Steve Allen was an American television personality, musician, actor, comedian, and writer, who was born on December 26, 1921, in New York City. Allen began his career in radio, but he is best known for his work in television. He first gained national attention as a guest host on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and later became the first host of The Tonight Show. Allen was instrumental in innovating the concept of the television talk show and went on to host numerous game and variety shows, including The Steve Allen Show, I've Got a Secret, The New Steve Allen Show, and CBS' What's My Line?
Allen was also a talented musician and composer, known for his "creditable" piano skills and his prolific composition of over 14,000 songs. Some of his compositions were recorded by notable artists such as Perry Como, Margaret Whiting, Steve Lawrence, Eydie Gorme, Les Brown, and Gloria Lynne. Allen won a Grammy award in 1963 for best jazz composition for his song The Gravy Waltz.
As an author, Allen wrote more than 50 books, covering a wide range of topics, including music, comedy, and social issues. He also wrote a series of mystery novels, which featured himself and his wife, Jayne Meadows, as amateur sleuths, although they were actually ghostwritten by Walter J. Sheldon and later Robert Westbrook. Allen passed away on October 30, 2000, due to a heart attack, but his contributions to the entertainment industry continue to be celebrated and remembered. He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in recognition of his achievements in television and radio.