Bill (Rad) Allen to Star in BMX Film HEROES OF DIRT

Thirty years ago, actor Bill Allen starred in a film called RAD - a coming of age story set against the backdrop of BMX racing. Although a failure at the box-office, the VHS release of the film turned it into one of the most successful rentals in history - and turned Bill, who played the main character of Cru Jones, into an underground superstar.

Now, Allen is back in the world of BMX-themed movies, co-starring as father to a young biker in the upcoming independent release Heroes of Dirt, being released in hundreds of theatres across the country in September and available on DVD and VOD on December 8. Allen is also working on a new film inspired by RAD where he'll get to ride again as BMX hero.

There's simply no limit to the way in which RAD and Cru Jones influenced an entire generation of extreme sports athletes and enthusiasts: there have been parodies of the film on American Dad and The Tonight Show, and Bill's many fans include Comedy Central's Daniel Tosh (who has welcomed "Cru" on episodes of Tosh.O). RAD director Hal Needham (Smokey and the Bandit) once told Allen that none of his films had the remarkable, lasting impact of RAD. Now there are fake Cru Jones twitter and facebook accounts, children (male and female) named "Cru," and even a clothing boutique in Argentina named after Allen's character.

But Bill Allen's career also includes roles in films by Robert ALTMAN and Oliver Stone, and co-stars in his early projects include future superstars just getting their feet wet like George Clooney, Miguel Ferrer, Brad Pitt, Brandon Lee, and Allen's lifelong friend and fellow Texan Lou Diamond Phillips. Much to his wife's chagrin, he continues to indulge in his hobbies as an amateur pilot and parachutist. On the ground, meanwhile, Allen is a veteran musician (he toured in a blues band with Phillips for several years), and recently produced a tribute CD for blues legend Bugs Henderson called "The King of Clubs"). He has remained active in his performing career, appearing in independent films and an episode of Breaking Bad.

With an appreciation for his unlikely career path and an excitement for the next phase of his career, Bill Allen is an eyewitness to Hollywood and cultural history - and a genuine cult hero ready to embrace a new generation of fans.

Test and expand your Broadway knowledge with our new game - The Broadway Match-Up! How well do you know your Broadway casting trivia?	Play the Daily Game, explore current shows, and delve into past decades like the 2000s, 80s, and the Golden Age. Challenge your friends and see where you rank!
How well do you know your Tony Awards history? Take our never-ending quiz of nominations and winner history and challenge your friends.	Can you beat your friends? Play today’s daily Broadway word game, featuring a new theatrically inspired word or phrase every day!