Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith; pg. 10-12. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387
Distant relative of comedian Joe Lipari. (Mr. Allen was Joe's grandfather's cousin.).
Fred Allen was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1988.
He was awarded two Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio (6709 1/2 Hollywood Boulevard) and for Television (7021 Hollywood Boulevard) in Hollywood, California.
His face & baggy eyes became familiar to millions of movie goers in his mid 30s.
In July, 1955, had an appendectomy, which caused him to miss two telecasts of "What's My Line?" (1950) where he had found a home as a regular weekly panelist.
One of Fred Allen's best known schticks was his long-standing feud with fellow comedian Jack Benny. The two often appeared on each other's radio programs to trade barbs. Sadly, other than an appearance on "The Jack Benny Program," in which Fred tries to steal Jack's sponsor, this did not carry over into television, as Allen died shortly after beginning his own TV show. In real life, of course, Benny and Allen were great friends, and Benny even took time on his radio program to eulogize Allen after his death.
Radio comic of the 1930s and '40s.
Star of CBS Radio's "Texaco Star Theater" (1940-1944).
Worked in vaudeville under a variety of names, including John Sullivan (the one his parents gave him), Paul Huckle, Fred St. James and Benjamin Franklin.