Elizabeth Allen (actress) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elizabeth Allen
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Allen and Paul Lynde in publicity photo for The Paul Lynde Show (1972)
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| Born |
Elizabeth Ellen Gillease
January 25, 1929 Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Died | September 19, 2006 (aged 77) Fishkill, New York, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1955–1996 |
| Known for | Donovan's Reef Cheyenne Autumn Texas |
| Spouse(s) |
Baron Karl von Vietinghoff-Scheel
(m. 1952; div. 1955) |
Elizabeth Allen (born Elizabeth Ellen Gillease, January 25, 1929 – September 19, 2006) was an American actress and singer. She worked in theatre, television, and films for about 40 years. Her career lasted from the mid-1950s to the mid-1990s.
Elizabeth Allen appeared in many TV shows and six movies. Two of her films, Donovan's Reef (1963) and Cheyenne Autumn (1964), were directed by John Ford. She was also a regular on five TV series. These included The Jackie Gleason Show and The Paul Lynde Show. She was also a successful musical comedy star on stage. She received two Tony Award nominations for her Broadway roles.
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Early Life and Career Beginnings
Elizabeth Allen was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. She started her career as a high-fashion model for the Ford Agency. This early experience helped her step into the entertainment world.
Television Roles and Guest Appearances
Allen became well-known on television in the 1950s. She was a "Away We Go!" girl on The Jackie Gleason Show. She also made many guest appearances on popular shows. These included The Fugitive, Kojak, and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.
She was a regular cast member on several TV series. These included Bracken's World, The Paul Lynde Show, and C.P.O. Sharkey. She also appeared in the soap operas Another World and its spin-off, Texas.
In 1961, she was in an episode of Boris Karloff's Thriller with William Shatner. The next year, she played a war correspondent in an episode of Combat!.
One of her most famous TV roles was in The Twilight Zone. In the episode "The After Hours", she played a mysterious saleslady. Her character helps another actress realize she is a mannequin.
Film Career Highlights
In 1963, Elizabeth Allen starred with John Wayne in the film Donovan's Reef. This movie was directed by John Ford. She also appeared in Diamond Head with Charlton Heston. Both of these movies were filmed in Hawaii.
Allen also acted alongside James Stewart in the film Cheyenne Autumn. In 1963, she won a Laurel Award. This award recognized her as a promising new film actor.
Successful Stage Performances
Before her film and TV success, Allen improved her acting skills on stage. She performed with the Helen Hayes Repertory Group. She became a big star on Broadway.
She was nominated for two Tony Awards. The first was in 1962 for The Gay Life. The second was in 1965 for Do I Hear a Waltz?. You can hear her singing on the original cast album of Waltz.
Her other notable stage shows included Romanoff and Juliet and Show Boat. She also starred in the Broadway musical 42nd Street in the 1980s. She played the role of Dorothy Brock, a fading star.
Elizabeth Allen stopped acting in 1996. Her last major role was touring with 42nd Street for over ten years.
Other Activities and Personal Life
In the late 1970s, Elizabeth Allen opened a dress store. It was in a shopping mall in the San Fernando Valley. She bought and delivered all the clothes herself. She believed it was smart for actors to have other interests. This way, they had something to do when acting jobs were slow.
Elizabeth Allen was married briefly to Baron Karl von Vietinghoff-Scheel. They later divorced. She passed away on September 19, 2006, at the age of 77. She died from kidney disease in Fishkill, New York.
Broadway Credits
- 1957 Romanoff and Juliet as Juliet
- 1962 The Gay Life as Magda
- 1965 Do I Hear a Waltz? as Leona Samish
- 1967 Sherry! as Maggie Cutler
- 1983 42nd Street as Dorothy Brock
Filmography
- 1960: The After Hours on The Twilight Zone (TV Series) as Saleswoman
- 1960: From the Terrace as Sage Remmington
- 1962: Diamond Head as Laura Beckett
- 1963: The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (Episode: "The Thirty-First of February") as Molly O'Rourke
- 1963: Donovan's Reef as Ameilia Sarah Dedham
- 1963: Stoney Burke (TV Series) as Kelly
- 1963-1966 The Fugitive (TV Series) as Sharon Brame / Louanne Crowell / Ruth Harmon
- 1964: Cheyenne Autumn as Guinevere Plantagenet
- 1971: Star Spangled Girl as Mrs. MacKaninee
- 1972: The Carey Treatment as Evelyn Randall
- 1979: No Other Love (TV Movie) as Jean Michaels
