Richard Ayoade

Richard Ayoade is a power figure of British comedy, as an actor, writer, director, and presenter. Born on 23rd May 1977, he started to play a key role in the entertainment industry from the 2000s. He shot to fame with his depiction of the socially awkward IT technician Maurice Moss in Channel 4 sitcom, 'The IT Crowd' which aired from 2006 to 2013. Such was Ayoade's execution, he won the 2014 BAFTA for Best Male Comedy Performance. Ayoade also appeared in comedy shows such as 'The Mighty Boosh' and 'Nathan Barley'. His abilities don't cocoon to acting only. He showcased his directing prowess with music videos for big bands like Kasabian, Arctic Monkeys, Vampire Weekend, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. His directorial debut, 'Submarine' (2010), was applauded for its perfect blend of comedy and drama. Ayoade's contribution to comedy extended with panel shows like 'The Big Fat Quiz of the Year', and he served as a team captain on 'Was It Something I Said?'. His other roles include voicing characters in animated projects, such as 'The Boxtrolls', 'Early Man', 'The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part', 'Soul', 'The Bad Guys', and 'Krapopolis'. He has also authored three comedic film-focused books, along with a children's book.

Ayoade was born in Hammersmith, London. His interest in film developed during his early teen years. He moved on from popular films to explore the works of great directors such as Woody Allen, Ingmar Bergman, and Federico Fellini. Ayoade attended St Joseph's College, located in Ipswich, where he became deeply involved with J. D. Salinger's book 'The Catcher in the Rye'. Furthermore, from 1995 to 1998, Richard studied law at St Catharine's College, Cambridge. He was President of the Footlights, an amateur theatrical club based in the University of Cambridge. This vibrant club became a fundamental ground where he, along with other members, wrote and performed in several productions. Ayoade believes that his non-vocational degree seemed to be such an outlandish indulgence, as his degree in law can't save him to fall back upon. As such, he would need to start from the very beginning.