Bill Allen was born in Wichita, Kansas. He moved to Dallas, Texas at the age of four. Having made his acting debut in a junior high school production of Ray Bradbury's "Dandelion Wine", he attended various acting workshops at Richardson High School. After graduation, he began to seriously pursue his chosen career under the tutelage of Bryan O'Byrne, his mentor and acting coach. He won a starring role in a movie called "And They're Off", about horse-racing. Unfortunately, the movie was never released. Bill was signed by Director Robert Altman for a part in the movie "Streamers" with Matthew Modine, playing "Lieutenant Townsend". Arriving in Los Angeles in 1983, he bussed tables in a sandwich shop, and managed to land some television parts in "Hill Street Blues" (where Hal Needham first saw him), "Hotel", "Family Ties" and "Amazing Stories". Although not a professional BMX rider, he was good enough in "Rad" to fool nearly anyone familiar with the sport.