Patrick Allen

From Alfred Hitchcock Wiki

born: 17/Mar/1927 (Malawi)
died: 28/Jul/2006

[edit] Biography

John Keith Patrick Allen was a British actor and voice actor.

Allen was born in Nyasaland (now Malawi), where his father was a tobacco farmer. After his parents returned to Britain, he was evacuated to Canada during the War where he stayed to finish his education.

His made his film debut in Hitchcock's "Dial M for Murder" (1954). He subsequently appeared in character roles in many films, including "Night Creatures", "The Wild Geese", "The Sea Wolves" and "Who Dares Wins".

He was the narrator for the British Government's "Protect and Survive" series of instructional videos in the 1970s; some of his lines in that production were re-recorded and sampled into the single "Two Tribes" by the band Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Allen has also worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company in a number of stage roles, along with many BBC productions. He was also the voiceover artist for Vic and Bob's comedy series "The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer" and "Vic Reeves Big Night Out".

He provided the narration for the 1989 children's series "TUGS", playing Captain Star. He also narrated the first series of "Blackadder", and appeared in the last episode.

In 2005, he became the voice of the British television channel E4, providing voiceovers for many of its idents and promotions.

He died on the 28th July 2006.

(Wikipedia)