Alan Berkley was born in Glasgow, Scotland. He attended Clydebank High School leaving at the age of 16 to serve in the British Armed Forces. Upon leaving the Armed Forces he served as a full time Firefighter with Strathclyde Fire Brigade working mainly in the West End of Glasgow. During this time he developed a serious interest in theatre and acting which led him to secure several roles on television and on stage. He left the Fire Service to study acting full time at Langside in Glasgow.