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{{Short description|American director, writer and actor}}
{{Infobox actor
{{For|those of a similar name|Cory Allen (disambiguation)}}
| name = Corey Allen
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2013}}
| image =
{{Infobox person
| imagesize =
| caption =
| name = Corey Allen
| birthname = Alan Cohen
| image = Corey Allen in Medic (The Wild Intruder).jpg
| birthdate = {{birth date|1934|6|29}}
| image_size =
| birthplace = [[Cleveland, Ohio]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| caption = Allen in an episode of ''[[Medic (TV series)|Medic]]'' (1954)
| birth_name = Alan Cohen
| deathdate = {{death date and age|mf=yes|2010|6|27|1934|6|29|}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1934|6|29}}
| deathplace = [[Hollywood, California]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| othername =
| birth_place = [[Cleveland]], Ohio, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|mf=yes|2010|6|27|1934|6|29}}
| occupation = Actor, director, producer, writer
| yearsactive = 1954–2010
| death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| spouse =
| resting_place = [[Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery]]
| partner =
| alma_mater = [[UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television]]
| children =
| children = 1<ref name="latimes.com"/>
| parents =
| father = [[Carl Cohen (businessman)|Carl Cohen]]
| influences =
| occupation = {{flatlist|
* Actor
| influenced =
* director
| website =
* producer
| academyawards =
* writer}}
| afiawards =
| arielaward =
| years_active = 1954–2009
| baftaawards =
| spouse =
| cesarawards =
| partner =
| website =
| emmyawards = [[Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series]] <br> 1984 ''[[Hill Street Blues]]'' (1981)
| filmfareawards =
| geminiawards =
| goldenglobeawards =
| goldenraspberryawards =
| goyaawards =
| grammyawards =
| iftaawards =
| laurenceolivierawards =
| naacpimageawards =
| nationalfilmawards =
| sagawards =
| tonyawards =
| awards =
}}
}}
'''Corey Allen''' (June 29, 1934 – June 27, 2010) was an [[United States|American]] [[film]] and [[television]] director, [[writer]], producer, and [[actor]]. He began his career as an actor but eventually became a television director. He may be best known for playing the character Buzz Gunderson in [[Nicholas Ray]]'s ''[[Rebel Without a Cause]]'' (1955). <ref>[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001904/ IMDB]</ref> He was one of the last surviving cast members of the film.


'''Corey Allen''' (born '''Alan Cohen'''; June 29, 1934 – June 27, 2010) was an American film and television director, writer, producer, and actor. He began his career as an actor but eventually became a television director. He is best known for playing the character Buzz Gunderson in [[Nicholas Ray]]'s ''[[Rebel Without a Cause]]'' (1955). He was the son of [[Carl Cohen (businessman)|Carl Cohen]].
Allen was born '''Alan Cohen''' in [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]] on June 29, 1934. After his family moved to California, he attended the [[University of California, Los Angeles]], where he received his start in acting and was awarded a [[Bachelor of Fine Arts]] in 1954.<ref name=NYTObit>Nagourney, Eric. [http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/01/arts/01allen.html "Corey Allen, Actor and Director, Dies at 75"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', June 30, 2010. Accessed July 1, 2010.</ref>


