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Steve Allen
Actor, Writer, Additional Credits
Born December 26, 1921Died October 30, 2000 (78 years)
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.
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
| 2023 | Albert Brooks: Defending My Life · as Self |
| 2022 | The Bowery Boys: Legends of Laughter · as Self |
| 2022 | |
| 2022 | Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues · as Self (voice) (archive Sound) |
| 2021 | The Super Bob Einstein Movie · as Self |
| 2021 | Boulevard! A Hollywood Story · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2021 | My Name Is Lopez · as Self |
| 2020 | Jay Sebring.... Cutting to the Truth · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2019 | What's My Name: Muhammad Ali · as Self |
| 2018 | Hugh Hefner's After Dark: Speaking Out in America · as Self - Television Host-Comedian |
| 2018 | Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2018 | Elvis Presley: The Searcher · as Self |
| 2017 | |
| 2016 | Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2016 | Robert Klein Still Can't Stop His Leg · as Self |
| 2015 | Can We Take a Joke? · as Self |
| 2015 | Tab Hunter Confidential · as Self |
| 2012 | Erroll Garner: No One Can Hear You Read · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2012 | Excavating the 2000 Year Old Man · as Self |
| 2011 | Sing Your Song · as Self |
| 2011 | Looking for Lenny · as Self |
| 2010 | 2 Everything 2 Terrible 2: Tokyo Drift · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2009 | The Movie Orgy · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2008 | Pioneers of Television (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2007 | Elvis: The King of Rock 'n' Roll · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2007 | Tasmanian Devil: The Fast and Furious Life of Errol Flynn · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2006 | |
| 2005 | The Adventures of Errol Flynn · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2004 | Miles Electric: A Different Kind of Blue · as Self |
| 2002 | Elvis: Rare Moments with the King · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2002 | The Kid Stays in the Picture · as Self |
| 2002 | The Definitive Elvis: The Television Years · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2002 | Playboy: Inside the Playboy Mansion · as Self |
| 2001 | The 53rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Memorial Tribute |
| 2001 | Marilyn Monroe: The Final Days · as Self |
| 2000 | I've Got a Secret (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1999 | ABC News: The Century (TV Series) · as Self (segment "innocence In Rebellion") |
| 1999 | The Source · as Self |
| 1999 | Television: The First Fifty Years · as Self - Interviewee |
| 1998 | |
| 1998 | Lenny Bruce: Swear to Tell the Truth · as Self |
| 1998 | E! Mysteries & Scandals (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1997 | Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's · as Self |
| 1997 | Behind the Music (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1997 | Rodney Dangerfield's 75th Birthday Toast · as Self |
| 1996 | Life and Times (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1996 | Classic Stand-Up Comedy of Television · as Self |
| 1996 | Nichols and May: Take Two · as Self |
| 1996 | E! True Hollywood Story (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1995 | Casino · as Self |
| 1995 | Comic Relief VII · as Self |
| 1995 | The Fantasy Worlds of Irwin Allen · as Self |
| 1995 | James Dean: A Portrait · as Self - Writer |
| 1993 | The Unknown Marx Brothers · as Self |
| 1993 | Late Night with Conan O'Brien (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1993 | Mo' Funny: Black Comedy in America · as Self |
| 1992 | Heroes of Comedy (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1992 | The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1992 | The Player · as Steve Allen |
| 1992 | Laurel & Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys · as Self |
| 1991 | The Really Big Show · as Self |
| 1990 | WrestleMania VI · as Self |
| 1989 | The People Next Door (TV Series) · as Steve Allen |
| 1989 | Great Balls of Fire! · as Himself |
| 1989 | Pat Sajak Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1988 | Family Feud (1988) (TV Series) · as Self - Celebrity Contestant |
| 1988 | LIVE with Kelly and Mark (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1987 | The 39th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 1987 | D.C. Follies (TV Series) · as Steve Allen |
| 1987 | Biography (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1987 | The Bold and the Beautiful (TV Series) · as Steve Allen |
| 1987 | Comic Relief '87 · as Self |
| 1986 | Amen (TV Series) · as Steve Allen |
| 1986 | The New Hollywood Squares (TV Series) · as Self - Panelist |
| 1986 | It's Garry Shandling's Show (TV Series) · as Steve Allen |
| 1986 | WWF Wrestling Challenge (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1986 | NBC 60th Anniversary Celebration · as Self |
| 1986 | What Happened to Kerouac? · as Self |
| 1986 | |
| 1986 | Comic Relief · as Self |
| 1986 | Super Duper Bloopers and Silly Shorts · as Self |
| 1985 | All-Star Party for 'Dutch' Reagan · as Self |
| 1985 | American Masters (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1984 | Kerouac, the Movie · as Self - Kerouac Interviewer |
| 1984 | The Ratings Game · as Steve Allen |
| 1984 | TV's Funniest Game Show Moments · as Self |
| 1983 | Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour (TV Series) · as Self - Panelist |
| 1983 | Newton's Apple (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1983 | Thicke of the Night (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1983 | The Funny Farm · as Self |
| 1982 | All-Star Party for Carol Burnett · as Self |
| 1982 | |
| 1982 | Madame's Place (TV Series) · as Steve Allen |
| 1982 | Night of 100 Stars · as Self |
