Steve Allen
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.
Acted in
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
2022
as Self (voice) (archive sound)
Boulevard! A Hollywood Story
2021
as Self (archive footage)
Jay Sebring… Cutting to the Truth
2020
as Self (archive footage)
Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind
2018
as Self (archive footage)
Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words
2016
as Self (archive footage)
Erroll Garner: No One Can Hear You Read
2013
2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift
2010
as Self (archive footage)
Elvis: #1 Hit Performances
2007
as Self (archive footage)
Elvis: #1 Hit Performances & More
2007
as Self (archive footage)
Tasmanian Devil: The Fast and Furious Life of Errol Flynn
2007
as Himself (Archive Footage)
The Adventures of Errol Flynn
2005
as Self (archive footage)
The Definitive Elvis: The Television Years
2002
as Self (archive footage)
Nobody's Perfect - The Making of Some Like It Hot
2001
as Self
Let Me In, I Hear Laughter: A Salute to the Friars Club
1999
as Self
Lenny Bruce: Swear to Tell the Truth
1998
as Self
No More to Say & Nothing to Weep For: An Elegy for Allen Ginsberg
1997
as Self (archive footage)
Behind the Music
1997
as Self
Rodney Dangerfield's 75th Birthday Toast
1997
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
1996
as Fear
Nichols and May: Take Two
1996
as Self
Abbott & Costello Meet Biography
1996
Casino
1995
as Himself
Pinky and the Brain
1995
James Dean and Me
1995
as Self (uncredited)
The Critic
1994
Diagnosis: Murder
1993
as Ray Masters
Homicide: Life on the Street
1993
as Mr. Cochran
Laurel and Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys
1992
as Himself
The Player
1992
as Steve Allen
Rodney Dangerfield's The Really Big Show
1991
as Self
WWE WrestleMania VI
1990
as Himself
The Power of the Market
1990
The Simpsons
1989
as Bart's Altered Voice (voice)
The Simpsons
1989
as Steve Allen (voice)
Great Balls of Fire!
1989
as himself
Richard Lewis: I'm Exhausted
1988
as Self
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
1988
as Self
Amazon Women on the Moon
1987
as Steve Allen (segment "Roast Your Loved One")
The Wil Shriner Show
1987
as Self
WWF Wrestling Challenge
1986
as Himself
American Masters
1986
as Self
TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines
1986
as Self
Alice in Wonderland
1985
as Gentleman in Paper Suit
The Ratings Game
1984
as Steve Allen
Computability: How to Make the Most of Your Home Computer
1984
The Making of the Stooges
1984
as Himself / Presenter
Don't Ask Me, Ask God
1984
as [Self]
Taggart
1983
Life's Most Embarrassing Moments
1983
as Self - Host
The Funny Farm
1983
as Himself
St. Elsewhere
1982
St. Elsewhere
1982
as Lech oseransky
Hotel
1982
Night of 100 Stars
1982
as Self
Nurse
1981
as Barney Ambler
The Steve Allen Comedy Hour
1980
as Himself - Host
Solid Gold
1980
as Self
Heart Beat
1980
as Himself
The Gossip Columnist
1980
as Steve Allen
Hart to Hart
1979
as Himself
Stone
1979
as Steve Allen
The Muppets Go Hollywood
1979
as Self
Have I Got a Christmas for You
1977
as Martin Kaplan
What Really Happened To the Class Of '65?
1977
Lucy Calls the President
1977
as Steve Allen
The Love Boat
1977
as Durwood Moss
Meeting of Minds
1977
On Location: Myron Cohen
1976
as Himself - Host
Joys
1976
as Self
Rich Man, Poor Man
1976
The Sunshine Boys
1975
as Himself
The Sunshine Boys
1975
as Narrator of Fictional TV Program (uncredited)
Mitzi & 100 Guys
1975
as Self
James Dean Remembered
1974
as Self
The Snoop Sisters
1973
as Steve Allen
I've Got a Secret
1972
as Self - Host
Lenny Bruce: Without Tears
1972
as Himself / DJ (archive footage)
McCloud
1970
The Comic
1969
as Steve Allen
Medical Center
1969
Now You See It, Now You Don't
1968
as Herschel Lucas
Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?
1968
as Radio Announcer
The Movie Orgy
1968
as Self (archive footage)
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1967
as Self
Warning Shot
1967
as Steve Allen
Don't Worry, We'll Think of a Title
1966
as Bookstore Customer with Little Boy (uncredited)
Batman
1966
as Allen Stevens
The Universal Mind of Bill Evans
1966
Get Smart
1965
The Judy Garland Show
1963
as Self
Something's Got to Give
1962
as Psychiatrist
The New Steve Allen Show
1961
as Self - Host
College Confidential
1960
as Steve MacInter
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
1959
as Dr. Ben Ellison
The Big Circus
1959
as Himself - Cameo appearance
Kraft Music Hall
1958
as Self
Kraft Music Hall
1958
as Self - Host
The Thin Man
1957
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1956
as Self
The Steve Allen Show
1956
as Self - Host
The Benny Goodman Story
1956
as Benny Goodman
Allen in Movieland
1955
as Self
The Oscars
1953
as Self
General Electric Theater
1953
as Andy Fletcher
I've Got a Secret
1952
as Self - Host
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951
as Martin Kaplan
I'll Get By
1950
as Peter Pepper
What's My Line?
1950
as Self - Panelist
What's My Line?
1950
as Self - Mystery Guest
Down Memory Lane
1949
as Self
The Emmy Awards
1949
as Self