==Life and career==
Allen was best known for his role as gang leader Buzz Gunderson in [[Nicholas Ray]]'s 1955 film ''[[Rebel Without A Cause]]''. Starring in the film was [[James Dean]], who played Jim Stark, a disaffected teenager who has moved to Los Angeles to start a new life, only to find more problems in his new home. After a show at the [[Griffith Observatory]], Buzz challenges Jim to a knife fight, which Stark wins by subduing Buzz with his [[switchblade]]. During the filming of the knife fight, both Allen and Dean, aficionados of [[method acting]], used real knives and Dean was injured when Allen lunged at him with his knife.<ref name=NYTObit/> The gang challenges Jim to a [[chicken (game)|chickie run]], in which two stolen cars will be raced towards a cliff and the winner will be the last one to jump out.<ref name=NYTObit/> Before the two are about to embark on their death race, Buzz and Jim stand at the edge of the cliff, looking down at the fall they might face if they remained in their cars to the end. As Jim questions why they are going ahead with this race, Buzz responds "You got to do ''something'', don't you".<ref name=LATObit>McLellan, Dennis. [http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/30/local/la-me-corey-allen-20100630 "Corey Allen dies at 75; actor played gang leader in 'Rebel Without a Cause'"], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', June 30, 2010. Accessed July 1, 2010.</ref> Allen would later recall that his classic line was "the underlying question of each generation. Here we are: What do we do?".<ref>Fujiwara, Chris. [http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2005/10/30/the_rebel/ "The Rebel: Fifty years ago, Nicholas Ray's 'Rebel Without a Cause' changed American culture. But did it call for rebellion, conformity, or both?"], ''[[The Boston Globe]]'', October 30, 2005. Accessed July 1, 2010.</ref> As the cars are heading to the cliff, Buzz attempts to jump out but is unable to escape when his leather jacket gets caught in the car door and is killed in the crash at the beach below.<ref name=NYTObit/>
Allen was born as Alan Cohen in [[Cleveland]], Ohio, on June 29, 1934. He was the son of [[Carl Cohen (businessman)|Carl]] and Frances Freudenreich Cohen; his father was an illegal bookie and gambling operator for the [[Mayfield Road Mob]] in Cleveland,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g_YJULARirQC&pg=PT77 |title=Rat Pack Confidential: Frank, Dean, Sammy, Peter, Joey and the Last Great Show Biz Party|first=Shawn|last=Levy|year=1999|publisher=Crown/Archetype|isbn=0385500254|page=77}}</ref> and later became an important gambling executive at the [[Sands Hotel and Casino]] in [[Las Vegas]], Nevada.<ref>Levy (1999), pp. 78-79.</ref><ref name=NYTObit/> Cohen attended the [[University of California, Los Angeles]], where he received his start in acting and was awarded a [[Bachelor of Fine Arts]] in 1954.<ref name=NYTObit>Nagourney, Eric. [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/01/arts/01allen.html "Corey Allen, Actor and Director, Dies at 75"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', June 30, 2010. Accessed July 1, 2010.</ref>


Allen was best known for his role as gang leader Buzz Gunderson in [[Nicholas Ray]]'s 1955 film ''[[Rebel Without A Cause]]''. [[James Dean]] starred as Jim Stark, a disaffected teenager who has moved to Los Angeles to start a new life, only to find more problems in his new home. After a show at the [[Griffith Observatory]], Buzz challenges Jim to a [[knife fight]], which Stark wins by subduing Buzz with his [[switchblade]]. During the filming of the knife fight both Allen and Dean, aficionados of [[method acting]], used real knives and Dean was injured when Allen lunged at him with his knife.<ref name=NYTObit/> The gang challenges Jim to a [[chicken (game)|chickie run]], in which two stolen cars will be raced towards a cliff and the winner will be the last one to jump out.<ref name=NYTObit/> Before the two embark on their death race, Buzz and Jim stand at the edge of the cliff, looking down at the fall they might face if they remain in their cars to the end. Buzz, realizing Jim’s moxie in accepting the car challenge and actually besting him in the earlier knife confrontation, discloses Jim has earned his respect, that he “likes him.” It’s a poignant moment where social acceptance is within the grasp of perpetual misfit Jim Stark. Jim had passed an initiation where he would be accepted in with the “wheels.”
He had appeared in some minor film roles before ''Rebel'' and afterward would be seen in ''[[The Chapman Report]]'', ''[[Darby's Rangers (1958 film)|Darby's Rangers]]'', ''[[Juvenile Jungle]]'', ''[[Party Girl (1958 film)|Party Girl]]'', ''[[Sweet Bird of Youth]]'', in addition to guest appearances on ''[[Bonanza]]'', ''[[Dr. Kildare]]'' and ''[[Perry Mason]]''.<ref name=LATObit/>
Jim thus questions why then go ahead with this race. Buzz underwhelmingly responds, "You got to do ''something'', don't you".<ref name="latimes.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-xpm-2010-jun-30-la-me-corey-allen-20100630-story.html|title=Corey Allen dies at 75; actor played gang leader in 'Rebel Without a Cause'|date=June 30, 2010|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Allen would later recall that his classic line was "the underlying question of each generation. Here we are: What do we do?".<ref>Fujiwara, Chris. [https://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2005/10/30/the_rebel/ "The Rebel: Fifty years ago, Nicholas Ray's 'Rebel Without a Cause' changed American culture. But did it call for rebellion, conformity, or both?"], ''[[The Boston Globe]]'', October 30, 2005. Accessed July 1, 2010.</ref> As the cars are heading to the cliff, Buzz attempts to jump out but is unable to escape when his leather jacket gets caught on the car door handle; he is killed in the crash on the beach below.<ref name=NYTObit/>


