Richard Ayoade

An intelligent comedian-actor-writer-director, Richard Ayoade had his start in theater and comedy before breaking through for his horror/comedy hybrid "Garth Marenghi's Darkplace" (Channel 4, 2004). Scoring on the sketch comedy "The Mighty Boosh" (BBC Three, 2004-05) as the belligerent Saboo, Ayoade boosted his profile considerably with his charming turn as alpha geek Maurice Moss, flummoxed by the corporate culture that surrounded him and his fellow members of "The IT Crowd" (Channel 4, 2006-10).

His success on the show opened American doors, including landing a role on the never-aired American remake, and he was tapped to star alongside Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller and Jonah Hill in the sci-fi comedy "The Watch" (2012). He also directed multiple music videos, especially for close pals the Arctic Monkeys, and wrote and directed the acclaimed indie hit "Submarine" (2010), which earned him a BAFTA nomination.

Born June 12, 1977 in Whipps Cross, London, England, Richard Ellef Ayoade (pronounced "eye-oh-WA-dee") was the child of a Norwegian mother and Nigerian father. While studying law at St. Catharine's College, Cambridge, Ayoade was very active in the theater, serving as president of the Footlights Theater where he wrote and performed in many shows as well as winning the Martin Steele Prize for play production.

While at Footlights, Ayoade co-wrote and co-starred in the horror comedy "Garth Marenghi's Fright Knight" with Matthew Holness, which helped raise his profile. The sequel, "Garth Marenghi's Netherhead," won him the Perrier Comedy Award. Ayoade and Holness turned the show into a TV series, with Ayoade earning directing credits on it as well as playing two characters on "Garth Marenghi's Darkplace" (Channel 4, 2004).

With an impeccable reputation as a multi-faceted talent, Ayoade directed, wrote and appeared in "AD/BC: A Rock Opera" (BBC Three, 2004). He also starred in a series based on one of his "Garth Marenghi" characters in "Man to Man with Dean Learner" (Channel 4, 2006) and recurred on "The Mighty Boosh" (BBC Three, 2004-05) as the quick-to-anger yet eloquent shaman, Saboo. Ayoade achieved mainstream stardom, however, with his brilliant turn on "The IT Crowd" (Channel 4, 2006-10) as the hyper-intelligent but socially hopeless Maurice Moss, an IT worker forced to deal with corporate types of all stripes.

So endearing and genuinely funny was Ayoade that he not only won a Golden Nymph award from the Monte-Carlo TV Festival, but he was cast on the American version (starring Joel McHale), which never made it to series.

Instantly recognizable for his unique hairstyle and black-rimmed glasses, Ayoade was close friends with Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys and directed three of their music videos: "Fluorescent Adolescent," "Cornerstone" and "Crying Lightning" as well as the live DVD "Arctic Monkeys at the Apollo" that became an international hit.

He also directed music videos for such bands as Vampire Weekend, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Super Furry Animals. For his writing-directing film debut, "Submarine" (2010), Ayoade tapped Turner to provide the soundtrack, and earned global plaudits for the sensitive, stylish dramedy, winning a British Independent Film Award for Best Screenplay as well as an additional Best Debut Director nomination as well as a BAFTA nomination for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer.

His American profile seemed poised to skyrocket as well when he was cast as one of the stars of the suburban dads vs. aliens sci-fi comedy "The Watch" (2012) alongside Ben Stiller, Jonah Hill and Vince Vaughn. After reuniting with pal Joel McHale by directing an episode of "Community" (NBC, 2009-14), Ayoade announced that he would write and direct the comedy "The Double," starring Jesse Eisenberg and Mia Wasikowska.

By Jonathan Riggs