Steve Allen was born in Atlanta, Georgia on June 13, 1923, and grew up in Washington, D.C. He enrolled at the University of Maryland School of Law in 1943, but did not complete his studies. After college he enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces. He trained at Bryan Field, Texas and later served in the European Theater of Operations
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After World War II he returned to Washington, D.C., where he began his career as a radio personality with the National Broadcasting Company (NBC). Allen hosted The Steve Allen Show on NBC Radio from 1949 to 1952.
He then joined CBS Radio until 1961 when he moved to television, first hosting The Tonight Show from 1960-1966 and then The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson from 1966-1992. During those years he also co-hosted the long running game show Twenty One with Jack Barry from 1970-1971.
In 1992 Allen left The Tonight Show and retired from television broadcasting. In 2001 he returned to the airwaves as a national commentator on business and politics for CNBC and was a frequent guest on CNN's Larry King Live.