A man who was teased as a teenager for having wonky teeth and thick rimmed glasses has finally had the last laugh and become – an AUSTIN POWERS lookalike.
Brian Allanson, 55, says when he was 15 he was relentlessly teased for his shaggy hair, national health spectacles and large gnashers.
But a few years ago when the Mike Myers films came out he realised his goofy appearance resembled the famous comedy spy.
He later went to a friend’s fancy dress party as Austin Powers – and looked so much like the character his friends said he should go full time as an impersonator.
Brian has now quit his job as a mini cab driver and has a ‘shagadelic’ time as a pro lookalike – getting paid to make celebrity appearances.
Dad-of-two Brian, of Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorks., said: “In 1974 I was 15 and I had the haircut and glasses. I was an Austin Powers waiting to happen.
“The teeth were always an issue and protruded. The two questions I always get asked are if they are my own teeth, which they are, and if I am wearing a wig – but it is my own hair.
“It was the 70’s when I got glasses and you can’t get come into school after getting glasses without getting some stick.
“Actually because of the teasing my sense of humour developed as a defence mechanism, I learned to make a joke out of it.”
Comedian Mike Myers’s creation appeared in three hit films between 1997 and 2002, spoofs of 1960s spy films like James Bond.
Brian said: “It was when I moved up North and was invited to an friend’s summer fancy dress party and people said go as Austin.
“I went, with a sort of outfit, and it went down very well and I thought then there might be something in this.
As time went on he had some of Austin’s outfits made to measure for him and worked on the speech pattern and style to bring his act up to the top standard it is today.
Despite the last Austin Powers film coming out 12 years ago, Brian, who is also an actor, says the character has stayed in peoples’ minds.
On the job he does get asked for classic phrases,like “Yeah baby” and “Oh behave” but also does lots of improv.
Although he has never met Myers, Brian says the comedian is following him on Twitter and so hopefully one day Austin might come face to face with his double.
Brian has a 19-year-old son and a 23-year-old daughter.