| 1982 | Late Night With David Letterman (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1981 | Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1981 | This Is Elvis · as Self |
| 1981 | An Evening At the Improv (TV Series) · as Self - Host |
| 1980 | Heart Beat · as Himself |
| 1980 | Solid Gold (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1980 | The David Letterman Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1980 | The Gossip Columnist · as Steve Allen |
| 1979 | Hart to Hart (TV Series) · as Himself |
| 1979 | The Muppets Go Hollywood · as Self |
| 1979 | Password Plus (TV Series) · as Self - Celebrity Contestant |
| 1978 | Hey, Abbott! · as Self |
| 1978 | Hollywood's Diamond Jubilee · as Self - Interview |
| 1978 | Secret Story Habboin: Final Challenge (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1978 | America 2Night (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1978 | The Jim Nabors Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1977 | Lucy Calls the President · as Steve Allen |
| 1977 | The 29th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1977 | Meeting of Minds (TV Series) · as Self - Host |
| 1977 | Sha Na Na (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1976 | In Search of... (TV Series) · as Self - Entertainer |
| 1976 | Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Redd Foxx · as Self |
| 1976 | Joys! · as Self |
| 1975 | The Sunshine Boys · as Self |
| 1975 | Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1975 | Mitzi & 100 Guys · as Self |
| 1975 | Good Morning America (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1974 | James Dean Remembered · as Self |
| 1974 | Dinah! (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1974 | Tattletales (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1973 | Tomorrow with Tom Snyder (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1973 | Match Game (TV Series) · as Self - Panelist |
| 1973 | AFI Life Achievement Award (TV Series) · as Self - Audience Member |
| 1973 | The $10,000 Pyramid (TV Series) · as Self - Celebrity Contestant |
| 1972 | The Snoop Sisters (TV Series) · as Steve Allen |
| 1972 | The Wacky World of Jonathan Winters (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1972 | I've Got a Secret (TV Series) · as Self - Host |
| 1972 | Lenny Bruce: Without Tears · as Self / Dj (archive Footage) |
| 1971 | Celebrity Bowling (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1969 | The Comic · as Steve Allen |
| 1969 | It's Your Bet (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1969 | The Music Scene (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1969 | The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1969 | Playboy After Dark (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1968 | The Dick Cavett Show (TV Series) · as Self - Television Legend |
| 1967 | Kraft Music Hall (TV Series) · as Self - Host |
| 1967 | Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1967 | Personality (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1966 | Warning Shot · as Steve Allen |
| 1966 | The Jackie Gleason Show (1966) (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1966 | The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1966 | Firing Line (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1965 | The Dean Martin Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1965 | The Hollywood Squares (TV Series) · as Self - Panelist |
| 1964 | The Celebrity Game (TV Series) · as Self - Host |
| 1964 | The Hollywood Palace (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1963 | The Judy Garland Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1963 | The Jerry Lewis Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1963 | You Don't Say (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1962 | The Match Game (TV Series) · as Self - Team Captain |
| 1962 | The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1962 | The Merv Griffin Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1961 | The Mike Douglas Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1961 | Password (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1961 | The New Steve Allen Show (TV Series) · as Self - Host |
| 1961 | The 33rd Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1960 | Here's Hollywood (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1959 | CBS Reports (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1959 | The Big Circus · as Self |
| 1958 | Garry Moore Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1957 | The Mike Wallace Interview (TV Series) · as Self - Entertainer |
| 1956 | The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1956 | Tennessee Ernie Ford Show (TV Series) · as Self - Performer |
| 1956 | The Steve Allen Show (TV Series) · as Self - Host |
| 1955 | Allen in Movieland · as Self |
| 1955 | The Bob Cummings Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1954 | The George Gobel Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1953 | Tonight! (TV Series) · as Self - Host |
| 1953 | Person to Person (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1953 | The Academy Awards (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1952 | I've Got a Secret (TV Series) · as Self - Host |
| 1952 | Today (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1951 | The Name's the Same (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1950 | This Is Your Life (US) (TV Series) · as Self - Guest Of Honor |
| 1950 | The Paul Winchell Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1950 | The Bob Hope Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1950 | What's My Line? (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1949 | Down Memory Lane · as Self |
| 1949 | The Emmy Awards (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1948 | The Perry Como Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1948 | The Ed Sullivan Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1948 | The Milton Berle Show (TV Series) · as Self - Comedian |
| 1948 | We, the People (TV Series) · as Self - Guest Host |