Editing Patrick Allen (actor)

{{Short description|British actor (1927– 2006)}}{{Lead too short|date=May 2025}}{{More citations needed|date=September 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name         = Patrick Allen
| image        = Patrick Allen 01.jpg
| alt          =
| caption      = Allen in 2005
| birth_name   = John Keith Patrick Allen
| birth_date   = {{birth date|df=yes|1927|3|17}}
| birth_place  = [[Nyasaland]] (now Malawi)
| death_date   = {{death date and age|df=yes|2006|7|28|1927|3|17}}
| death_place  = London, England
| occupation   = Actor
| years_active = 1952–2005
| spouse       = {{marriage|[[Sarah Lawson (actress)|Sarah Lawson]]|1960}}
| children     = 2
}}

'''John Keith Patrick Allen''' (17 March 1927 – 28 July 2006) was a British actor.

==Life and career==
Allen was born in [[Nyasaland]] (now [[Malawi]]), where his father was a tobacco farmer.<ref name ="Times"/> After his parents returned to Britain, he was evacuated to Canada during the [[Second World War Hangar No. 7|Second World War]], where he remained to finish his education at [[McGill University]] in [[Montreal]]. Before returning to Britain, he gained experience as a local radio broadcaster and appeared on television in plays and documentaries.

Returning to the UK in 1953, Allen made his film debut in [[Alfred Hitchcock]]'s ''[[Dial M for Murder]]'' (1954). He subsequently appeared in character roles in many films, including ''[[Captain Clegg (film)|Captain Clegg]]'', ''[[The Wild Geese]]'', ''[[The Sea Wolves]]'', ''[[Puppet on a Chain (film)|Puppet on a Chain]]'', and ''[[Who Dares Wins (film)|Who Dares Wins]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Patrick Allen |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9ee292d7 |url-status=dead |website=2.bfi.org.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929042529/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9ee292d7 |archive-date=29 September 2017}}</ref> He was also the lead actor in the [[Associated-Rediffusion]] adventure series ''[[Crane (TV series)|Crane]]'' (1963–65) and in the [[BBC1]] series ''Brett'' (1971). Allen played Moriarty's deputy [[Colonel Sebastian Moran]] in ''[[Sherlock Holmes (1984 TV series)|The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes]]'' and ''[[Sherlock Holmes (1984 TV series)|The Return of Sherlock Holmes]]''.

Allen made regular appearances in [[ITC Entertainment|ITC]] television series during the 1960s and early 1970s, including ''The Power Game'', ''[[The Baron (TV series)|The Baron]]'', ''[[The Champions]]'', ''[[The Avengers (TV series)|The Avengers]]'', ''[[Gideon's Way]]'' and latterly ''[[UFO (British TV series)|UFO]]'' (in the episode "[[Timelash (UFO)|Timelash]]" 1971), although he never had an ongoing role in any of these series.<ref>{{cite web |title=Patrick Allen |url=https://www.aveleyman.com/ActorCredit.aspx?ActorID=258 |website=Aveleyman |access-date=29 August 2023}}</ref> Alongside [[Roger Moore]], he made one episode of ''[[The Saint (TV series)|The Saint]]'' ("The Man Who Could Not Die"), broadcast in the UK in July 1965.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-saint--the-man-who-could-not-die-vm241641|title=The Saint : The Man Who Could Not Die (1965) - Roger Moore &#124; Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related|website=AllMovie|access-date=29 August 2023}}</ref>

Allen also worked with the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]] in a number of stage roles, along with many BBC productions, including appearing as [[Mr Gradgrind]] in a television production of Dickens' ''[[Hard Times (novel)|Hard Times]]'' in 1977.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}

In 1967, Allen and his wife [[Sarah Lawson (actress)|Sarah Lawson]] appeared together playing a married couple in the [[science fiction]] film, ''[[Night of the Big Heat (1967 film)|Night of the Big Heat]]''.<ref name=independent/> He and Lawson also played husband and wife in the BBC radio series, ''Stand By For West'', based on the [[John Creasey]] novels about [[Scotland Yard]] Chief Inspector Roger West.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f00f70dbfa6947a08d13fcb49762e66e|title=BBC Programme Index|date=10 June 1969|website=Genome.ch.bbc.co.uk|access-date=29 August 2023}}</ref>

