Steve Allen

About Steve Allen

Steve Allen, born Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen (December 26, 1921 – October 30, 2000), was an American television personality, musician, actor, comedian, and writer. Though he got his start in radio, Allen is best-known for his television career. He first gained national attention as a guest host on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. He graduated to become the first host of The Tonight Show, where he was instrumental in innovating the concept of the television talk show. Thereafter, he hosted numerous game and variety shows, including the Steve Allen Show, I've Got a Secret, The New Steve Allen Show, and was a regular panel member on CBS' What's My Line?.

Allen was also known as a prolific composer, having penned over 10,000 songs, one of which was recorded by Perry Como and Margaret Whiting. Allen won a Grammy award in 1963 for best jazz composition, with his song The Gravy Waltz. Allen additionally wrote more than 50 books. He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Allen was born in New York City, the son of Isabelle Allen (née Donohue), a vaudeville comedienne who performed under the name Belle Montrose, and Carroll Allen, a vaudeville performer who used the stage name Billy Allen. Allen was raised on the south side of Chicago by his mother's Irish Catholic family. Milton Berle once called Allen's mother "the funniest woman in vaudeville."