Steve Allen

Steve Allen

Acting
Born 1921-12-26 - Died 2000-10-30New York City, New York, USA

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.

Movies (72)

Casino
8.0

Casino

1995Movie8.0
The Player
7.2

The Player

1992Movie7.2
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
6.7

Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues

2022Movie6.7
Amazon Women on the Moon
5.9

Amazon Women on the Moon

1987Movie5.9
The Ratings Game
5.7

The Ratings Game

1984Movie5.7
The Funny Farm
6.0

The Funny Farm

1983Movie6.0
Great Balls of Fire!
6.3

Great Balls of Fire!

1989Movie6.3
Bob Hope's World of Comedy

Bob Hope's World of Comedy

1976Movie
The Movie Orgy
6.8

The Movie Orgy

1968Movie6.8
Tab Hunter Confidential
7.3

Tab Hunter Confidential

2015Movie7.3
50 Years of NBC Late Night
5.0

50 Years of NBC Late Night

2001Movie5.0
Night of 100 Stars
5.8

Night of 100 Stars

1982Movie5.8
The Muppets Go Hollywood
6.2

The Muppets Go Hollywood

1979Movie6.2
The Sunshine Boys
6.9

The Sunshine Boys

1975Movie6.9
Now You See It, Now You Don't
7.0

Now You See It, Now You Don't

1968Movie7.0
The Benny Goodman Story
6.4

The Benny Goodman Story

1956Movie6.4
Heart Beat
5.6

Heart Beat

1980Movie5.6
Boulevard! A Hollywood Story
6.2

Boulevard! A Hollywood Story

2021Movie6.2
Mitzi & 100 Guys
2.0

Mitzi & 100 Guys

1975Movie2.0
2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift
6.1

2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift

2010Movie6.1
Stone
9.0

Stone

1979Movie9.0
Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?
5.3

Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?

1968Movie5.3
Have I Got a Christmas for You

Have I Got a Christmas for You

1977Movie
Ernie Kovacs: Television's Original Genius

Ernie Kovacs: Television's Original Genius

1982Movie
Warning Shot
6.4

Warning Shot

1967Movie6.4
WWE WrestleMania VI
8.4

WWE WrestleMania VI

1990Movie8.4
The Making of the Stooges
9.0

The Making of the Stooges

1984Movie9.0
The Adventures of Errol Flynn
7.7

The Adventures of Errol Flynn

2005Movie7.7
The Big Circus
6.6

The Big Circus

1959Movie6.6
Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words
7.4

Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words

2016Movie7.4
Joys
6.0

Joys

1976Movie6.0
Lenny Bruce: Without Tears
5.0

Lenny Bruce: Without Tears

1972Movie5.0
Rodney Dangerfield's 75th Birthday Toast
7.0

Rodney Dangerfield's 75th Birthday Toast

1997Movie7.0
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
6.0

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

1988Movie6.0
The Comic
6.1

The Comic

1969Movie6.1
Nobody's Perfect: The Making of Some Like It Hot
7.0

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

2001Movie7.0
Don't Ask Me, Ask God

Don't Ask Me, Ask God

1984Movie
Don't Worry, We'll Think of a Title
5.3

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

1966Movie5.3
Nichols and May: Take Two
6.5

Nichols and May: Take Two

1996Movie6.5
On the Road to Desolation

On the Road to Desolation

1997Movie
Allen in Movieland
4.5

Allen in Movieland

1955Movie4.5
Abbott & Costello Meet Biography

Abbott & Costello Meet Biography

1996Movie
Classic Comedy Teams
7.0

Classic Comedy Teams

1986Movie7.0
Rodney Dangerfield's The Really Big Show
8.8

Rodney Dangerfield's The Really Big Show

1991Movie8.8
Elvis: #1 Hit Performances
5.5

Elvis: #1 Hit Performances

2007Movie5.5
TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines

TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines

1986Movie
The Vent Event

The Vent Event

1978Movie
Elvis: Rare Moments with the King
6.0

Elvis: Rare Moments with the King

2003Movie6.0
Richard Lewis: I'm Exhausted
8.0

Richard Lewis: I'm Exhausted

1988Movie8.0
James Dean and Me
8.8

James Dean and Me

1995Movie8.8
College Confidential
6.5

College Confidential

1960Movie6.5
Tasmanian Devil: The Fast and Furious Life of Errol Flynn
9.0

Tasmanian Devil: The Fast and Furious Life of Errol Flynn

2007Movie9.0
Laurel and Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys
7.0

