), Actor - *Kafka* (1991), as Ass. Ludwig — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/kafka.md) - *Jackson Pace: The Great Years* (1990), series, as Jackson Pace - *Les Dogs* (1990), as Green Party Leader - *Shooting Stars* (1990), as Southgate - *Chicago Joe and the Showgirl* (1990), as Lenny Bexley - *Spaghetti Hoops* (1990), as Mason/Gondolier - *GLC: The Carnage Continues* (1990), as Gay Councillor/1st Beefeater - *Nineteen96* (1989), as Det. Supt. Alan Horsefell - *Screen One* (1989), series, as Det Supt Alan Horsfell - *Scandal* (1989), as Kevin — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/scandal.md) - *Making Out* (1989), series, Actor - *Never Come Morning* (1989), as Bar Man - *A Very British Coup* (1988), series, as Thompson - *Funseekers* (1988), as Kevin - *The Yob* (1988), as Patrick · Writer - *The Strike* (1988), as Film Exec/Camp Actor 2/Celebrity - *Comrades* (1987), as James Hammett - *Inspector Morse* (1987), series, as John Peter Barrie — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/inspector-morse.md) - *Closed Circuit* (1987), Actor - *The Supergrass* (1985), as Wong - *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Lenny - *The Bullshitters: Roll Out the Gunbarrel* (1984), as Bonehead · Producer, Writer - *Loose Connections* (1984), as Kay's Husband - *Gino: Full Story and Pics* (1984), as Gino - *A Fistful of Travellers' Cheques* (1984), as Mr Bastardos - *The Beat Generation* (1983), as Brian Epstein - *The Young Ones* (1982), series, as Pestilence — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-young-ones.md) - *The Comic Strip Presents...* (1982), series, as Brian Epstein, Mr. Bastardos/Train Guard, Gino, Bonehead · Film Executive/Camp Actor 2/Architect/Celebrity, Patrick, Gay Councillor/1st Beefeater, Kevin, Mason/Gondolier, Green Leader, Writer, Director - *Walter* (1982), as Mike - Stockroom — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/walter.md) - *Crystal Gazing* (1982), as Monologist, Additional Writing - *Wolcott* (1981), series, as Heckler - *Boom Boom... Out Go the Lights* (1980), series, Actor ## Gallery - ![New Order close with World In Motion (2005)](https://film.one/media/person/9965/gallery-c04fa49ca3df.jpg) New Order close with World In Motion (2005) — Paul Holloway from Birmingham, United Kingdom, United Kingdom, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/KeithAllen.jpg/1280px-KeithAllen.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Kieth Allen performing with Fit Les (2012)](https://film.one/media/person/9965/gallery-dcb57084b956.jpg) Kieth Allen performing with Fit Les (2012) — Paul Hudson from United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/16/Kieth_Allen_%287323201946%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Kieth Allen performing with Fit Les (2012)](https://film.one/media/person/9965/gallery-b78a5964e091.jpg) Kieth Allen performing with Fit Les (2012) — Paul Hudson from United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Kieth_Allen_%287323203024%29.jpg/1280px-Kieth_Allen_%287323203024%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Keith Allen](https://film.one/media/person/9965/gallery-0e79eb8b76b2.jpg) Keith Allen — Paul Hudson from United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Kieth_Allen_%287323203024%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Keith Allen](https://film.one/media/person/9965/gallery-feaeb8a399c5.jpg) Keith Allen — Image via TMDB - ![Keith Allen](https://film.one/media/person/9965/gallery-3b1ca50ed4ac.jpg) Keith Allen — Image via TMDB --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/keith-allen