Marty Allen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marty Allen
Allen in 1960
Birth name	Morton David Alpern
Born	(1922-03-23)March 23, 1922 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	February 12, 2018(2018-02-12) (aged 95) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Medium	Stand-up, television, film acting
Nationality	American
Years active	1950–2018
Spouse	Lorraine "Frenchy" Trydelle ​ ​ (m. 1960; died 1976)​ Karon Kate Blackwell ​ (m. 1984)​

Morton David Alpern (born March 23, 1922 – died February 12, 2018), known as Marty Allen, was a famous American comedian and actor. He was also known for his kindness and charity work. Marty Allen performed in nightclubs and acted in TV shows and movies. People sometimes called him "The Darling of Daytime TV" because he was on so many daytime shows. He also toured military hospitals to entertain soldiers.

Early Life and Heroic Actions

Marty Allen was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His parents were Louis and Elsie Alpern. He finished high school at Taylor Allderdice High School in 1940. Later, in 2009, he was added to their alumni Hall of Fame.

During World War II, Allen joined the United States Army Air Corps. He was stationed in Italy and became a sergeant. He earned a special award called the Soldier's Medal. He got this medal for stopping a fire in a plane that was being refueled. He bravely drove a fuel truck away from the burning plane. Then he returned and put out the fire by rolling over the flames with his uniform. His quick thinking saved the lives of the men who were about to board the plane.

Marty Allen's Career

Marty Allen dancing with Betty Ford.

In the early 1950s, Marty Allen started his comedy career. He worked with his first partner, Mitch DeWood. They opened shows for big stars like Sarah Vaughan and Nat King Cole. They performed in many famous clubs, including the Copacabana. They stopped working together in 1958.

Allen & Rossi Comedy Team

After that, Marty Allen teamed up with Steve Rossi. They became the popular comedy duo, Allen & Rossi. They released several hit comedy albums. They also appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show 44 times! One of their most famous appearances was on February 16, 1964. This was the same night The Beatles performed for the first time in America. Marty Allen made the audience laugh by shouting, "I'm Ringo's mother!" Allen and Rossi also starred in the movie The Last of the Secret Agents? in 1966. They worked together until 1968, but reunited for shows many times over the years.

Acting and Later Performances

Marty Allen also performed on Broadway. He was in musicals like Let It Ride! in 1961 and I Had a Ball in 1964.

He later started taking on serious acting roles. His first dramatic role was on The Big Valley TV series. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, he appeared on TV hundreds of times. He was a regular on The Hollywood Squares, a popular game show. He also had a cameo on The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! and appeared in several TV movies. He acted in films like The Great Waltz (1972) and Harrad Summer (1974).

From the 1980s, Marty Allen performed with his second wife, Karon Kate Blackwell. She was a singer and songwriter. They created a musical comedy act and performed for audiences all over the country. They often performed in Las Vegas at places like the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino and the Southpoint Casino. They also performed on cruise ships and in New York City.

Charitable Work

Marty Allen was very involved in helping others. From 1968 to 1972, he went on a "Hello Dere" tour every year. This tour was named after his famous catchphrase. He visited military hospitals in the United States. During these tours, he talked with and entertained wounded soldiers who had just returned from the Vietnam War.

He also supported many other charities. These included the American Cancer Society, The Heart Fund, and the March of Dimes. He also helped organizations like Fight for Sight and the Epilepsy Foundation.

Personal Life

Marty Allen met his first wife, Lorraine "Frenchy" Trydelle, at a hotel in the Catskills. They were married in 1960. Sadly, she passed away from cancer in 1976.

In 1983, he met his second wife, Karon Kate Blackwell, in Los Angeles. She was managing a restaurant at the time. They became friends and then started performing together. They got married on June 17, 1984, and made their home in Las Vegas.

Death

Marty Allen passed away on February 12, 2018. He was 95 years old. He died at his home in Las Vegas due to complications from pneumonia. His wife, Karon Kate Blackwell, was with him. He was buried at Eden Memorial Park Cemetery in Mission Hills, California.

Filmography

Television

See also

In Spanish: Marty Allen para niños