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Steve Allen

Steve Allen

Actor · 1921–2000 · New York City, New York, USA

IMDb

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.

Acted in 47

1980s

  1. 1989

    The Simpsons

    Bart's Altered Voice (voice), Steve Allen (voice) · 1 episode

    84

  2. Great Balls of Fire!

    Steve Allen

  3. 1987

    Amazon Women on the Moon

    Steve Allen (segment "Roast Your Loved One")

    58
  4. 1985

    Alice in Wonderland

    Gentleman in Paper Suit · 1 episode

  5. 1984

    The Ratings Game

    Steve Allen

    58

  6. Computability: How to Make the Most of Your Home Computer

    Movie

  7. 1983

    Starfest: The Stars Salute Public Television 1983

    Movie

  8. 1982

    St. Elsewhere

    Lech Oseransky · 3 episodes

    73

  9. Hotel

    TV · 5 Seasons · Drama

    64
  10. 1981

    Nurse

    Barney Ambler · 1 episode

  11. 1980

    Heart Beat

    Steve Allen

  12. The Gossip Columnist

    Steve Allen

  13. The Power of the Market

    Movie

1970s

  1. 1979

    Stone

    Steve Allen

  2. 1977

    Have I Got a Christmas for You

    Martin Kaplan

  3. What Really Happened to the Class of '65?

    TV

  4. Lucy Calls the President

    Steve Allen

  5. The Love Boat

    Durwood Moss · 1 episode

    63
  6. 1976

    Rich Man, Poor Man

    TV · 1 Season · Drama

    81
  7. 1973

    The Snoop Sisters

    Steve Allen · 1 episode

  8. 1970

    McCloud

    Doug King · 1 episode

    70

1960s

  1. 1969

    The Comic

    Steve Allen

  2. Love, American Style

    Johny · 1 episode

    66

  3. Medical Center

    TV · 7 Seasons · Drama

    69
  4. 1968

    Now You See It, Now You Don't

    Herschel Lucas

  5. Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?

    Radio Announcer

  6. 1967

    Warning Shot

    Steve Allen

  7. 1966

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

    Bookstore Customer with Little Boy (uncredited)

  8. Batman

    Allen Stevens · 2 episodes

    74

  9. The Universal Mind of Bill Evans

    Movie

  10. 1965

    Get Smart

    Prime Minister's Aide (uncredited) · 1 episode

    81
  11. 1960

    College Confidential

    Steve MacInter

1950s

  1. 1959

    The DuPont Show with June Allyson

    Dr. Ben Ellison · 1 episode

  2. 1957

    The Thin Man

    TV · 2 Seasons · Drama

  3. 1956

    The Benny Goodman Story

    Benny Goodman

  4. 1953

    General Electric Theater

    Andy Fletcher · 1 episode

  5. 1951

    Hallmark Hall of Fame

    Martin Kaplan · 1 episode

  6. 1950

    I'll Get By

    Peter Pepper

1940s

  1. 1949

    Down Memory Lane

    Steve Allen

Wrote 3

1980s

  1. 1985

    Alice in Wonderland

    Lyricist

1970s

  1. 1977

    Meeting of Minds

    Writer

1940s

  1. 1949

    Down Memory Lane

    Writer

Created 3

1970s

  1. 1977

    Meeting of Minds

    Creator

1950s

  1. 1954

    Tonight Starring Steve Allen

    Creator

Sound 2

1980s

  1. 1985

    Alice in Wonderland

    Songs

1960s

  1. 1960

    College Confidential

    Songs

Appearances72

2010s

  1. 2016

    Too Hip for the Room: The Righteous Reign of Lord Buckley

    Self

  2. Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words

    Self (archive footage)

  3. 2015

    Tab Hunter Confidential

    Self (archive)

    74
  4. 2013

    Erroll Garner: No One Can Hear You Read

    Self (archive footage)

  5. 2010

    2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift

    Self (archive footage)

2000s

  1. 2007

    Elvis: #1 Hit Performances

    Self (archive footage)

  2. Elvis: The King of Rock 'n' Roll

    Self (archive footage)

  3. Tasmanian Devil: The Fast and Furious Life of Errol Flynn

    Self (archive footage)

  4. 2005

    The Adventures of Errol Flynn

    Self (archive footage)

  5. 2003

    Elvis: Rare Moments with the King

    Self (archive footage)

  6. 2002

    The Definitive Elvis: The Television Years

    Self (archive footage)

  7. 2001

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

    Self (archive footage)

  8. 50 Years of NBC Late Night

    Self (archive footage)

  9. 2000

    On and Off the Res' with Charlie Hill

    Himself

1990s

  1. 1999

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

    Self

  2. 1998

    Lenny Bruce: Swear to Tell the Truth

    Self

  3. 1997

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

    Self (archive footage)

  4. Behind the Music

    Self · 1 episode

    74

  5. Rodney Dangerfield's 75th Birthday Toast

    Self

  6. 1996

    Nichols and May: Take Two

    Self

  7. Abbott & Costello Meet Biography

    Self

  8. 1995

    James Dean: A Portrait

    Self

  9. James Dean and Me

    Self (uncredited)

  10. 1993

    Late Night with Conan O'Brien

    Self - Guest · 1 episode

    79
  11. 1992

    Laurel and Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys

    Self

  12. 1991

    Rodney Dangerfield's The Really Big Show

    Self

  13. 1990

    WWE WrestleMania VI

    Self

1980s

  1. 1989

    The People Next Door

    Self · 1 episode

  2. 1988

    Richard Lewis: I'm Exhausted

    Self

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

    Self

  4. 1986

    WWF Wrestling Challenge

    Self · 3 episodes

  5. American Masters

    Self · 1 episode

    79

  6. TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines

    Self

  7. Classic Comedy Teams

    Host

  8. 1984

    The Making of the Stooges

    Self - Host

  9. Don't Ask Me, Ask God

    Self

  10. 1983

    Life's Most Embarrassing Moments

    Self - Host · 10 episodes

  11. The Funny Farm

    Self

  12. 1982

    Ernie Kovacs: Television's Original Genius

    Self

  13. Night of 100 Stars

    Self

  14. 1980

    Solid Gold

    Self · 2 episodes

1970s

  1. 1979

    Hart to Hart

    Himself · 1 episode

    68

  2. The Muppets Go Hollywood

    Self (uncredited)

  3. 1977

    Meeting of Minds

    Self - Host · 24 episodes

  4. 1976

    Bob Hope's Bicentennial Star-Spangled Spectacular

    Self

  5. Joys

    Self

  6. 1975

    The Sunshine Boys

    Self, Narrator of Fictional TV Program (uncredited)

    70

  7. Mitzi & 100 Guys

    Self

  8. 1974

    James Dean Remembered

    Self

  9. 1972

    Lenny Bruce: Without Tears

    Self / DJ (archive footage)

1940s

  1. 1949

    The Emmy Awards

    Self · 2 episodes

  2. 1948

    The Ed Sullivan Show

    Self · 1 episode

    76