Steve Allen
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.
Known for
ActingBirthday
December 26, 1921Deathday
October 30, 2000Gender
MaleKnown Movie Credits
63Place of birth
New York City, New York, USAAlso known as
Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen, Steven Allen, Steve Allen Jr.
Cast credits
The Player
Steve Allen
Amazon Women on the Moon
Steve Allen
The Comic
Steve Allen
Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?
Radio Announcer
The Benny Goodman Story
Benny Goodman
Laurel and Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys
Himself
Rodney Dangerfield's The Really Big Show
Self
Lenny Bruce: Without Tears
Himself / DJ (archive footage)
College Confidential
Steve MacInter
Warning Shot
Steve Allen
Lenny Bruce: Swear to Tell the Truth
Himself
The Adventures of Errol Flynn
Self (archive footage)
The Big Circus
Himself - Cameo appearance
No More to Say & Nothing to Weep For: An Elegy for Allen Ginsberg
Self (archive footage)
I'll Get By
Peter Pepper
The Sunshine Boys
Himself
The Definitive Elvis: The Television Years
Self (archive footage)
Elvis: #1 Hit Performances
Self (archive footage)
Great Balls of Fire!
himselfCrew credits
Images
