Steve Allen

Birth Name:

Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen

Birth Place:

New York City, New York, United States

Profession

Actor, Soundtrack, Writer, Music department

Was inducted into the TV Academy Hall of Fame in 1986
Was nominated for a CableACE Award for Best Program Host for "Steve Allen's Music Room" in 1984
Won a Peabody Personal Award for his PBS series "Meeting of Minds" in 1978
Won an American Comedy Award for Lifetime Achievement in Comedy in 1987
Quote: "I'm always busy, but always doing things I enjoy․ I rarely occupy myself with things that bug me․ I'm very fortunate in that not many of us are allowed to live for kicks and get paid for it․"
Best known as a musician, comedian, and television personality who was the first host of "The Tonight Show․"
Composed and wrote lyrics for more than 7,900 songs during his career, including "The Gravy Waltz," "Picnic," and "South Rampart Street Parade․"
Wrote scholarly articles and books, including a treatise on migratory farm labor called "The Ground is our Table" and a bestselling book on pop culture standards called "Vulgarians at the Gate․"
After he stepped in to host the 32nd annual Emmy Awards Show in 1980 during a SAG-AFTRA strike, he donated his fee for the show to the unions' strike fund
Always had a tape recorder nearby, including in his car and in the bathroom, so that he could record the material that he would later use in his acts and writing

Fast Facts