Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1977-05-23
- Born Place: Hammersmith, London, England, UK
Also Known As:
Richard Ellef Ayoade, Ayoade, ריצ'ארד איואדי
Richard Ayoade
Richard Ayoade, born on May 23, 1977, is a multifaceted British talent known for his work as a comedian, actor, writer, director, and television presenter. He gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of the socially awkward IT technician Maurice Moss in the acclaimed Channel 4 sitcom "The IT Crowd," for which he won a BAFTA for Best Male Comedy Performance in 2014. Before this breakthrough role, Ayoade was active in the Cambridge Footlights club, where he served as president and collaborated with future comedy stars. He co-created and starred in the cult classic television series "Garth Marenghi's Darkplace" and its spin-off "Man to Man with Dean Learner" with Matthew Holness. Ayoade also appeared in popular comedy shows like "The Mighty Boosh" and "Nathan Barley."Beyond acting, Ayoade has established himself as a talented director and writer. He directed several music videos for prominent bands such as Arctic Monkeys, Vampire Weekend, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. In 2010, he wrote and directed the critically acclaimed comedy-drama film "Submarine," based on the novel by Joe Dunthorne, for which he won a British Independent Film Award for Best Screenplay. His second directorial feature, the dark comedy "The Double," premiered in 2013. Ayoade has also lent his voice to various animated projects, including "The Boxtrolls," "Early Man," "Soul," and "The Bad Guys." Additionally, he has written comedic books centered on cinema, including "Ayoade on Ayoade: A Cinematic Odyssey," "The Grip of Film," and "Ayoade on Top." In 2025, he is slated to appear in Wes Anderson's "The Phoenician Scheme" and reprise his voice role in "The Bad Guys 2."
