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IMDbPro

Richard Ayoade(I)

  • Actor
  • Writer
  • Director
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000164
Richard Ayoade at an event for Submarine (2010)
Krapopolis: This Is The Start Of Something Great
Play trailer0:31
Krapopolis (2023– )
34 Videos
51 Photos
Richard Ellef Ayoade was born in Hammersmith, and grew up in Suffolk, in England, the son of a Norwegian mother, Dagny Amalie (Baassuik), and a Nigerian father, Layide Ade Laditi Ayoade. He studied Law at Cambridge university, and followed in the footsteps of British Comedy legends like Monty Python's Eric Idle, Hugh Laurie and Graeme Garden when he became the president of the Cambridge Footlights club.

Ayoade's first real TV break was directing, co-writing and starring with Matthew Holness in the cult classic Garth Marenghi's Darkplace (2004) a parody of shlocky 1980's science fiction television shows, and noticed for it's "so bad it's good!" aesthetic. Notably shy and self-effacing in interviews, his performance as the debauched, self-assured publisher/pornographer/nightclub owner 'Dean Learner' showcased the young comedian's acting talent.

After cameos in another cult series The Mighty Boosh (2003) as the shaman "Saboo", his position in the popular consciousness was cemented in the series The IT Crowd (2006) where Ayoade played the social oblivious, dweebish savant known as "Moss".

All the while Ayoade continued to direct music videos for Vampire Weekend, Kasabian, and the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs before finally getting his chance to direct a feature film, Submarine (2010), based on the novel by Joe Dunthorne.

Submarine was followed by The Double (2013) co-written by Avi Korine and based on a novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
BornMay 23, 1977
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornMay 23, 1977
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000164
  • Unlock contact info on IMDbPro
  • Won 1 BAFTA Award
    • 7 wins & 23 nominations total

Photos51

Richard Ayoade and Lydia Fox in The Souvenir (2019)
Frank Skinner and Richard Ayoade in Travel Man: 48 Hours in... (2015)
Matthew Holness, Matt Berry, Alice Lowe, and Richard Ayoade in Garth Marenghi's Darkplace (2004)
Richard Ayoade in Garth Marenghi's Darkplace (2004)
Richard Ayoade in Travel Man: 48 Hours in... (2015)
Paul Rudd and Richard Ayoade in Travel Man: 48 Hours in... (2015)
Stephen Mangan and Richard Ayoade in Travel Man: 48 Hours in... (2015)
Richard Ayoade and Katherine Parkinson in The IT Crowd (2006)
Jo Brand and Richard Ayoade in Travel Man: 48 Hours in... (2015)
Richard Ayoade in Travel Man: 48 Hours in... (2015)
Kathy Burke and Richard Ayoade in Travel Man: 48 Hours in... (2015)
Matthew Holness and Richard Ayoade in Garth Marenghi's Darkplace (2004)

Known for

Craig Roberts in Submarine (2010)
Submarine
7.3
  • Writer
  • 2010
Jesse Eisenberg in The Double (2013)
The Double
6.5
  • Writer
  • 2013
Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller, Richard Ayoade, and Jonah Hill in The Watch (2012)
The Watch
5.7
  • Jamarcus
  • 2012
The IT Crowd (2006)
The IT Crowd
8.5
TV Series
  • Maurice Moss

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actor

  • Krapopolis
    • Tyrannis (voice)
    • In Production
    • TV Series
    • 2023
  • The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
    • Post-production
    • 2023
  • Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight (2022)
    Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight
    • Archmage Kyle (voice)
    • TV Series
    • 2023
  • Rugrats (2021)
    Rugrats
    • Duffy (voice)
    • TV Series
    • 2022
  • Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, Awkwafina, and Anthony Ramos in The Bad Guys (2022)
    The Bad Guys
    • Professor Marmalade (voice)
    • 2022
  • Disenchantment (2018)
    Disenchantment
    • Alva Gunderson
    • Gordy
    • Alva (voice)
    • TV Series
    • 2021–2022
  • Apple & Onion (2016)
    Apple & Onion
    • Onion
    • Young Onion
    • Eclair (voice) ...
    • TV Series
    • 2016–2021
  • Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
    The Electrical Life of Louis Wain
    • Henry Wood
    • 2021
  • Honor Swinton Byrne in The Souvenir: Part II (2021)
    The Souvenir: Part II
    • Patrick
    • 2021
  • Tina Fey in 22 vs. Earth (2021)
    22 vs. Earth
    • Counselor Jerry (voice)
    • Short
    • 2021
  • Pedro Pascal and Brendan Wayne in The Mandalorian (2019)
    The Mandalorian
    • Zero (voice)
    • TV Series
    • 2019–2020
  • Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey in Soul (2020)
    Soul
    • Counselor Jerry (voice)
    • 2020
  • Moominvalley (2019)
    Moominvalley
    • The Ghost (voice)
    • TV Series
    • 2019
  • Bruce Willis, Will Arnett, Elizabeth Banks, Charlie Day, Nick Offerman, Chris Pratt, Alison Brie, Tiffany Haddish, and Stephanie Beatriz in The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019)
    The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
    • Ice Cream Cone (voice)
    • 2019
  • Tom Burke and Honor Swinton Byrne in The Souvenir (2019)
    The Souvenir
    • Patrick
    • 2019
  • Jaden Smith in Neo Yokio (2017)
    Neo Yokio
    • Various Voices
    • Salesclerk (voice)
    • TV Series
    • 2017–2018
  • Danger Mouse (2015)
    Danger Mouse
    • The Snowman
    • Birch Badboy (voice)
    • TV Series
    • 2015–2018

