Richard Ayoade, a British-Nigerian, is a handful of talent who has gained specialty in his entertaining ability, especially in the fields of comedy, acting, singing, music, television presenting and production. He is best recognized for his role in the award-winning The IT Crowd where he played the part of Maurice Moss and The Mighty Boosh, among many others. As expected, the fame has also rubbed off on Richard Ayoade’s family.

For his contributions to the entertainment industry, Ayoade has joined the league of the most celebrated in the arena. He has earned himself several awards, including Best Male Comedy Performance, Best Screenplay, and Best Actor, amid numerous other accolades. Read on to find out more about the comedian and his family.

Meet Richard Ayoade’s Wife and Children

On the 8th of September 2007, Richard Ayoade exchanged marital vows with his longtime girlfriend; Lydia Fox. Mrs. Ayoade was born in 1979 and is famous for being an actress as well as a producer. She hails from a family of popular entertainers as her parents; James Fox and Mary Elizabeth Piper, are both active actors.

Throughout the 60s and 70s, Lydia’s father made appearances in TV series and films that include The Servant, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Performance among others. Also, two of her four brothers are well-known as actors – Lawrence Fox and Jack Fox. Not left out of showbiz in the family, Lydia’s grandparents Robin Fox and Angelina Washington were also actors while her great grandfather Fredrick Lonsdale was a playwright.

The 5 feet 9 inches tall wife of Ayoade started her journey as an actress in 2001 while she was studying at the Newham College in the University of Cambridge. In 2004, she got her break as she was cast to join a UK tour of The Little Mermaid. In the same year, the most important member of Richard Ayoade’s family got a role in the British Horror series Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace which was created, written, and directed by her husband who also stars in the show. In the series, she portrayed the character of Rick’s wife.

Subsequently in her career as an actress, Lydia has played a role in other TV series and films, including Someone Else (2006), Holy City (2007), Lilies (2007), The IT Crowd (2007), Secret Diary of Call Girl (2007), and The Double (2013). Her performance in the film Submarine (2010), which was both written and directed by her husband, has been classified as one of her best. So far, the movie has been able to pull a box office grossing of 4.6 million US dollars.

Who Are His Children?

Since Richard Ayoade’s family began in 2007, the couple has welcomed two children; Esme Bibi Ayoade and Ida Ayoade. Details about the kids have been kept away from the public, however, they are known to be huge fans of their parents’ work. It is however not clear if their love for their parents’ work will lead them down the same career paths.

What to Know About His Parents

Whatever it was that brought two people of different races together, it sure was worth it as they have given the world a great comic in the person of Richard Ayoade. His father, Layide Ade Laditi Ayoade, was an electrical engineer who hails from the West African country of Nigeria. On the other hand, his mother Dagny Amalie is a Norwegian.

As related to his career, Ayoade’s parents did not have an interest in their son studying theatre in school, however, fate led him to join a theatre group while he was a law student.

The Early Years of His Life and Career

Ayoade was born as Richard Ellef Ayoade to a Norwegian mother and an electrical engineer father from Nigeria on the 23rd of May 1977, in Hammersmith, London, England. His family later relocated to Ipswich, Suffolk where he was raised.

At the age of 15, Richard Ayoade was drawn to films like Star Wars and Back to the Future and thus decided to look keenly into the works of several directors. Looking at his academics, he attended St. Joseph’s College, Ipswich, graduating in 1995 before enrolling at St. Catherine’s College, Cambridge to study law. While in school, he started to take a keen interest in theatre which led him to become the President of the theatrical club, thus providing him a career.