Laurel and Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys

1992Movie7.0
Too Hip for the Room: The Righteous Reign of Lord Buckley

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

2016Movie
James Dean Remembered
8.0

James Dean Remembered

1974Movie8.0
The Gossip Columnist
7.3

The Gossip Columnist

1980Movie7.3
Lucy Calls the President
7.5

Lucy Calls the President

1977Movie7.5
Down Memory Lane
7.0

Down Memory Lane

1949Movie7.0
I'll Get By
5.9

I'll Get By

1950Movie5.9
James Dean: A Portrait
7.0

James Dean: A Portrait

1995Movie7.0
Let Me In, I Hear Laughter: A Salute to the Friars Club
7.0

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

1999Movie7.0
The Definitive Elvis: The Television Years
5.2

The Definitive Elvis: The Television Years

2002Movie5.2
Lenny Bruce: Swear to Tell the Truth
7.7

Lenny Bruce: Swear to Tell the Truth

1998Movie7.7
The Universal Mind of Bill Evans
9.0

The Universal Mind of Bill Evans

1966Movie9.0
Elvis: The King of Rock 'n' Roll
10.0

Elvis: The King of Rock 'n' Roll

2007Movie10.0
On and Off the Res' with Charlie Hill
10.0

On and Off the Res' with Charlie Hill

2000Movie10.0
The Power of the Market

The Power of the Market

1980Movie
Erroll Garner: No One Can Hear You Read
7.0

Erroll Garner: No One Can Hear You Read

2013Movie7.0
Starfest: The Stars Salute Public Television 1983

Starfest: The Stars Salute Public Television 1983

1983Movie
On Location: Myron Cohen

On Location: Myron Cohen

1976Movie
No More to Say & Nothing to Weep For: An Elegy for Allen Ginsberg
1.0

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

1997Movie1.0
Computability: How to Make the Most of Your Home Computer

Computability: How to Make the Most of Your Home Computer

1984Movie

TV Shows (52)

The Simpsons
8.0

The Simpsons

1989Series8.0
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
7.5

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962Series7.5
The Love Boat
6.3

The Love Boat

1977Series6.3
The Mike Douglas Show
5.8

The Mike Douglas Show

1961Series5.8
Diagnosis: Murder
7.1

Diagnosis: Murder

1993Series7.1
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
7.3

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

1993Series7.3
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
7.8

Sabrina, the Teenage Witch

1996Series7.8
Homicide: Life on the Street
8.1

Homicide: Life on the Street

1993Series8.1
Love, American Style
6.2

Love, American Style

1969Series6.2
The Merv Griffin Show
6.8

The Merv Griffin Show

1962Series6.8
Get Smart
8.0

Get Smart

1965Series8.0
Hart to Hart
6.9

Hart to Hart

1979Series6.9
Batman
7.3

Batman

1966Series7.3
St. Elsewhere
5.7

St. Elsewhere

1982Series5.7
Hotel
6.8

Hotel

1982Series6.8
American Masters
7.0

American Masters

1986Series7.0
What's My Line?
7.0

What's My Line?

1950Series7.0
WWF Wrestling Challenge
6.8

WWF Wrestling Challenge

1986Series6.8
I've Got a Secret
7.7

I've Got a Secret

1952Series7.7
Medical Center
6.4

Medical Center

1969Series6.4
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
7.8

Space Ghost Coast to Coast

1994Series7.8
Pinky and the Brain
7.7

Pinky and the Brain

1995Series7.7
The Oscars
7.0

The Oscars

1953Series7.0
The Ed Sullivan Show
6.8

The Ed Sullivan Show

1948Series6.8
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
6.8

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

1968Series6.8
Behind the Music
7.3

Behind the Music

1997Series7.3
The Steve Allen Show
6.2

The Steve Allen Show

1956Series6.2
McCloud
7.2

McCloud

1970Series7.2
Solid Gold
6.3

Solid Gold

1980Series6.3
Kraft Music Hall
5.4

Kraft Music Hall

1958Series5.4
The Critic
7.3

The Critic

1994Series7.3
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
6.4

The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

1956Series6.4
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
6.8

The DuPont Show with June Allyson

1959Series6.8
The Thin Man
7.6

The Thin Man

1957Series7.6
Rich Man, Poor Man
7.9

Rich Man, Poor Man

1976Series7.9
Alice in Wonderland
6.7

Alice in Wonderland

1985Series6.7
The David Susskind Show
7.0

The David Susskind Show

1959Series7.0
The Judy Garland Show
8.2

The Judy Garland Show

1963Series8.2
What Really Happened to the Class of '65?
6.0

What Really Happened to the Class of '65?

1977Series6.0
The Snoop Sisters
7.5

The Snoop Sisters

1973Series7.5
Nurse
7.5

Nurse

1981Series7.5
The Emmy Awards
7.9

The Emmy Awards

1949Series7.9
General Electric Theater
6.8

General Electric Theater

1953Series6.8
Hallmark Hall of Fame
8.8

Hallmark Hall of Fame

1951Series8.8
Meeting of Minds
8.7

Meeting of Minds

1977Series8.7
Tonight Starring Steve Allen
6.5

Tonight Starring Steve Allen

1954Series6.5
The People Next Door
6.0

The People Next Door

1989Series6.0
The New Steve Allen Show
7.7

The New Steve Allen Show

1961Series7.7
Life's Most Embarrassing Moments
7.5

Life's Most Embarrassing Moments

1983Series7.5
The Wil Shriner Show

The Wil Shriner Show

1987Series
The Steve Allen Comedy Hour

The Steve Allen Comedy Hour

1980Series
I've Got a Secret
10.0

I've Got a Secret

1972Series10.0