Background
Allen was born in Reading, Berkshire.
Allen was born in Reading, Berkshire.
Royal Academy of Dramatic Artist
He worked in repertory theatre and had a season at the Old Vic in London. Allen also appeared in several films, including A Night to Remember (1958) about the sinking of the Titanic, the espionage film A Circle of Deception (1960), the British horror films The Projected Manitoba (1966) and The Fiend (1972), the war film Hell Boats (1970), and the black comedy Eat the Rich (1987). After roles in the British Broadcasting Corporation soaps Compact (1963-1964) and United! (1966-1967) came his best remembered role, in the long-running Crossroads (1969-1985).
Allen played David Hunter, who was a shareholder of the Crossroads Motel with Meg Mortimer, Tish Hope and Bernard Booth.
He also twice appeared as a lead actor in the science fiction programme Doctor Who, in the stories The Dominators (1968) and The Ambassadors of Death (1970). Allen also frequently appeared as a guest in The Comic Strip Presents.
Allen reprised the role in the sequel Five Go Mad on Mescalin (1983), and also appeared in South Atlantic Raiders Participant 2 (1990), The Strike (1988) and Oxford (1990), in addition to the feature film The Supergrass (1985). There was much comic mileage to be gained from Allen sending up his conservative image.
In a 1987 interview, he said that he was approached by a very intimidating-looking punk who shook his hand and said, "I thought you were really cool in The Supergrass".
Then, as he was about to walk away, he turned back and said, almost apologetically, "I loved you in Crossroads too!"
Other roles included television"s The Adventures of Robin Hood (1957), Danger Manitoba (1960, 1961), Bergerac (1990) and The Avengers (1964).