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Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Birthday
May 31, 1894
Died
March 17, 1956
Place of Birth
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Also Known As
- John Florence Sullivan
Fred Allen
0.2 Popularity
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
7.5
Self - Predicts Demise of Radio (archive footage)
Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio
1991
🎬
8.0
Self (Archive footage)
The Great Radio Comedians
1971
0.0
Self - Narrator
Project XX: The Jazz Age
1956
🎬
0.0
Himself
Judge for Yourself
1953
6.7
Sam "Slick" Brown (segment "The Ransom of Red Chief")
O. Henry's Full House
1952
5.8
Steve Gladwyn
We're Not Married!
1952
7.8
Fred Allen
The Jack Benny Program
1950
6.8
Self
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
6.3
Your Show of Shows
1950
6.9
Self
What's My Line?
1950
Credits
Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio
as Self - Predicts Demise of Radio (archive footage)
1991
7.5
🎬
The Great Radio Comedians
as Self (Archive footage)
1971
8.0
Project XX: The Jazz Age
as Self - Narrator
1956
0.0
🎬
Judge for Yourself
as Himself
1953
0.0
O. Henry's Full House
as Sam "Slick" Brown (segment "The Ransom of Red Chief")
1952
6.7
We're Not Married!
as Steve Gladwyn
1952
5.8
The Jack Benny Program
as Fred Allen
1950
7.8
The Colgate Comedy Hour
as Self
1950
6.8
Your Show of Shows
1950
6.3
What's My Line?
as Self
1950
6.9
Behind Your Radio Dial
1949
0.0
🎬
Is Everybody Listening?
as Fred Allen - Fred Allen Radio Program
1947
5.0
It's in the Bag!
as Fred Floogle
1945
5.7
Love Thy Neighbor
as Fred Allen
1940
6.5
Buck Benny Rides Again
as Fred Allen (voice)
1940
0.0
Sally, Irene and Mary
as Gabby Green
1938
6.0
Thanks a Million
as Ned Lyman
1935
6.1
🎬
The Still Alarm
as First Fireman
1930
0.0
🎬
Fred Allen's Prize Playlets
1929
0.0
🎬
The Installment Collector
as Newspaper Editor
1929
0.0