Richard Ellef Ayoade was born in Hammersmith, England, to a Norwegian mother, Dagny Amalie (Bosvik),and a Nigerian father, Layide Ade Laditi Ayoade. He spent his formative years in Suffolk, where he was raised.
Ayoade's academic pursuits took him to Cambridge University, where he studied Law and followed in the footsteps of British Comedy legends like Monty Python's Eric Idle, Hugh Laurie, and Graeme Garden by becoming the president of the Cambridge Footlights club.
His early foray into television was marked by his work on the cult classic Garth Marenghi's Darkplace (2004),a parody of shlocky 1980's science fiction television shows, which he co-wrote, directed, and starred in alongside Matthew Holness. His performance as the debauched, self-assured publisher/pornographer/nightclub owner 'Dean Learner' showcased his acting talent and earned him recognition for his work.
Ayoade's subsequent appearances in other cult series, including The Mighty Boosh (2003),where he played the shaman "Saboo", further solidified his position in the popular consciousness. His portrayal of the social oblivious, dweebish savant known as "Moss" in the series The IT Crowd (2006) cemented his status as a talented comedian.
Throughout his career, Ayoade has also directed music videos for various artists, including Vampire Weekend, Kasabian, and the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs. He eventually had the opportunity to direct a feature film, Submarine (2010),based on the novel by Joe Dunthorne.
Submarine was followed by The Double (2013),a co-written film based on a novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