Allen's distinctive, authoritative voice was familiar across the United Kingdom, even amongst those who did not recognise him as an actor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/patrick-allen-vn15867562|title=Patrick Allen &#124; Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos|website=AllMovie.com|access-date=29 August 2023}}</ref> He dubbed [[Leon Greene]], who played Rex, in the 1968 [[Hammer Films|Hammer]] film ''[[The Devil Rides Out (film)|The Devil Rides Out]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Mitchell |first=Charles |title=The Devil on Screen: Feature Films Worldwide, 1913 through 2000  |year=2015 |page=77 |isbn=978-0786446995}}</ref>

Allen narrated the British Government's ''[[Protect and Survive]]'' series of [[public information films]] in the 1970s; some of his lines in that production were re-recorded and [[Sampling (music)|sampled]] into the single "[[Two Tribes]]" by the band [[Frankie Goes to Hollywood]]. He also appeared in and voiced numerous commercials for house builder [[Barratt Homes]] and car manufacturers [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] and [[British Leyland]] among many others. His voice-over work led him to start up his own business, running a successful recording studio for voice-over work.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

Allen provided the narration (the voice of Captain Star) for the 1989 children's series ''[[Tugs (TV series)|TUGS]]''. Allen remained uncredited for his work, which was revealed in an interview with the show's producer [[Robert D. Cardona]].

Allen's voice was heard at the beginning of videocassettes distributed in the UK by Video Network in the 1980s, welcoming viewers and reading an anti-copying warning.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gale |first=Dan|title=70's and 80's VHS Distribution Logos |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxNMR5t820s |url-status=live |publisher=YouTube |date=7 March 2011 |access-date=5 March 2021 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/LxNMR5t820s |archive-date=12 December 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He also narrated the first series of ''[[Blackadder]]'', and appeared in the last episode, "[[The Black Seal (Blackadder)|The Black Seal]]", as Edmund's nemesis, Phillip of Burgundy – known to his enemies as "The Hawk".{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}

Allen's voice became synonymous with British alternative comedy in the 1990's after his recurring role as the Announcer for shows written by and starring  [[Vic Reeves]] and [[Bob Mortimer]], including ''[[Vic Reeves Big Night Out]]'', ''[[The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer]]'' and ''[[Bang, Bang, It's Reeves and Mortimer]]''.<ref>{{cite web |author1=<!--not stated--> |title=Patrick Allen |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/patrick_allen/ |website=BRITISH COMEDY GUIDE |access-date=30 April 2024}}</ref>

In 2005, Allen became the voice of the British television channel [[E4 (TV channel)|E4]], providing voiceovers for many of its [[Television ident|idents]] and promotions.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}

Allen was also the voice of the ''[[Christian O'Connell]] Breakfast Show'' on [[XFM]], the late show on [[Galaxy South Coast|103.2 Power FM]], [[Hirsty's Daily Dose]] on [[Galaxy Yorkshire]] and briefly [[Absolute Radio|Virgin Radio]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}}

==Personal life==
Allen married actress [[Sarah Lawson (actress)|Sarah Lawson]] in 1960; the couple had two sons.<ref name=independent>{{cite news |last=Vallance |first=Tom |title=Patrick Allen |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/patrick-allen-410980.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=8 August 2006 |access-date=9 November 2009 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/patrick-allen-410980.html |archive-date=25 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Obituary: Patrick Allen |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/aug/09/guardianobituaries.film |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=9 August 2006}}</ref>

==Death==
Allen died on the morning of 28 July 2006, aged 79.<ref name ="Times">{{cite news |title=Obituary |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article602797.ece |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070311032926/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article602797.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 March 2007 |newspaper=[[The Times]] |date=8 August 2006}} {{subscription required|date=August 2023}}</ref> He was survived by his wife (until her death on 18 August 2023) and their sons.<ref name ="Times"/>

