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Steve AllenAmerican television star, musician, actor, comedian and writer
Date of Birth: 26.12.1921
Country:  USA |
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Biography of Steve Allen
Steve Valentine Patrick William 'Steve' Allen was born on December 26, 1921, and passed away on October 30, 2000. He was a star of American television, a musician, actor, comedian, and writer. Although he began his career on radio, Allen became best known for his work on television. He first gained national attention as a guest host on Arthur Godfrey's 'Talent Scouts' variety show. Additionally, Steve became the first host of the evening talk show 'The Tonight Show', playing a crucial role in popularizing this innovative format. Afterward, the renowned American entertainer hosted game shows and variety shows such as 'The Steve Allen Show', 'I've Got a Secret', and 'The New Steve Allen Show'.
Early Life and Career
Stephen Valentine Patrick William 'Steve' Allen was born on December 26, 1921, in New York City. He was the son of comedian Isabelle Donohue Allen, who performed in vaudeville under the stage name Belle Montrose, and Carroll Allen, known as Billy Allen on stage. Steve grew up in the southern part of Chicago in an Irish Catholic family through his mother. American comedian and actor Milton Berle once referred to Allen's mother as the "funniest woman in vaudeville."
Steve received his first job in radio in Phoenix, Arizona. During World War II, he joined the armed forces, underwent infantry training, and then returned to Phoenix before eventually moving to California. Allen's first television experience came in 1949 when he responded to an advertisement seeking a commentator for professional wrestling matches.
Television Career
After his radio work at CBS, Steve debuted his own television show, 'The Steve Allen Show', on Christmas Day in 1950. Unfortunately, the show had modest ratings and was canceled in 1952. Allen gained national attention when he became a last-minute replacement host for Arthur Godfrey's 'Talent Scouts' show. From Miami, Godfrey observed Allen's on-camera antics while promoting Lipton tea and decided to make him the main host and participant of his variety show.
In 1956, the revamped 'The Steve Allen Show' premiered during prime time, surpassing 'The Ed Sullivan Show' in ratings. Steve welcomed many popular movie and TV stars as guests, including Bob Hope, Kim Novak, Errol Flynn, Esther Williams, Martha Raye, and many more.
Personal Life and Legacy
Steve Allen married Dorothy Goodman in 1943, with whom he had three children - Steve Jr., Brian, and David. The marriage ended in divorce in 1952, and Allen remarried actress Jayne Meadows, sister of Audrey Meadows. They had a son named Bill Allen. Steve and Jayne were married from 1954 until his death in 2000.
On October 30, 2000, Allen was involved in a car accident while driving to his son's house in Encino, California. Both drivers believed they had escaped with minimal damage and exchanged insurance information before parting ways. Upon arriving at his son's house, Allen began to feel unwell and decided to take a nap. He suffered a massive heart attack and passed away. The autopsy results revealed that the car accident had caused a ruptured blood vessel in his chest, leading to blood filling the sac surrounding his heart. The popular host passed away a couple of months before his 79th birthday.
Allen was also known as a prolific composer, having written over 14,000 songs. He won a Grammy Award in 1963 for 'Best Jazz Composition' with the song 'The Gravy Waltz'. Steve authored over 50 books and received two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