He appeared in some minor film roles before ''Rebel'' and afterward was seen in ''[[The Chapman Report]]'', ''[[Darby's Rangers (1958 film)|Darby's Rangers]]'', ''[[Juvenile Jungle]]'', ''[[Party Girl (1958 film)|Party Girl]]'', ''[[Sweet Bird of Youth]]'', in addition to guest appearances on ''[[Bonanza]]'', ''[[Dr. Kildare (TV series)|Dr. Kildare]]'', ''[[Gunsmoke]]'', ''[[Have Gun, Will Travel]]'' and ''[[Perry Mason (1957 TV series)|Perry Mason]]''.<ref name=latimes.com/> In 1960 Allen played murderer Rennie Foster in "The Case of the Red Riding Boots", and in 1962 he played murder victim Lester Menke in "The Case of the Borrowed Baby".
He was actively involved in theatrical productions in the Los Angeles area, creating the touring company Freeway Circuit Inc. in 1959 and the Actors Theater in 1965. He was also involved in teaching theater at [[The Actors Workshop]].<ref name=LATObit/>


He was actively involved in theatrical productions in the Los Angeles area, creating the touring company Freeway Circuit Inc. in 1959 and the Actors Theater in 1965. He was also involved in teaching theater at [[The Actors Workshop]].<ref name=latimes.com/>
Allen turned to directing starting in the 1960s, where he worked on such television programs as ''[[Hawaii Five-O]]'', ''[[Hill Street Blues]]'', ''[[Ironside (TV series)|Ironside]]'', ''[[Mannix]]'', ''[[Murder, She Wrote]]'', ''[[Police Woman]]'', ''[[The Rockford Files]]'', ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' and ''[[The Streets of San Francisco]]''.<ref name=NYTObit/> He won an [[Emmy Award]], in 1984, for directing an episode of ''Hill Street Blues''.<ref>[http://www.einsiders.com/hollywood-obituaries/rebel-without-a-cause-actor-corey-allen-dies-june-27-2010.html Corey Allen Obituary]</ref>


Allen turned to directing starting in the 1960s, where he worked on such television programs as ''[[Dallas (1978 TV series)|Dallas]]'', ''[[Hawaii Five-O (1968 TV series)|Hawaii Five-O]]'', ''[[Hill Street Blues]]'', ''[[Ironside (TV series)|Ironside]]'', ''[[Mannix]]'', ''[[Murder, She Wrote]]'', ''[[Police Woman (TV series)|Police Woman]]'', ''[[The Rockford Files]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'', ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' and ''[[The Streets of San Francisco]]''.<ref name=NYTObit/> He won an [[Emmy Award]], in 1984, for directing an episode of ''Hill Street Blues''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.einsiders.com/hollywood-obituaries/rebel-without-a-cause-actor-corey-allen-dies-june-27-2010.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703160527/http://www.einsiders.com/hollywood-obituaries/rebel-without-a-cause-actor-corey-allen-dies-june-27-2010.html|url-status=dead|title=Corey Allen Obituary|archive-date=July 3, 2010}}</ref>
He died due to complications of [[Parkinson's disease]] on June 27, 2010, in Hollywood, California, just two days before his 76th birthday. He was survived by a daughter, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.<ref name=NYTObit/>

