Steve Allen

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

123

Gender

Male

Birthday

1921-12-26

Day of death

2000-10-30 (78 years old)

Place of Birth

New York City, New York, USA

Steve Allen

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.

Known For

  • The Simpsons

    The Simpsons

  • The Simpsons

    The Simpsons

  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

  • The Mike Douglas Show

    The Mike Douglas Show

  • The Love Boat

    The Love Boat

  • Late Night with Conan O'Brien

    Late Night with Conan O'Brien

  • Batman

    Batman

  • Diagnosis: Murder

    Diagnosis: Murder

  • St. Elsewhere

    St. Elsewhere

  • Sabrina, the Teenage Witch

    Sabrina, the Teenage Witch

  • What's My Line?

    What's My Line?

  • Get Smart

    Get Smart

  • Hart to Hart

    Hart to Hart

  • The Merv Griffin Show

    The Merv Griffin Show

  • Homicide: Life on the Street

    Homicide: Life on the Street

  • Hotel

    Hotel

  • Love, American Style

    Love, American Style

  • The Oscars

    The Oscars

  • The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

    The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

  • The Steve Allen Show

    The Steve Allen Show

  • American Masters

    American Masters

  • Casino

    Casino

  • The Ed Sullivan Show

    The Ed Sullivan Show

  • Medical Center

    Medical Center

  • McCloud

    McCloud

  • Space Ghost Coast to Coast

    Space Ghost Coast to Coast

  • Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

    Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

  • The Making of the Stooges

    The Making of the Stooges

  • The Sunshine Boys

    The Sunshine Boys

  • The Sunshine Boys

    The Sunshine Boys

  • WWF Wrestling Challenge

    WWF Wrestling Challenge

  • Behind the Music

    Behind the Music

  • The DuPont Show with June Allyson

    The DuPont Show with June Allyson

  • Joys

    Joys

  • The Player

    The Player

  • The Big Circus

    The Big Circus

  • Rich Man, Poor Man

    Rich Man, Poor Man

  • The Thin Man

    The Thin Man

  • Kraft Music Hall

    Kraft Music Hall

  • Kraft Music Hall

    Kraft Music Hall

  • I'll Get By

    I'll Get By

  • The Critic

    The Critic

  • Solid Gold

    Solid Gold

  • Pinky and the Brain

    Pinky and the Brain

  • I've Got a Secret

    I've Got a Secret

  • Elvis: #1 Hit Performances

    Elvis: #1 Hit Performances

  • James Dean Remembered

    James Dean Remembered

  • The Comic

    The Comic

  • Down Memory Lane

    Down Memory Lane

  • 2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift

    2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift

  • Don't Ask Me, Ask God

    Don't Ask Me, Ask God

  • The Ratings Game

    The Ratings Game

  • The Snoop Sisters

    The Snoop Sisters

  • Night of 100 Stars

    Night of 100 Stars

  • Nurse

    Nurse

  • The Emmy Awards

    The Emmy Awards

  • Alice in Wonderland

    Alice in Wonderland

  • Something's Got to Give

    Something's Got to Give

  • Richard Lewis: I'm Exhausted

    Richard Lewis: I'm Exhausted

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame

    Hallmark Hall of Fame

  • Life's Most Embarrassing Moments

    Life's Most Embarrassing Moments

  • James Dean and Me

    James Dean and Me

  • What Really Happened to the Class of '65?

    What Really Happened to the Class of '65?

  • The David Susskind Show

    The David Susskind Show

  • The Judy Garland Show

    The Judy Garland Show

  • Great Balls of Fire!

    Great Balls of Fire!

  • Amazon Women on the Moon

    Amazon Women on the Moon

  • The Movie Orgy

    The Movie Orgy

  • Lenny Bruce: Without Tears

    Lenny Bruce: Without Tears

  • Tonight Starring Steve Allen

    Tonight Starring Steve Allen

  • Meeting of Minds

    Meeting of Minds

  • Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC

    Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC

  • The Steve Allen Comedy Hour

    The Steve Allen Comedy Hour

  • General Electric Theater

    General Electric Theater

  • Warning Shot

    Warning Shot

  • Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues

    Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues

  • Stone

    Stone

  • The Muppets Go Hollywood

    The Muppets Go Hollywood

  • Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words

    Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words

  • The Benny Goodman Story

    The Benny Goodman Story

  • The Funny Farm

    The Funny Farm

  • The Power of the Market

    The Power of the Market

  • Heart Beat

    Heart Beat

  • Allen in Movieland

    Allen in Movieland

  • The Adventures of Errol Flynn

    The Adventures of Errol Flynn

  • Boulevard! A Hollywood Story

    Boulevard! A Hollywood Story

  • Laurel and Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys

    Laurel and Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys

  • Have I Got a Christmas for You

    Have I Got a Christmas for You

  • Tasmanian Devil: The Fast and Furious Life of Errol Flynn

    Tasmanian Devil: The Fast and Furious Life of Errol Flynn

  • Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?

    Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?

  • Classic Comedy Teams

    Classic Comedy Teams

  • Now You See It, Now You Don't

    Now You See It, Now You Don't

  • The New Steve Allen Show

    The New Steve Allen Show

  • I've Got a Secret

    I've Got a Secret

  • The Gossip Columnist

    The Gossip Columnist

  • Nichols and May: Take Two

    Nichols and May: Take Two

  • Let Me In, I Hear Laughter: A Salute to the Friars Club

    Let Me In, I Hear Laughter: A Salute to the Friars Club

  • Mitzi & 100 Guys

    Mitzi & 100 Guys

  • Rodney Dangerfield's 75th Birthday Toast

    Rodney Dangerfield's 75th Birthday Toast

  • TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines

    TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines

  • Don't Worry, We'll Think of a Title

    Don't Worry, We'll Think of a Title

  • Abbott & Costello Meet Biography

    Abbott & Costello Meet Biography

  • Rodney Dangerfield's The Really Big Show

    Rodney Dangerfield's The Really Big Show

  • WWE WrestleMania VI

    WWE WrestleMania VI

  • College Confidential

    College Confidential

  • James Dean: A Portrait

    James Dean: A Portrait

  • Lenny Bruce: Swear to Tell the Truth

    Lenny Bruce: Swear to Tell the Truth

  • The Vent Event

    The Vent Event

  • Elvis: Rare Moments with the King

    Elvis: Rare Moments with the King

  • Lucy Calls the President

    Lucy Calls the President

  • Elvis: The King of Rock 'n' Roll

    Elvis: The King of Rock 'n' Roll

  • On and Off the Res' with Charlie Hill

    On and Off the Res' with Charlie Hill

  • Starfest: The Stars Salute Public Television 1983

    Starfest: The Stars Salute Public Television 1983

  • Nobody's Perfect: The Making of Some Like It Hot

    Nobody's Perfect: The Making of Some Like It Hot

  • On the Road to Desolation

    On the Road to Desolation

  • On Location: Myron Cohen

    On Location: Myron Cohen

  • No More to Say & Nothing to Weep For: An Elegy for Allen Ginsberg

    No More to Say & Nothing to Weep For: An Elegy for Allen Ginsberg

  • The Wil Shriner Show

    The Wil Shriner Show

  • Erroll Garner: No One Can Hear You Read

    Erroll Garner: No One Can Hear You Read

  • The Definitive Elvis: The Television Years

    The Definitive Elvis: The Television Years

  • The Universal Mind of Bill Evans

    The Universal Mind of Bill Evans

  • Computability: How to Make the Most of Your Home Computer

    Computability: How to Make the Most of Your Home Computer