Marty Allen
Morton David Alpern (March 23, 1922 – February 12, 2018), better known as Marty Allen, was an American comedian, actor, and philanthropist. He worked as a comedy headliner in nightclubs, as a dramatic actor in television roles, and was once called "The Darling of Daytime TV". He also appeared in films, notably the 1966 spy comedy The Last of the Secret Agents?. During his comedy career, Allen also toured military hospitals, and performed for veterans and for active military personnel.
Marty Allen
Morton David Alpern
March 23, 1922
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Stand-up, television, film acting
American
1950–2018
Official website
(archived August 22, 2009)
Allen was also a philanthropist. He contributed to the American Cancer Society, The Heart Fund, the March of Dimes, and the Fight for Sight, and he served on the board of the Epilepsy Foundation.[1][2]
Early life[edit]
Allen was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Jewish parents. His father was Louis Alpern (1898–1977, from Romania/Russia), a restaurant and bar owner,[3] and his mother was Elsie Moss Alpern (1901–1979).
He graduated from Taylor Allderdice High School in 1940. He was inducted into their alumni Hall of Fame in 2009.[4]
Allen joined the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He was stationed in Italy, where he attained the rank of sergeant. He earned a Soldier's Medal for stopping a fire in a plane that was being refueled. He saved the lives of the men boarding the burning plane by driving the fuel truck away, returning on foot to the plane, and then putting out the fire by rolling over the flames with his body in uniform. His actions were later honored with a full-dress parade.[5]
Charitable work[edit]
In 1968, he made a "Hello Dere" tour of military hospitals in the United States (a tour named after a catchphrase he popularized).[2] He repeated the tour annually until 1972.[9] During the tours, he talked with and entertained wounded soldiers who had just returned from Vietnam.[1]
He was also involved in a number of charitable causes, including the American Cancer Society, The Heart Fund, March of Dimes, Fight for Sight, Cerebral Palsy, and was on the board of the Epilepsy Foundation.[1][2]
Personal life[edit]
Allen met Lorraine "Frenchy" Trydelle when she was the reservation and office manager of the Concord Resort Hotel in the Catskills.[18] They were married from 1960 until her death from cancer in 1976.[19]
In 1983, he met his second wife, Karon Kate Blackwell, at a Los Angeles restaurant she was managing. She had prior success as a piano player and songwriter, but had gotten out of show business.[20] The two became friends, then started dating and performing together. They married on June 17, 1984, at the home of writer Sidney Sheldon in Beverly Hills, California.[21] They settled in Las Vegas.[22]
Death[edit]
On February 12, 2018, Allen died at the age of 95 of complications from pneumonia.[23] His death was at his home in Las Vegas, with wife Karon Kate Blackwell by his side.[9] His interment was at Eden Memorial Park Cemetery in Mission Hills, California.[24]