Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Steve Allen

Role / Field:

Pioneering American radio and television personality, comedian, and composer.

Born:

1921-12-26

Died:

2000-10-30

Century / Era:

1921s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen (December 26, 1921 – October 30, 2000) was an American television and radio personality, comedian, musician, composer, writer, and actor. Though he got his start in radio, he is best known for his extensive network television career. Allen gained national attention as a guest host on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. In 1954, he achieved further national fame as the co-creator and first host of The Tonight Show, which was the first late-night nationwide television talk show.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He then 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, he 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.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Allen won the 1964 Grammy Award for Best Original Jazz Composition for "Gravy Waltz," for which he wrote the lyrics. He also wrote more than 50 books...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Aaron Beck — Contemporary (Born in 1921) (1921): Father of Cognitive Therapy and CBT, revolutionizing psychiatric treatment.
• ʻAbdu'l-Bahá — Contemporary (Died in 1921) (1921): Successor to Baháʼu'lláh and guiding light of the Baháʼí Faith.
• Akio Morita — Contemporary (Born in 1921) (1921): Visionary Japanese entrepreneur and co-founder of Sony.
• A. E. van Vogt — Contemporary (Died in 2000) (2000): Influential Canadian-American science fiction writer known for bizarre narratives.
• Abraham Pais — Contemporary (Died in 2000) (2000): Pioneering physicist and acclaimed science historian of modern physics.
• Alec Guinness — Contemporary (Died in 2000) (2000): Iconic English actor celebrated for stage mastery and cinematic versatility.
• Alejo Carpentier — Shared historical date (12-26 · Born) (1904): Influential Cuban novelist, essayist, and musicologist of the Latin American Boom.
• Arthur Percival — Shared historical date (12-26 · Born) (1887): British Army officer, known for commanding forces during the Malayan Campaign and the fall of Singapore.
• Abu Musab al-Zarqawi — Shared historical date (10-30 · Born) (1966): Jordanian jihadist militant known for orchestrating violence in Iraq (1966–2006)
• Angelica Kauffman — Shared historical date (10-30 · Born) (1741): Swiss history painter renowned for her successful careers in London and Rome.
• 1921 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1921
• December 26 (12-26) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on December 26
• 2000 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2000
• October 30 (10-30) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on October 30

Frequently Asked Questions about Steve Allen