Mr. Allen's theatre work included engagements at Pasadena Playhouse, Mark Taper Forum, New York Shakespeare Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, San Diego Rep, Crossroads Theatre, Syracuse Stage, Coconut Grove Playhouse and LaMama ETC. He was an understudy in the Playwrights Horizons premiere of the musical Grey Gardens. His performance in Play On! at Pasadena Playhouse earned him Ovation Awards and L.A. Drama Critics Award nominations.

In Europe, he toured with the Peter Sellars production of I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky.

On television, he had a recurring role as Ernest Dickerson on the HBO series "Treme," and the daytime soap "One Life to Live." He was a guest star on such series as "Dark Justice," "Cop Rock," "Star Trek—The Next Generation" and "ER." He also put his resonant voice to good use through extensive voice-over work.

Mr. Allen was educated at Alelphia University, Drama Studio in London and Carnegie-Mellon. He headed both Kilimanjaro Entertainment Group and Black Sheep Theatricals.

A celebration of his life is being planned in NYC on Sept. 8.