In 1967, Corey and his business partner Gary Stromberg met with [[Charles Manson]] early in both of their careers, as new director and cult leader respectively. Manson was invited to help them write a film treatment called ''Black Jesus'' (later produced by an Italian company in 1968) and Manson's "family" was allowed to live briefly in Corey's small acting studio on Western Ave. After Corey's then-girlfriend expressed her concerns about Manson, he broke ties with him.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-27 |title=Are Any Rebel Without a Cause Cast Members Still Alive? |url=https://movieweb.com/rebel-without-a-cause-living-cast-members/ |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=MovieWeb |language=en-US}}</ref>

He died from complications of [[Parkinson's disease]] at his home in Hollywood on June 27, 2010, two days before his 76th birthday.<ref name = latimes.com/><ref name=NYTObit/> He is buried in grave 7-51-2 in the Sunset Slope section of Hillside Memorial Park in Los Angeles.<ref>Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More than 14000 Famous Persons (entry 181) by Scott Wilson</ref>


==Filmography==
==Filmography==

===As Director===
===As director===
{{div col}}
* ''[[The Cosby Mysteries]]''
* ''[[The Cosby Mysteries]]''
* ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]''
* ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]''
** episode [[The Maquis (DS9 episode)|The Maquis: Part 2]]
** episode [[The Maquis (DS9 episode)|The Maquis: Part 2]]
** episode [[Paradise (DS9 episode)|Paradise]]
** episode [[Paradise (DS9 episode)|Paradise]]
** episode [[The Circle (DS9 episode)|The Circle]]
** episode [[The Circle (DS9 episode)|The Circle]]
** episode [[Captive Pursuit (DS9 episode)|Captive Pursuit]]
** episode [[Captive Pursuit (DS9 episode)|Captive Pursuit]]
Line 65: Line 59:
** episode "[[The Game (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Game]]"
** episode "[[The Game (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Game]]"
** episode "[[Final Mission]]"
** episode "[[Final Mission]]"
** episode "[[Home Soil]]"
** episode "[[Encounter at Farpoint]]"
** episode "[[Encounter at Farpoint]]"
* ''[[The Search]]'' (1994)
* ''[[The Search]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Men Who Hate Women & the Women Who Love Them]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Men Who Hate Women & the Women Who Love Them]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Moment of Truth: Stalking Back]]'' (1993)
* ''[[Moment of Truth (film series)|Moment of Truth]] Stalking Back'' (1993)
* ''[[FBI: The Untold Stories]]''
* ''[[FBI: The Untold Stories]]''
* ''[[Unsub (TV series)|Unsub]]''
* ''[[Unsub (TV series)|Unsub]]''
* ''[[The New Lassie]]''
* ''[[The New Lassie]]''
* ''[[Supercarrier (TV series)|Supercarrier]]''
* ''[[Supercarrier (TV series)|Supercarrier]]''
* ''[[The Ann Jillian Story]]'' (1988)
* ''[[The Ann Jillian Story]]'' (1988)
* ''[[J.J. Starbuck]]''
* ''[[J.J. Starbuck]]''
* ''[[CBS Summer Playhouse]]''
* ''[[CBS Summer Playhouse]]''
** episode Infiltrator
** episode ''[[Infiltrator (film)|Infiltrator]]'' (1987)
* ''[[Infiltrator (TV movie)|Infiltrator]]'' (1987)
