Leo Allen
Leo Allen | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 5, 1972 |
Leopold Rufus "Leo" Allen (born July 5, 1972) is an American stand-up comedian and writer from Detroit, Michigan, known as one half of the comedy team Slovin and Allen.[1]
Career
Allen has been performing stand-up comedy since the late '90s. In 2001, Allen, along with his writing partner, Eric Slovin, starred in their own Comedy Central Presents special[2] which featured highly memorable sketches such as "Time Machine" and "Turkey Slapper". Slovin and Allen went on to write for Saturday Night Live from 2002 - 2005.
A veteran of numerous New York City comedy clubs and alternative venues, Allen performs solo and as part of the duo "Slovin and Allen." He has toured with comedians such as Eugene Mirman, Demetri Martin, Todd Barry, Michael Showalter, and others. He currently hosts "Whiplash" at Upright Citizen's Brigade Theatre in NYC, for which he was nominated for a 2009 ECNY award for Best Host.
Beginning in September 2005, Allen challenged himself to read 100 books in one year. Halfway into that endeavor, he cited as favorites The Ginger Man by J.P. Donleavy, The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, Don Quixote by Cervantes and anything by Octavia Butler.[3] Listen: A Standup Guy Who Is Serious About Books, NPR
Allen's writing has appeared in the New York Times Magazine. His television credits include Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Funny or Die Presents, Comedians of Comedy, Human Giant, Michael and Michael Have Issues and more.
Allen currently co-stars as "Leo the Writer" on the Comedy Central series Jon Benjamin Has a Van.
References
- ^ Allen, Leo (April 23, 2006). "Blind Rage, The New York Times". Retrieved May 7, 2010.
- ^ "Comedy Central, Comedians A-Z".
- ^ "A Standup Guy Who Is Serious About Books, NPR.com".