Jeffrey Allen Mishler
| Jeff Allen | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Birth name | Jeffrey Allen Mishler |
| Born |
June 5, 1956 Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Medium | Film |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Spouse | Tami Mishler |
Jeff Allen (born Jeffrey Allen Mishler; June 5, 1956) is an American comedian best known for his film Happy Wife, Happy Life, Revisited. He is also known for his starring roles in several full-length comedy films, including: Bananas, Thou Shalt Laugh, Apostles of Comedy, and Apostles of Comedy: Onwards and Upwards. Allen currently tours the United States performing in churches, corporate venues and comedy clubs.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, he moved to Sauk Village, Illinois at age five. Allen’s father, Jack Mishler, aspired to be a painter but could only support his family as a construction worker. His mother, Arlene Mishler, worked for 30 years at Stauffer Chemical Company.
Allen began his career in 1978 in the comedy clubs of Chicago. Humiliated by the low pay and lack of respect, Allen, then a self-declared atheist, turned to drugs and alcohol. In 1987 he got sober and in 1997 he became a born-again Christian. As he worked clean, in the style of Bill Cosby and Jerry Seinfeld, churches became a significant venue for his act, which, unless specifically requested, is devoid of Christian references.
He lives in Fairview, Tennessee with his wife Tami and two children (although in his act there are three). His oldest son served with the 101st Airborne in Iraq.
Since becoming a Christian, Jeff Allen has been involved with many humanitarian causes, including being an early supporter of the Bridge Ministry. For years he served as a “World Vision Artist” – performing at various events and espousing the virtues of the organization. In 2012, Jeff Allen became allied with Gestures of Generosity sponsored by Thrivent Financial, a faith-based, $75 billion not-for-profit Fortune 500 company which provides financial and philanthropic services throughout the world. Gestures of Generosity supports multiple humanitarian causes, including intervening in human trafficking. Allen performs annually, and is a spokesperson for, Hope House International, an international ministry for orphans.
...
Wikipedia