Actor Bill Allen and His RAD Career

Bill Allen, star of the 1985 cult film RAD and the new release Heroes of Dirt, drops by to discuss his acting experience in both BMX racing-theme movies. Allen titled his fascinating autobiography My RAD Career. Although a failure at the box-office, the VHS release of RAD 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. 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. Plus, there are now 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. In Heroes of Dirt, Allen is back in the world of BMX-themed movies, co-starring as father to a young biker. And he is also working on a new film inspired by RAD where he’ll get to ride again as BMX hero.