User:Mrallenspage/ToddAllen

]'TODD ALLEN Todd Allen is an American actor/writer/producer and businessman. He has appeared in more than fifty film and television productions, appearing opposite Kevin Costner in three films, Robert Duvall in two films, Dennis Quaid, Gene Hackman, Kirk Douglas and the late, Dennis Hopper.

""EARLY LIFE'" Allen was born in San Diego California, the youngest of two sons of J.R. "Potsy" Allen, a Naval Aviator and later, an insurance executive, and Tommye Lou Brown Allen, an interior designer.  He has Scotch/Irish ancestry on both sides of his family.  His maternal Great Grandfather, Alan Jefferson "A.J." Rogers, made his way to Texas at the start of the Civil War from the area around Meridian Mississippi.  His paternal Grandfather, J.R. "Potsy" Allen, Sr was elected into the University of Texas Hall of Honor in 1988 and played football and baseball there from 1924 through 1926.  Early childhood was spent in Roswell New Mexico before moving to Austin Texas where Allen was raised and where he considers home.  Allen attended Highland Park Elementary, O'Henry Middle School and Austin High School.

Allen's teen years, growing up in Austin, are some of his greatest memories. Summer's spent water skiing on Lake Austin, riding mini-bikes, hunting, fishing and working on the family ranch in the Hill Country west of Austin.

Allen attended the University of Texas at Austin but, as a Freshman, spent more time chasing beautiful co-eds than studying. His idea to remedy that was to enroll at New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell New Mexico. Allen excelled at NMMI, where he became the Captain of the school Boxing team and eventually the Regional and State Golden Gloves Middleweight Champion. It is believed that while at NMMI, Allen attained the rank of Officer faster than any cadet in the history of the school, except during wartime. He graduated as a Platoon Leader, and achieved academic excellence on the Dean's List and the Commandant's List.

After graduation from NMMI, Allen returned to Austin and the University of Texas. It was there, on an impromptu afternoon trip out to the family ranch that Allen stopped to visit a movie set. Mistaken for the son of the property owner, Allen was greeted by the film's director, shown the inner workings of the set and asked to be in a scene. It took only a few moments before he made the decision that this was to be his life and career. Within weeks, Allen had moved to Los Angeles to begin his journey.

"'THE EARLY DAYS"' Arriving in Hollywood, Allen immediately set about conquering the town and the business. He talked his way into the best acting classes and began to work on his craft. The one contact Allen had was a family friend whom he had never met, actor Dabney Coleman. After months of false starts, Allen and Coleman finally met for dinner and Coleman convinced him that what he really needed to do was learn his craft before he started working. Coleman wrote a letter of introduction to the famed Neighborhood Playhouse in New York. Instantly, Allen recognized the value of this path and set out to make enough money to survive in New York for the term of the School year. Not getting accepted was never a thought and Allen left Los Angeles and set out for the rough and dangerous world of offshore oil drilling. In Lafayette Louisiana Allen was hired on as a roustabout on a drilling rig owned by Penrod Drilling Co. He soon moved up to a roughneck position and eventually would work in the derrick, as well. Allen spent nearly a year roughnecking, during which time he flew to Dallas to audition for entry into the Neighborhood Playhouse. Still smelling of oil and chemicals, Allen made the audition and remembers being told by the moderator that he had never had anyone show up from an oil rig to audition. Allen was accepted and began class in New York in the fall of 1982.

While at the Neighborhood Playhouse, Allen had the distinction of being part of the last group of classes that were taught, full time, by the school's founder, Sanford Meisner. Shortly after completing studies at the Neighborhood Playhouse, Allen returned to Los Angeles to film a role in the Walter Hill directed film, 48 Hrs. His career took off quickly and he never returned to NY. Years later, while visiting NY, Allen collected some of his old clothes and belongings from his apartment on E. 61st St.

Allen's "on set" debut, however, occurred prior to 48 Hrs in the film Eddie Macon's Run. Allen flew to South Texas to film the role of a small town Sheriff's deputy, opposite screen legend, Kirk Douglas. It was the first time Allen had ever been in front of a movie camera and when he looked up and saw "Spartacus" standing there, he froze up. After blowing several takes, the director was angry, and the day was not going well. That's when Kirk Douglas stepped in, calmed everyone, and began to rub Allen's shoulders. Douglas asked if it was his first time on film. Allen nodded that it was. Douglas then stepped in front of him, and fixed his gaze on Allen and gave him his very first, and best film acting advice. Douglas told him, "just look me in the eye and tell me the truth." Allen never forgot those words, and still heeds that advice today.

Roles in such films as Swing Shift, Uncommon Valor and Peter Bogdanovich's Mask quickly followed. Allen then met with director Lawrence Kasdan and began a professional relationship that now includes three films. Allen co-starred in Kasdan's, Silverado where he struck up a friendship with actor Kevin Costner. Shortly after, Allen landed his first starring role in the cult horror hit, Witchboard. Allen once commented that he was a big hit with fourteen year old girls after that film.

"'A CAREER"'

Allen quickly followed those early successes with appearances in such films as Wyatt Earp, The Postman, Grand Canyon as well as a host of television appearances including a career highlight when he played famed fighter ace, Chuck Yeager, in the three hour Hallmark Special, Pancho Barnes. Allen relentlessly researched Yeager, and live on the base at Edwards AF Base to gain more knowledge of a test pilot's daily life. For a birthday present, Allen was treated to a two hour flight in the fighter jet of his choice. He chose an F-14 Phantom and flew the plane, performing roles, dives, low level flight, supersonic flight, mid-air refueling, followed by a water dousing by the Test Pilots upon landing. Allen considers it a great accomplishments that he did not throw up on the flight.

Allen has appeared in over fifty film and television roles to date. He has Guest Starred on such shows as, JAG, NCIS, CSI, The Profiler, Sea Quest, The Magnificent Seven and more. He considers himself fortunate to have worked in both film and television his entire career, especially throughout the eighties and nineties when there was a more pronounced line between the two mediums.