Henry Wilson Allen, an American screenwriter and author, was born on September 12, 1912, in Kansas City, Missouri. Allen is known for using various pen names for his works, including Will Henry, Heck Allen, Henry Allen, Clay Fisher, and Jack Slade. His decision to use pseudonyms was motivated by his desire to avoid trouble with his employer, as he began his career as a novelist while still working as a screenwriter.
Allen's career as a novelist began in 1952 with the publication of his first Western, "No Survivors." Over the course of his career, he published more than 50 novels, most of which were set in the American West. These works were published under the pen names Will Henry and Clay Fisher, with eight of them being adapted for the screen. Allen's writing was highly regarded, earning him five Spur Awards from the Western Writers of America and the Levi Strauss Award for lifetime achievement.
In addition to his work as a novelist, Allen was also a successful screenwriter and writer of animated shorts. His screenplays and animated shorts were credited to Heck Allen and Henry Allen. Allen's writing was not limited to Westerns, as he also wrote under the pen name Jack Slade.
Henry Wilson Allen passed away on October 26, 1991, in Van Nuys, California, at the age of 79 due to pneumonia. Despite his passing, his works continue to be celebrated and enjoyed by readers and fans of Western literature. Allen's contributions to the genre and his skill as a writer have left a lasting impact on American literature.