Writer

  • Richard Ayoade in Travel Man: 48 Hours in... (2015)
    Travel Man: 48 Hours in...
    • written by
    • TV Series
    • 2019
  • Jesse Eisenberg in The Double (2013)
    The Double
    • written by
    • 2013
  • Craig Roberts in Submarine (2010)
    Submarine
    • written by
    • 2010
  • Kasabian: Vlad the Impaler (2009)
    Kasabian: Vlad the Impaler
    • idea (uncredited)
    • Music Video
    • 2009
  • Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt in The Mighty Boosh (2003)
    The Mighty Boosh
    • written by
    • TV Series
    • 2007
  • Comic Relief 2007: The Big One (2007)
    Comic Relief 2007: The Big One
    • additional material
    • TV Special
    • 2007
  • Man to Man with Dean Learner (2006)
    Man to Man with Dean Learner
    • written by
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2006
  • Richard Ayoade in Horrificata Illuminata (2006)
    Horrificata Illuminata
    • Writer (uncredited)
    • Video
    • 2006
  • Matthew Holness in Darkplace Illuminatum (2006)
    Darkplace Illuminatum
    • Writer (uncredited)
    • Video
    • 2006
  • AD/BC: A Rock Opera (2004)
    AD/BC: A Rock Opera
    • book
    • TV Movie
    • 2004
  • Garth Marenghi's Darkplace (2004)
    Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
    • written and created by
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2004
  • Movie Babylon
    • Writer
    • TV Series
    • 2000
  • Fiona Allen, Doon Mackichan, and Sally Phillips in Smack the Pony (1999)
    Smack the Pony
    • additional material
    • TV Series
    • 2000
  • Martin Freeman, Charlotte Hudson, David Mitchell, Robert Webb, Olivia Colman, and Matthew Holness in Bruiser (2000)
    Bruiser
    • additional material (as Ayoade)
    • TV Series
    • 2000

Director

  • Jesse Eisenberg in The Double (2013)
    The Double
    • Director
    • 2013
  • Tommy Tiernan: Crooked Man
    • Director
    • TV Movie
    • 2011
  • Chevy Chase, Ken Jeong, Joel McHale, Jim Rash, Yvette Nicole Brown, Alison Brie, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, and Donald Glover in Community (2009)
    Community
    • Director
    • TV Series
    • 2011
  • Craig Roberts in Submarine (2010)
    Submarine
    • Director
    • 2010
  • Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Heads Will Roll (2009)
    Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Heads Will Roll
    • Director
    • Music Video
    • 2009
  • Arctic Monkeys: Cornerstone
    • Director
    • Music Video
    • 2009
  • Arctic Monkeys: Crying Lightning
    • Director
    • Music Video
    • 2009
  • Kasabian: Vlad the Impaler (2009)
    Kasabian: Vlad the Impaler
    • Director (as Ricardo Elfio)
    • Music Video
    • 2009
  • Arctic Monkeys in Arctic Monkeys at the Apollo (2008)
    Arctic Monkeys at the Apollo
    • Director
    • Video
    • 2008
  • Vampire Weekend: Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa (2008)
    Vampire Weekend: Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
    • Director
    • Video
    • 2008
  • Vampire Weekend: Oxford Comma (2008)
    Vampire Weekend: Oxford Comma
    • Director
    • Video
    • 2008
  • Arctic Monkeys: Fluorescent Adolescent (2007)
    Arctic Monkeys: Fluorescent Adolescent
    • Director
    • Music Video
    • 2007
  • Man to Man with Dean Learner (2006)
    Man to Man with Dean Learner
    • Director
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2006
  • Richard Ayoade in Horrificata Illuminata (2006)
    Horrificata Illuminata
    • Director
    • Video
    • 2006
  • Matthew Holness in Darkplace Illuminatum (2006)
    Darkplace Illuminatum
    • Director
    • Video
    • 2006
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos35

"Love Making"
Clip 0:40
"Love Making"
"Road Trip" from Bunny and the Bull
Clip 4:03
"Road Trip" from Bunny and the Bull
"Horse Race" from Bunny and the Bull
Clip 1:46
"Horse Race" from Bunny and the Bull
"Milk" from Bunny and the Bull
Clip 2:02
"Milk" from Bunny and the Bull
The Watch
Clip 1:36
The Watch
Trailer
Trailer 0:22
Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:08
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 1:32
Official Trailer
Official Trailer 2
Trailer 2:24
Official Trailer 2
Promo Trailer
Trailer 0:31
Promo Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 0:21
Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:17
Official Trailer

Personal details

Edit
  • Official site
    • Twitter
  • Alternative names
    • Ayoade
  • Height
    • 6′ 1½″ (1.87 m)
  • Born
    • May 23, 1977
    • Hammersmith, London, England, UK
  • Spouse
    • Lydia FoxSeptember 8, 2007 - present
  • Children
    • Child
  • Parents
      Layide Ade Laditi Ayoade
  • Other works
    Appeared in an episode of the radio version of The Mighty Boosh.
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Article

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Close friends with the lead singer of the Arctic Monkeys, Alex Turner. He has directed 3 of their music videos. Alex did the soundtrack music for Ayoade's film, Submarine.
  • Quotes
    The act of seeing any film generally is you knowing more than the characters, even if it's the classic Hitchcock shot of two people talking and a bomb being under the table. Part of the pleasure of it is seeing where people go wrong, and the irony of situations.
  • Trademarks
      Fuzzy hair

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