==Filmography==
{{div col}}
* ''[[Blackbeard the Pirate]]'' (1952) – Undetermined Role (uncredited)
* ''[[Battle Circus (film)|Battle Circus]]'' (1953) – British Officer (uncredited)
* ''[[World for Ransom]]'' (1954) – Soldier (uncredited)
* ''[[Dial M for Murder]]'' (1954) – Detective Pearson
* ''[[Confession (1955 film)|Confession]]'' (1955) – Corey
* ''[[Cross Channel (film)|Cross Channel]]'' (1955) – Hugo Platt
* ''[[King's Rhapsody (film)|King's Rhapsody]]'' (1955) – Richard's Companion in Theatre Box (uncredited)
* ''[[1984 (1956 film)|1984]]'' (1956) – Inner Party Official
* ''[[Wicked as They Come]]'' (1956) – Willie
* ''[[The Baby and the Battleship]]'' (1956) – Mate (uncredited)
* ''[[The Adventures of Aggie]]'' (1956–57)
* ''[[High Tide at Noon]]'' (1957) – Charles MacKenzie
* ''[[The Long Haul (1957 film)|The Long Haul]]'' (1957) – Joe Easy
* ''[[The Mark of the Hawk]]'' (1957) – Gregory
* ''[[High Hell (film)|High Hell]]'' (1958) – Luke Fulgham
* ''[[The Man Who Wouldn't Talk (1958 film)|The Man Who Wouldn't Talk]]'' (1958) – Jim Kennedy
* ''[[Dunkirk (1958 film)|Dunkirk]]'' (1958) – Sergeant on Parade Ground
* ''[[Tread Softly Stranger]]'' (1958) – Paddy Ryan
* ''[[I Was Monty's Double (film)|I Was Monty's Double]]'' (1958) – Col. Mathers
* ''[[Jet Storm]]'' (1959) – Mulliner
* ''[[Never Take Sweets from a Stranger]]'' (1960) – Peter Carter
* ''[[The Sinister Man]]'' (1961) – Dr. Nelson Pollard
* ''[[The Traitors (1962 film)|The Traitors]]'' (1962) – John Lane
* ''[[Captain Clegg (film)|Captain Clegg]]'' (1962) – Captain Collier
* ''[[Flight from Singapore]]'' (1962) – John Scott
* ''[[The Big Job (film)|The Big Job]]'' (1965) – Narrator (voice, uncredited)
* ''[[The Night of the Generals]]'' (1967) – Colonel Mannheim
* ''[[The Viking Queen]]'' (1967) – Narrator (voice, uncredited)
* ''[[Night of the Big Heat (film)|Night of the Big Heat]]'' (1967) – Jeff Callum
* ''[[Oedipus the King (1968 film)|Oedipus the King]]'' (1968) – Chorus Leader (voice, uncredited)
* ''[[The Devil Rides Out (film)|The Devil Rides Out]]'' (1968) – Rex Van Ryn (voice, uncredited)
* ''[[Carry On Up the Khyber]]'' (1968) – Narrator (voice, uncredited)
* ''[[The Body Stealers]]'' (1969) – Bob Megan
* ''[[The Assassination Bureau]]'' (1969) – Narrator (voice, uncredited)
* ''[[The File of the Golden Goose]]'' (1969) – Narrator (voice, uncredited)
* ''[[When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth]]'' (1970) – Kingsor / Narrator
* ''[[Puppet on a Chain (film)|Puppet on a Chain]]'' (1971) – Inspector Van Gelder
* ''[[Persecution (film)|Persecution]]'' (1974) aka ''Sheba'', ''The Graveyard'', ''The Terror of Sheba'' – Robert Masters
* ''[[The Wilby Conspiracy]]'' (1975) – District Commissioner
* ''[[The Eagle Has Landed (film)|The Eagle Has Landed]]'' (1976) – Narrator (voice, uncredited)
* ''[[The Domino Principle]]'' (1977) – Narrator (voice, uncredited)
* ''[[The Wild Geese]]'' (1978) – Rushton
* ''[[Force 10 from Navarone (film)|Force 10 from Navarone]]'' (1978) – Narrator (voice, uncredited)
* ''[[Caligula (film)|Caligula]]'' (1979) – Macro (voice, uncredited)
* ''[[The Sea Wolves]]'' (1980) – Colin MacKenzie
* ''[[Who Dares Wins (film)|Who Dares Wins]]'' (1982) – Police Commissioner
* ''[[Jack the Ripper (miniseries)|Jack the Ripper (TV Mini-Series)]]'' (1988) – Opening Narrator (voice, uncredited)
* ''[[Tugs (TV series)|Tugs]]'' (1989) – Captain Star/Narrator (voice, uncredited)
* ''[[Bullet to Beijing]]'' (1995) – Col. Wilson
* ''[[RPM (film)|RPM]]'' (1998) – Millionaire
* ''Dangerville'' (2003) – Unknown role (voice)
* ''Days That Shook the World'' (2004) – Sir John French
* ''[[The Magic Roundabout (film)|The Magic Roundabout]]'' (2005) – Skeletons (voice, uncredited)
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Biography}}
{{wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb name|0020876|Patrick Allen}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Patrick}}
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:2006 deaths]]
[[Category:British male film actors]]
[[Category:British male stage actors]]
[[Category:British male television actors]]
[[Category:British male voice actors]]
[[Category:Malawian emigrants to the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:McGill University alumni]]