- Turned down an honorary degree from the University of Oxford because of the institution's financial links with Rupert Murdoch.
- In 1963, won a Special Tony Award, along with his "Beyond the Fringe" co-stars Peter Cook, Jonathan Miller, and Dudley Moore, "for their brilliance which has shattered all the old concepts of comedy," in a show that was recreated in a television version of the same title, Beyond the Fringe (1964).
- Underwent surgery for colon cancer in 1997, and was initially given only two years to live.
- He allegedly declined the C.B.E. (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1988 and Knighthood in 1996.
- He allegedly refused the honour of a Knighthood in 1996.
- In a 2014 interview at the BFI, Sir David Attenborough admitted he had sanctioned the wiping of several sketches by Bennett during his time as an executive at the BBC, something he had come to regret.
- On BBC Radio 4's Front Row programme on 30 September 2010 he was asked the same set of questions about his own TV plays that a contestant on BBC One's Mastermind (1972) had answered as his specialist subject. The contestant answered more questions correctly that Alan Bennett did.
- As an actor, provided the voice for "Mole" in the 1996 animated version of Kenneth Graham's The Wind in the Willows. As a playwright, some years earlier, wrote a marvelous and hugely successful stage adaptation of the same book.
- He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1992 (1991 season) for Best Actor in a Musical or Entertainment for his performance in "Talking Heads".
- His drama, "The Lady in The Van", performed at the Queen's Theatre was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 2000 (1999 season) for Best New Play.
- He was awarded the Society's Special Award at the Laurence Olivier Awards in 2005 for his lifetime contribution to Theatre.
- He won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play for "The History Boys" in 2005.
- His play, "The History Boys" was awarded 6 Tony Awards for the Broadway production in 2006 for the following categories: Best Actor (Richard Griffiths), Best Director (Nicholas Hytner), Best Actress in a Featured Role (Frances de la Tour), Best Scenic Design, Best Lighting Design, and Best Play.
- Brother of Gordon Bennett (born 9th May 1931, exactly three years to the day before Alan was born).
- In the Independent of Sunday 2006 Pink List - a list of the most influential gay men and women - he came no. 8, up from no. 17.
- Ranked #23 in the 2008 Telegraph's list "the 100 most powerful people in British culture".
- He won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy for "Single Spies" in the 1989/90 season.
- His play, "The History Boys", performed at the TimeLine Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois, was awarded the 2009 Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Production of a Play (Midsize).
- During national service he trained as a Russian interpreter.
- Wrote comedy shows ,plays diaries and the film Madness of King George.
- Playwright/actor.
- He was offered the role of Mr Goodyear in Fanny Hill (2007) but declined.
- His play, "The Madness of George III", at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater in Chicago, Illinois was awarded the 2011 Equity Joseph Jefferson Award For Production of a Play (Large).
- Graduated from Exeter College, Oxford, with BA in Medieval History in 1957.
- Graduated from Oxford University with a First in History.
- His father was a butcher.
- Did his own own monologue as part of Beyond the Fringe at Edinburgh Festival.
- Son of Walter Bennett and Lilian Bennett.
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