Known For
Acting
Born
May 31, 1894
Died
Mar 17, 1956
Place of Birth
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Credits
21 titles
Fred Allen
Biography
John Florence Sullivan (May 31, 1894 – March 17, 1956), known professionally as Fred Allen, was an American comedian whose absurdist, topically pointed radio show (1932–1949) made him one of the most popular and forward-looking humorists in the so-called classic era of American radio. His best-remembered gag was his long-running mock feud with friend and fellow comedian Jack Benny, but it was only part of his appeal; radio historian John Dunning (in On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio) wrote that Allen was radio's most admired comedian and most frequently censored. A master adlibber, Allen often tangled with his network's executives (and often barbed them on the air over the battles), while developing routines the style and substance of which influenced contemporaries and futures among comic talents, including Groucho Marx, Stan Freberg, Henry Morgan and Johnny Carson, but his fans also included President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and novelists William Faulkner, John Steinbeck and Herman Wouk (who began his career writing for Allen). Ironically, in view of his often barbed observations of the medium, Fred Allen was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for contributions to television
Known For
Filmography
Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio
Self - Predicts Demise of Radio (archive footage)
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
Self - Tribute Montage (archive footage)
The Great Radio Comedians
Self (Archive footage)
Judge for Yourself
Himself
O. Henry's Full House
Sam "Slick" Brown (segment "The Ransom of Red Chief")
We're Not Married!
Steve Gladwyn
The Jack Benny Program
Fred Allen
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self
Your Show of Shows
What's My Line?
Self
Behind Your Radio Dial
Is Everybody Listening?
Fred Allen - Fred Allen Radio Program
It's in the Bag!
Fred Floogle
Love Thy Neighbor
Fred Allen
Buck Benny Rides Again
Fred Allen (voice)
Sally, Irene and Mary
Gabby Green
Thanks a Million
Ned Lyman
Success
Writer
The Still Alarm
First Fireman
Fred Allen's Prize Playlets
The Installment Collector
Newspaper Editor