Keegan Allen is an American actor, musician, photographer, and writer. He was born and brought up in California, where he developed an interest in fine arts and pursued it with the goal of building a career in photography, filmmaking, and acting. His stepfather, who was an artist, helped create an opportunity for him to explore the entertainment industry. In 2013, Allen received a Teen Choice Award for his performance as one of the main cast members of the television series Pretty Little Liars. Throughout his personal life, he has been romantically linked to several women, including model Shay Mitchell and photographer Chuck Grant.
Childhood & Early Life
Keegan Phillip Allen was born on July 22, 1989, in California, United States. His father, Phillip Richard Allen, was a talented actor who passed away in 2012. Over the course of his four-decade career, Phillip appeared in numerous films, television programs, and theatrical productions. His mother, Joan Snyder Allen, is an expressionist painter. Keegan has two sisters, Kim Allen and Debbie Allen.
Allen comes from a Jewish family background. His father was of Polish Jewish descent, while his mother belongs to the Ashkenazi Jewish community. He grew up following Jewish traditions and identifies as a believer in Judaism, while also showing respect for other religions and spiritual beliefs.
His parents separated when he was nine years old. Following their divorce, he stayed with his cousin for several years before being raised by his mother and stepfather in Los Angeles, California.
Allen developed an early appreciation for the fine arts and learned to play both the guitar and piano during his childhood. He frequently practiced musical instruments at home. When he was nine, he received his first camera, an experience that helped inspire his lasting interest in photography.
After completing high school, Allen chose to pursue formal education in the fine arts. He subsequently attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles, graduating in 2009 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
Career of Keegan Allen
Keegan Allen developed an interest in performing arts at an early age, exploring different aspects of filmmaking, photography, and cinematography. He spent considerable time learning about camera techniques and gradually became passionate about working with various types of cameras and visual equipment.
His television debut came when he was 13 years old, appearing in a documentary for Animal Planet. Although his role did not involve speaking, the appearance marked his first paid professional job.
Soon afterward, Allen secured a part in the short film Small Emergencies, where he portrayed the on-screen son of actress Joan Douglas.
In 2007, he appeared in an episode titled “Wrestling” of the comedy series Zoey 101. His appearance was uncredited, and he played a boy sitting in the audience.
In 2010, Allen portrayed a driver in the short film As a Last Resort. That same year, he appeared in the episode “Big Time Jobs” of the Nickelodeon comedy series Big Time Rush, playing a model.
One of the most significant milestones in Allen’s career came in 2010 when he joined the cast of the teen mystery drama Pretty Little Liars, which aired on Freeform. The series was partly adapted from Sara Shepard’s book series of the same name. Allen portrayed Toby Cavanaugh, a complex character with darker characteristics. His performance received considerable appreciation, and he appeared in 90 episodes of the show between 2010 and 2017.
In 2011, Allen appeared in the crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, one of the longest-running scripted television series in the United States. He played Max Ferris in an episode titled “Turn On, Tune In, Drop Dead.”
In 2013, Allen guest-starred as Jake in the episode “Teenage Party” of the sitcom I Hate My Teenage Daughter. The same year, he portrayed Archie “Skull” in the film Palo Alto, directed by Gia Coppola. The movie premiered at the Telluride Film Festival. Allen also appeared in the music video for “Karma’s Not Pretty,” a song by pop singer Temara Melek.
In 2014, he played Trent Rothman in the television film The Hazing Secret. He also made a brief appearance as a man wearing a red tie in The Sound and the Fury, a film adaptation of William Faulkner’s novel of the same title.
In 2015, Allen appeared as Tyler in the episode “Young & Back to Normal” of the sitcom Young & Hungry, created by David Holden. During the same year, he published his first book, life.love.beauty., featuring a curated collection of his photography.
In 2016, Allen portrayed Harlow Cuadra in King Cobra, a film inspired by the life and early career of American actor and director Brent Corrigan. He also played Keller in In Dubious Battle, a historical drama set in the early twentieth century. Directed and produced by James Franco, the film was loosely adapted from John Steinbeck’s novel of the same name. It premiered at the Venice Film Festival on September 3, 2016. Later that year, Allen appeared as Kyle in the episode “Punisher” of the web series Youthful Daze.
In 2017, Allen played Trey in the drama film Actors Anonymous, which was based on James Franco’s novel of the same name. He also portrayed Scott Norrell in the television movie A Moving Romance. Additionally, he appeared in the police procedural drama series Major Crimes, broadcast on TNT, playing Aiden Reed in two episodes.
Allen expanded his creative pursuits into music in 2017 by releasing his debut single, “Million Miles Away,” as a digital download. That year, he also launched a podcast called Foreverland, through which he shared personal experiences and discussed topics reflecting his interests.
In 2018, Allen was cast as Jimmy Haddox in the biographical film Bukowski, which explores the life of renowned writer Charles Bukowski. He was also selected to play Cole Turner in a social media thriller. In the same year, he published his second book, Hollywood: Photos and Stories from Foreverland, which features photographs and stories inspired by Los Angeles.
Family & Personal Life
Keegan Allen began dating actress Skyler Samuels in 2011. Their relationship lasted approximately a year before they separated in 2012.
Following this breakup, Allen entered a relationship with Caroline “Chuck” Grant, the younger sister of singer Lana Del Rey. After his relationship with Grant ended, he was romantically linked to Canadian actress and model Shay Mitchell. However, their relationship was also relatively short-lived.