Allan McKeown

Photo: Alan Light — CC BY 2.0Source

Allan McKeown

actor

Born
May 21, 1946
Died
December 24, 2013
Age
67 years
Nationality
United States
Cause
prostate cancer

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Allan McKeown, 67, British film producer (Tracey Takes On...), prostate cancer.

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Full Biography

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Allan McKeown (born John McKeown; 21 May 1946 – 24 December 2013) was a British television, film, and stage producer.

Early life

McKeown was born in Ealing, London, on 21 May 1946. His parents, Edith Mabel (née Humphries) and Albert Victor McKeown, moved first to Hackney and later to Hainault, Essex, where his father served as the Clerk of Works at a new estate. Educated at Beal Grammar School in Ilford, McKeown left early to become a trainee hairdresser at Vidal Sassoon on Bond Street. He became a notable figure in the London scene of the 1960s, and in 1966, he opened his own salon. As a hairdresser, he worked on the television programme Sunday Night at the London Palladium and the films if.... (1968), Villain, and Get Carter (both 1971).

Career

Television producer

In 1969, he changed career paths and became a producer at James Garrett and Partners, which was the largest television commercial production company in the UK at the time. He was appointed managing director shortly after joining. He eventually left to form the production company WitzEnd with Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais. Initially focused on commercials, the company moved into feature film production with Porridge (released in the US as Doing Time, 1979). McKeown served as executive producer for Central Television's Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, with Clement and La Frenais as the show's main writers. He was one of the first independent television producers in the UK. McKeown not only produced content in Britain through WitzEnd, but also worked in the US for all the major networks. In 1986, WitzEnd acquired SelecTV, a company then primarily concerned with operating fledgling cable TV networks in the UK, and in the process became a public company. By 1988, SelecTV ceased its operations as a cable operator, disposing of all related assets. The company shifted its focus entirely to production, expanding by adding Alomo—a venture with writers Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran—to its stable of production companies. In 1990, McKeown was a founding member of the Meridian consortium, which was awarded the ITV television franchise for the South East of England. McKeown was responsible for all of Meridian's comedy programming. In 1994, SelecTV (by then a cable TV channel reusing the name of the former operator) launched its own programming, consisting mainly of shows produced by McKeown and selected offerings from Yorkshire TV. In March 1996, McKeown accepted £51 million for SelecTV—now a broadcaster and a major supplier of television programming—from Pearson, then owner of the Financial Times. McKeown returned to the US to produce the HBO comedy series Tracey Takes On... for his wife, Tracey Ullman. The series went on to win seven Primetime Emmy Awards. McKeown later invested in the media industry by launching the international distribution website itstv.com, which was sold in March 2000. In 2007, McKeown launched Allan McKeown Presents, Ltd., which produced the Indian comedy series Mumbai Calling and Tracey Ullman's State of the Union (2008–10).

Stage

McKeown was involved in the West End production of Anyone For Denis? (Whitehall Theatre, 1981) via WitzEnd Productions, and the Broadway production of The Big Love in 1991, a one-woman show starring Ullman. He also produced the highly successful Jerry Springer: The Opera, winning an Olivier Award for Best Musical. Additionally, he produced Lennon, a musical based on the life of John Lennon.

Personal life

McKeown married actress Tracey Ullman in 1983. The couple had two children and maintained residences in both England and the United States. In 2006, McKeown and Ullman topped the "Wealthiest British Comedians" list, with an estimated combined net worth of £75 million.

Death

McKeown died from prostate cancer in Los Angeles on 24 December 2013, at the age of 67.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

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Sources

Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions

Questions drawn from Allan McKeown's archived record and the sources above.

  1. 1.Who were Allan McKeown's partners when he formed the production company WitzEnd?

    • A.Dick Clement and Ian La Frenaiscorrect
    • B.The founders of Meridian
    • C.Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran
    • D.Tracey Ullman and Pearson

    Allan McKeown formed the production company WitzEnd with partners Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais.

    Source: Television producer section

  2. 2.What was the name of the first feature film produced by WitzEnd?

    • A.Villain
    • B.Porridgecorrect
    • C.Get Carter
    • D.Auf Wiedersehen, Pet

    WitzEnd moved into feature film production with the movie Porridge, which was released in the US as Doing Time.