* ''Destination America'' (1987)
* ''[[Destination America]]'' (1987)
* ''The Last Fling'' (1987)
* ''The Last Fling'' (1987)
* ''[[I-Man]]'' (1986)
* ''[[I-Man]]'' (1986)
* ''[[Beverly Hills Cowgirl Blues]]'' (1985)
* ''[[Beverly Hills Cowgirl Blues]]'' (1985)
* ''[[Brass (TV movie)|Brass]]'' (1985)
* ''[[Brass (1985 film)|Brass]]'' (1985)
* ''[[Code Name: Foxfire]]''
* ''[[Code Name: Foxfire]]'' (1985)
* ''Code Name: Foxfire'' (1985)
* ''[[Otherworld]]''
* ''[[Otherworld]]''
* ''[[Murder, She Wrote]]''
* ''[[Murder, She Wrote]]''
** episode Deadly Lady
** episode "Deadly Lady"
** pilot episode ''[[The Murder of Sherlock Holmes]]'' (1984)
** pilot episode "[[The Murder of Sherlock Holmes]]" (1984)
* ''[[Jessie (TV series)|Jessie]]''
* ''[[Jessie (1984 TV series)|Jessie]]''
* ''[[Hunter (U.S. TV series)|Hunter]]''
* ''[[Hunter (1984 U.S. TV series)|Hunter]]''
* ''[[The Paper Chase]]''
* ''[[The Paper Chase (TV series)|The Paper Chase]]''
** episode Billy Pierce
** episode "Billy Pierce"
* ''[[Hill Street Blues]]''
* ''[[Hill Street Blues]]''
** episode Hair Apparent
** episode "Hair Apparent"
** episode Goodbye, Mr. Scripps
** episode "Goodbye, Mr. Scripps"
** episode Jungle Madness
** episode "Jungle Madness"
* ''[[Legmen]]''
* ''[[Legmen]]''
* ''[[Scarecrow and Mrs. King]]''
* ''[[Scarecrow and Mrs. King]]''
** episode Always Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth
** episode "Always Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth"
* ''[[Whiz Kids (TV series)|Whiz Kids]]''
* ''[[Whiz Kids (TV series)|Whiz Kids]]''
** episode Programmed for Murder
** episode "Programmed for Murder"
** episode Fatal Error
** episode "Fatal Error"
** episode Deadly Access
** episode "Deadly Access"
* ''[[Gavilan (TV series)|Gavilan]]''
* ''[[Gavilan (TV series)|Gavilan]]''
* ''[[Tucker's Witch]]''
* ''[[Tucker's Witch]]''
* ''[[Matt Houston]]''
* ''[[Matt Houston]]''
Line 111: Line 104:
* ''[[Simon & Simon]]''
* ''[[Simon & Simon]]''
* ''[[McClain's Law]]''
* ''[[McClain's Law]]''
* ''[[Magnum, P.I.]]''
* ''[[Magnum, P.I.]]''
* ''[[The Return of Frank Cannon]]'' (1980)
* ''[[The Return of Frank Cannon]]'' (1980)
* ''[[Stone (TV series)|Stone]]''
* ''[[Stone (TV series)|Stone]]''
* ''[[The Man in the Santa Claus Suit]]''
* ''[[The Man in the Santa Claus Suit]]'' (1979)
* ''[[The Rockford Files]]''
* ''[[The Rockford Files]]''
** episode No-Fault Affair
** episode "No-Fault Affair"
** episode The Man Who Saw the Alligators
** episode "The Man Who Saw the Alligators"
** episode The Empty Frame
** episode "The Empty Frame"
* ''[[Trapper John, M.D.]]''
* ''[[Trapper John, M.D.]]''
** episode The Shattered Image
** episode "The Shattered Image"
* ''Stone'' (1979)
* ''[[Stone (TV series)|Stone]]'' (1979)
* ''[[Avalanche (1978 film)|Avalanche]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Avalanche (1978 film)|Avalanche]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Police Woman (TV series)|Police Woman]]''
* ''[[Police Woman (TV series)|Police Woman]]''
** episode The Young and the Fair
** episode "The Young and the Fair"
** episode Do You Still Beat Your Wife?
** episode "Do You Still Beat Your Wife?"
** episode The Lifeline Agency
** episode "The Lifeline Agency"
** episode Broken Angels
** episode "Broken Angels"
* ''[[Lou Grant (TV series)|Lou Grant]]''
