Alan Bennett is a distinguished British screenwriter, playwright and occasionally an actor. In the latter capacity, Bennett is best known as one of the "Beyond the Fringe" comedy troupe, where he was the most unobtrusive member of the lively group that included Dudley Moore, Peter Cook, and Jonathan Miller. He also wrote for the show. Bennet is the son of a Yorkshire butcher. As a young man he won a scholarship to Oxford. As a writer, Bennett is highly regarded for his ability to create detailed, memorable character sketches of complicated men. His work has appeared on stage, screen, and television. Among his better known films is his in-depth portrait of the notorious spy Guy Burgess, An Englishman Abroad (1983). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide