Born January 2, 1952 in Tyrone, Pennsylvania

 Upon graduation from high school in 1969, was awarded a full scholarship from the U.S.A.F. (only 40 was awarded that year). He has an honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1971. And received a B.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering in 1972. After graduation Alan received his draft notice for Vietnam . He enlisted into the U.S.M.C. and was sent to Quantico, Virginia to Officer Candidate School and got his 2nd Lt. commission in December 1972. The Marines sent him to Flight school at the U.S.N. Pensacola, Florida. He was in primary flight training when the war ended and was honorably discharged. He had his theatre debut in a Jon Voight production of "the Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel" in Los Angeles which starred David Proval. Was seen by 'Renee Valente' head of casting at Columbia Pictures who introduce him to director Buzz Kulik who used him in Lindbergh Kidnapping Case, The (1976) (TV). This led to other television and film roles. At this time there was some misfortunes. A never released film titled "Ellipsis" with Billy Gray and Toni Basil, and an unsold MTM pilot "Nichols and Dymes" aka "The Iron Cowboys". He co-owned a vintage clothing store on Sunset Blvd. for a while and briefly moved to Miami. He has done voice overs and looping for such shows as "Magnum, P.I." (1980) and "Miami Vice" (1984). Currently living in Studio City, California.

Presently with Sony Pictures Entertainment

He was an accomplished painter of portraits and landscapes in both oils and acrylics. He took several prizes and awards throughout Pennsylvania in the 1960's.

While at Penn State, was a fraternity member of both Sigma Tau Gamma and Alpha Phi Omega.

Being an active spelunker, Alan did his undergraduate Aerospace thesis underground in the Milroy Cave System in Central Pennsylvania using knowledge of fluid dynamics to explain the formation of flutes etched on the limestones corriders by analysis of the water flow.

Beckwith holds an honorable discharge from both the U.S. Air Force and the the U.S. Marine Corps.

At 20, was the youngest comissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps with a four year degree.

Bowed out from going to a concert in upstate  New York in August of 1969 to study for final exams in his first term at Penn State. It would later be known as Woodstock.