Born Name:  Morton David Alpern

Born Date:  March 23, 1922

Born Place:  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Died Date:  February 12, 2018

Died Place:  Las Vegas, Nevada

Occupations: 

Brief Biography:  Marty Allen was a legendary American comedian and actor, best known as the zany, pop-eyed half of the popular comedy duo Allen & Rossi. Recognizable by his wild hair and trademark catchphrase "Hello dere!", he was a staple of variety and game shows for over 60 years.

Early Life and Military Heroism:
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Allen graduated from Taylor Allderdice High School in 1940. During World War II, he served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps stationed in Italy. He earned the Soldier's Medal for bravery after he drove a burning fuel truck away from a plane to prevent a massive explosion, then extinguished the remaining fire using his own body.

Career Highlights:
Allen & Rossi (1957–1968): Partnered with singer Steve Rossi, becoming one of the most famous comedy teams of the era. They appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show 44 times, including the historic 1964 episode featuring the Beatles' American debut.
Television Mainstay: Following the duo's split, Allen became a frequent guest on talk and game shows, most notably as a regular on The Hollywood Squares for decades.
Dramatic Acting: He debuted as a serious actor in the 1960s series The Big Valley and appeared in numerous films, such as the 1966 spy spoof The Last of the Secret Agents?.
Later Years: From the 1980s until shortly before his death, he performed a musical comedy act with his second wife, singer-songwriter Karon Kate Blackwell.

Philanthropy:
He was a dedicated philanthropist, serving on the board of the Epilepsy Foundation and supporting the American Cancer Society and March of Dimes.