Steve Allen
Born December 26, 1921 (Age: 104)
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New York City, New York, USA
Biography
Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen was an American television personality, radio personality, musician, composer, actor, comedian, writer, and advocate of scientific skepticism. In 1954, he achieved national fame as the co-creator and first host of The Tonight Show, which was the first late night television talk show. Though he got his start in radio, Allen is best known for his extensive network television career. He gained national attention as a guest host on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. After he hosted The Tonight Show, he went on to host numerous game and variety shows, including his own The Steve Allen Show, I've Got a Secret, and The New Steve Allen Show. He was a regular panel member on CBS's What's My Line?, and from 1977 until 1981 wrote, produced, and hosted the award-winning public broadcasting show Meeting of Minds, a series of historical dramas presented in a talk format. Allen was a pianist and a prolific composer. By his own estimate, he wrote more than 8,500 songs, some of which were recorded by numerous leading singers. Working as a lyricist, Allen won the 1964 Grammy Award for Best Original Jazz Composition. He also wrote more than 50 books, including novels, children's books, and books of opinions, including his final book, Vulgarians at the Gate: Trash TV and Raunch Radio. In 1996 Allen was presented with the Martin Gardner Lifetime Achievement Award from the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSICOP). He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a Hollywood theater named in his honor.
Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen was an American television personality, radio personality, musician, composer, actor, comedian, writer, and advocate of scientific skepticism. In 1954, he achieved national fame as the co-creator and first host of The Tonight Show, which was the first late night television talk show.
Though he got his start in radio, Allen is best known for his extensive network television career. He gained national attention as a guest host on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. After he hosted The Tonight Show, he went on to host numerous game and variety shows, including his own The Steve Allen Show, I've Got a Secret, and The New Steve Allen Show. He was a regular panel member on CBS's What's My Line?, and from 1977 until 1981 wrote, produced, and hosted the award-winning public broadcasting show Meeting of Minds, a series of historical dramas presented in a talk format.
Allen was a pianist and a prolific composer. By his own estimate, he wrote more than 8,500 songs, some of which were recorded by numerous leading singers. Working as a lyricist, Allen won the 1964 Grammy Award for Best Original Jazz Composition. He also wrote more than 50 books, including novels, children's books, and books of opinions, including his final book, Vulgarians at the Gate: Trash TV and Raunch Radio.
In 1996 Allen was presented with the Martin Gardner Lifetime Achievement Award from the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSICOP). He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a Hollywood theater named in his honor.
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Filmography
Elvis: The King of Rock 'n' Roll
2007
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as Self (archive footage)
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Age: 85
Tasmanian Devil: The Fast and Furious Life of Errol Flynn
2007
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as Self (archive footage)
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Age: 85
The Definitive Elvis: The Television Years
2002
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as Self (archive footage)
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Age: 80
On and Off the Res' with Charlie Hill
2000
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as Himself
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Age: 78
Lenny Bruce: Swear to Tell the Truth
1998
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as Self
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Age: 76
No More to Say & Nothing to Weep For: An Elegy for Allen Ginsberg
1997
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as Self (archive footage)
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Age: 75
No Image
On the Road to Desolation
1997
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as Self
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Age: 75
Rodney Dangerfield's 75th Birthday Toast
1997
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as Self
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Age: 75
Nichols and May: Take Two
1996
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as Self
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Age: 74
Abbott & Costello Meet Biography
1996
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as Self
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Age: 74
Casino
1995
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as Steve Allen
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Age: 73
James Dean: A Portrait
1995
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as Self
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Age: 73
The Player
1992
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as Steve Allen
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Age: 70
Laurel and Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys
1992
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as Self
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Age: 70
Rodney Dangerfield's The Really Big Show
1991
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as Self
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Age: 69
Great Balls of Fire!
1989
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as Steve Allen
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Age: 67
Richard Lewis: I'm Exhausted
1988
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as Self
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Age: 66
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
1988
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as Self
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Age: 66
Amazon Women on the Moon
1987
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as Steve Allen (segment "Roast Your Loved One")
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Age: 65
TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines
1986
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as Self
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Age: 64
Classic Comedy Teams
1986
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as Host
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Age: 64
Don't Ask Me, Ask God
1984
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as Self
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Age: 62
Heart Beat
1980
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as Steve Allen
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Age: 58
The Gossip Columnist
1980
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as Steve Allen
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Age: 58
No Image
The Vent Event
1978
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as
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Age: 56
Have I Got a Christmas for You
1977
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as Martin Kaplan
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Age: 55
James Dean Remembered
1974
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as Self
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Age: 52
Lenny Bruce: Without Tears
1972
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as Self / DJ (archive footage)
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Age: 50
The Comic
1969
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as Steve Allen
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Age: 47
Now You See It, Now You Don't
1968
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as Herschel Lucas
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Age: 46
Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?
1968
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as Radio Announcer
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Age: 46
Something's Got to Give
1962
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as Psychiatrist
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Age: 40
College Confidential
1960
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as Steve MacInter
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Age: 38
The Big Circus
1959
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as Self
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Age: 37
The Benny Goodman Story
1956
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as Benny Goodman
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Age: 34
Allen in Movieland
1955
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as Self
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Age: 33
I'll Get By
1950
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as Peter Pepper
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Age: 28