    Source: Television producer section

  3. 3.In 1986, which company did WitzEnd acquire to become a public company?

    • A.Pearson
    • B.SelecTVcorrect
    • C.Alomo
    • D.Meridian

    In 1986, WitzEnd acquired SelecTV, which was then primarily concerned with operating cable TV networks.

    Source: Television producer section

  4. 4.Allan McKeown was a founding member of which consortium that won an ITV franchise in 1990?

    • A.Pearson
    • B.Alomo
    • C.Meridiancorrect
    • D.WitzEnd

    In 1990, Allan McKeown was a founding member of the Meridian consortium, which was awarded the ITV television franchise for the South East of England.

    Source: Television producer section

  5. 5.For how much did Allan McKeown sell SelecTV to Pearson in 1996?

    • A.£51 millioncorrect
    • B.£75 million
    • C.£100 million
    • D.£10 million

    In March 1996, Allan McKeown accepted £51 million for SelecTV from Pearson.

    Source: Television producer section

  6. 6.Which television series produced by Allan McKeown won seven Primetime Emmy Awards?

    • A.Mumbai Calling
    • B.Tracey Takes On...correct
    • C.Auf Wiedersehen, Pet
    • D.State of the Union

    The HBO comedy series Tracey Takes On..., produced by Allan McKeown, won seven Primetime Emmy Awards.

    Source: Television producer section

  7. 7.Which award-winning musical did Allan McKeown produce for the stage?

    • A.Lennon
    • B.Anyone For Denis?
    • C.Jerry Springer: The Operacorrect
    • D.The Big Love

    Allan McKeown produced the highly successful Jerry Springer: The Opera, which won an Olivier Award for Best Musical.

    Source: Stage section

  8. 8.What was the name of the one-woman show starring Tracey Ullman that Allan McKeown produced on Broadway in 1991?

    • A.Tracey Takes On...
    • B.Lennon
    • C.Anyone For Denis?
    • D.The Big Lovecorrect

    Allan McKeown produced the Broadway production of The Big Love in 1991, a one-woman show starring Tracey Ullman.

    Source: Stage section

  9. 9.When did Allan McKeown marry actress Tracey Ullman?

    • A.1990
    • B.1996
    • C.1981
    • D.1983correct

    Allan McKeown married actress Tracey Ullman in 1983.

    Source: Personal life

  10. 10.In 2006, what was the estimated combined net worth of Allan McKeown and Tracey Ullman?

    • A.£100 million
    • B.£75 millioncorrect
    • C.£51 million
    • D.£25 million

    In 2006, the couple had an estimated combined net worth of £75 million.

    Source: Personal life

  11. 11.At what age did Allan McKeown pass away?

    • A.67correct
    • B.69
    • C.71
    • D.65

    Allan McKeown died in Los Angeles on 24 December 2013, at the age of 67.

    Source: Death

  12. 12.What was the cause of Allan McKeown's death?

    • A.Stroke
    • B.Lung cancer
    • C.Prostate cancercorrect
    • D.Heart failure

    Allan McKeown died from prostate cancer in Los Angeles.

    Source: Death

  13. 13.Where was Allan McKeown born?

    • A.Ealing, Londoncorrect
    • B.Hainault, Essex
    • C.Hackney, London
    • D.Ilford, London

    Allan McKeown was born in Ealing, London, on 21 May 1946.

    Source: Early life

  14. 14.What was Allan McKeown's profession before he transitioned into film and television production?

    • A.Hairdressercorrect
    • B.Cable network engineer
    • C.Clerk of Works
    • D.Journalist

    Allan McKeown left school early to become a trainee hairdresser at Vidal Sassoon.

    Source: Early life

  15. 15.In what year did Allan McKeown open his own hair salon?

    • A.1969
    • B.1971
    • C.1966correct
    • D.1960

    Allan McKeown opened his own salon in 1966.

    Source: Early life

  16. 16.Which company did Allan McKeown join in 1969 to start his career in television production?

    • A.Pearson
    • B.James Garrett and Partnerscorrect
    • C.SelecTV
    • D.WitzEnd

    In 1969, Allan McKeown changed career paths and became a producer at James Garrett and Partners.

    Source: Television producer section

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