Steve Allen
| Steve Allen | |
|---|---|
Allen in 1977
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|
| Born |
Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen December 26, 1921 New York City |
| Died | October 30, 2000 (aged 78) Los Angeles |
| Cause of death | Heart attack |
| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) |
| Residence | Los Angeles |
| Alma mater | Arizona State Teachers College |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian, television personality, musician, writer |
| Years active | 1940s–2000 |
| Home town | Chicago, Illinois |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) |
|
| Children | 4 |
| Website | Official website |
Stephen Valentine Patrick William "Steve" Allen (December 26, 1921 – October 30, 2000) was an American television personality, musician, composer, actor, comedian, writer and advocate of scientific skepticism. He achieved notability as the first host of The Tonight Show, the first late night talk show in 1954.
Though he got his start in radio, Allen is best known for his television career. He first gained national attention as a guest host on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. After he hosted the 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' What's My Line?. From 1977 until 1981, he wrote, produced and hosted the award-winning show Meeting of Minds, a series of historical dramas disguised as a talk show.
Allen was a creditable pianist and a prolific composer, having written (by his own estimate) over 8,500 songs, some of which were recorded by numerous leading singers. Allen won the 1964 Grammy Award for Best Original Jazz Composition. Allen 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 (2001).
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.
Allen was born in New York City, the son of Billy (Carroll Abler) and Isabelle Allen (née Donohue) (Belle Montrose), a husband and wife vaudeville comedian team. Allen was raised on the South Side of Chicago by his mother's Irish Catholic family. Milton Berle once called Allen's mother "the funniest woman in vaudeville."
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Wikipedia