Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Birthdate
1921-12-26
Day of Death
2000-10-30
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.
Filmography (70)
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
2022
Boulevard! A Hollywood Story
2021
Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words
2016
Erroll Garner: No One Can Hear You Read
2013
2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift
2010
Elvis: #1 Hit Performances
2007
Elvis: The King of Rock 'n' Roll
2007
Tasmanian Devil: The Fast and Furious Life of Errol Flynn
2007
The Adventures of Errol Flynn
2005
Elvis: Rare Moments with the King
2003
The Definitive Elvis: The Television Years
2002
Nobody's Perfect: The Making of Some Like It Hot
2001
On and Off the Res' with Charlie Hill
2000
Let Me In, I Hear Laughter: A Salute to the Friars Club
1999
