Sheldon Allman

Sheldon Allman
BornJune 8, 1924
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJanuary 22, 2002(2002-01-22) (aged 77)
Culver City, California, U.S.
Resting placeHillside Memorial Park Cemetery
Alma materLos Angeles Conservatory of Music
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active1958–1995
SpouseLorraine Allman

Sheldon Allman (June 8, 1924 – January 22, 2002) was an American-Canadian actor, singer, and songwriter.

Early life and career

Allman was born in Chicago, Illinois.[1] He began his singing career with the Royal National Guard[2] during his World War II service with the Royal Canadian Air Force.[3] He moved to Los Angeles in 1949, in order to attend the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music.[3] After it, he appeared in 12 films, including such notable films as Nevada Smith, The Sons of Katie Elder, Hud and In Cold Blood. His co-stars included, respectively, Steve McQueen, John Wayne and Paul Newman. He also made appearances in numerous TV series during the 1960s and 1970s.[4]

On television, Allman provided the voice of Big H in CB Bears on CBS[5] and played Norm Miller in Harris Against the World on NBC.[5]: 436  He provided music on the game show Three for the Money on NBC,[5]: 1077  and he was the singing voice for TV's Mister Ed, for which he also wrote and recorded "The Pretty Little Filly with the Ponytail" and "The Empty Feedbag Blues".[2] Mr. Allman wrote longer versions of these songs, but never recorded the longer versions.[citation needed] He was the lyricist for the theme song to George of the Jungle.[2] Additionally, Allman worked with Stan Worth, co-writer of the "George of the Jungle" theme, to create music for a number of game shows by Stefan Hatos-Monty Hall Productions, including the 1970s versions of Let's Make a Deal,[2] Masquerade Party and It Pays to be Ignorant.

In 1960, Allman released Folk Songs for the 21st Century,[2] an album of novelty songs all revolving around science-fiction themes. The tongue-in-cheek material, which Allman wrote and arranged himself, included titles such as "Crawl Out Through The Fallout" and "Radioactive Mama."[6] "Crawl Out Through The Fallout" is used in the video game Fallout 4 and the 2024 TV adaptation Fallout during the closing credits of season 1 episode one.

In addition, Allman co-wrote two comedy horror-themed stage musicals with Bobby Pickett, composer of the hit novelty song, "Monster Mash." The musicals were I'm Sorry the Bridge Is Out, You'll Have to Spend the Night[1] and its sequel, Frankenstein Unbound, the former of which was made into the 1995 film, Monster Mash.[2]

Death

On January 22, 2002, Allman died of heart failure[2] at his home in Culver City, California, at age 77.[3] His interment is in Culver City's Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery.[citation needed]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1959 Inside the Mafia Dyer Uncredited
1959 Gunsmoke Bill ”The Coward” (S4E26)
1960 The Twilight Zone First Alien [1]
1963 Hud Mr. Thompson
1964 Good Neighbor Sam Hotel Desk Clerk Uncredited
1965 The Sons of Katie Elder Harry Evers
1966 Nevada Smith Sheriff
1967 In Cold Blood Rev. Jim Post
1969 Joniko and the Kush Ta Ka Narrator
1970 I Dream of Jeannie Uncredited[1]
1971 Dirty Harry Uncredited[1]
1974 Little House on the Prairie Uncredited[1]
1976 All the President's Men Uncredited[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Sheldon Allman, 77, the Voice Of a Singing Mr. Ed on Television". The New York Times. February 3, 2002. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Oliver, Myrna (February 8, 2002). "Sheldon Allman, 77; Actor, Songwriter, Cartoon Voice". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. p. B 12 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ a b c Lentz III, Harris M. (2003). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2002: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland & Company. p. 10. ISBN 9780786452071.
  4. ^ "Sheldon Allman - Biography & History - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  5. ^ a b c Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company. p. 170. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  6. ^ "CONELRAD: Atomic Platters - Sheldon Allman: Folk Songs for the 21st Century [1960]". conelrad.com. Archived from the original on 2009-01-20. Retrieved 2012-06-01.