* ''[[Lou Grant (TV series)|Lou Grant]]''
* ''[[Thunder and Lightning]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Thunder and Lightning (1977 film)|Thunder and Lightning]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Yesterday's Child]]'' (1977)
* {{ill|Yesterday's Child|fr|italic=yes}} (1977)
* ''[[Quincy, M.E.]]'' (1976)
* ''[[Quincy, M.E.]]'' (1976)
* ''[[Executive Suite]]''
* ''[[Executive Suite (TV series)|Executive Suite]]''
* ''[[Bronk (TV series)|Bronk]]''
* ''[[Bronk (TV series)|Bronk]]''
* ''[[Kate McShane]]''
* ''[[Kate McShane]]''
* ''[[The Family Holvak]]''
* ''[[The Family Holvak]]''
* ''[[Cry Rape]]'' (1973)
* ''[[Cry Rape]]'' (1973)
* ''[[Police Story (TV series)|Police Story]]'' (1973)
* ''[[Police Story (1973 TV series)|Police Story]]'' (1973)
* ''[[Barnaby Jones]]'' (1973)
* ''[[Barnaby Jones]]'' (1973)
* ''[[The Streets of San Francisco]]''
* ''[[The Streets of San Francisco]]''
* ''[[Ironside (TV series)|Ironside]]''
* ''[[Ironside (TV series)|Ironside]]''
** episode But When She Was Bad
** episode "But When She Was Bad"
** episode Too Many Victims
** episode "Too Many Victims"
* ''[[See the Man Run]]'' (1971)
* ''[[See the Man Run]]'' (1971)
* ''[[Cannon (TV series)|Cannon]]''
* ''[[Cannon (TV series)|Cannon]]''
* ''[[The Erotic Adventures of Pinocchio]]'' (1971)
* {{ill|The Erotic Adventures of Pinocchio|pl|Erotyczne przygody Pinokia|italic=yes}} (1971)
* ''[[The High Chaparral]]''
* ''[[The High Chaparral]]''
** episode A Good Sound Profit
** episode "A Good Sound Profit"
* ''[[Mannix]]''
* ''[[Mannix]]''
** episode Time Out of Mind
** episode "Time Out of Mind"
** episode The Sound of Darkness
** episode "The Sound of Darkness"
* ''[[The New People]]''
* ''[[The New People]]''
* ''[[Then Came Bronson]]''
* ''[[Then Came Bronson]]''
* ''[[Lancer (TV series)|Lancer]]''
* ''[[Lancer (TV series)|Lancer]]''
** episode Child of Rock and Sunlight
** episode "Child of Rock and Sunlight"
* ''[[Hawaii Five-O]]''
* ''[[Hawaii Five-O (1968 TV series)|Hawaii Five-O]]''
* ''[[Sea Hunt]]'' (1961) Season 4, Episode 21: "Quicksand"
{{div col end}}


==Actor==
===As actor===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
*''[[Quarantined]]'' (2009)
|-
*''[[A Time Out of War]]'' (1954)
! Title
*''[[The Night of the Hunter (film)|The Night of the Hunter]]'' (1955)
! Year
*''[[Alfred Hitchcock Presents]]: [[List of Alfred Hitchcock Presents episodes|Season 2, episode "Jonathan"]]'' (1956)
! Role
*''[[Rebel Without a Cause]]'' (1955)
! Notes
*''[[Darby's Rangers (film)|Darby's Rangers]]'' (1958)
|-
*''[[Party Girl (1958 film)|Party Girl]]''
|''[[The Mad Magician]]'' || 1954 || Gus the Stagehand || Uncredited
*''[[The Chapman Report]]'' (1962)
|-
|''[[A Time Out of War]]'' || 1954 || Connor || Short
|-
|''[[The Bridges at Toko-Ri]]'' || 1954 || Enlisted Man || Uncredited
|-
|''[[The Night of the Hunter (film)|The Night of the Hunter]]'' || 1955 || Young Man in Town || Uncredited
|-
|''[[Rebel Without a Cause]]'' || 1955 || Buzz Gunderson ||
|-
|''[[Alfred Hitchcock Presents]]'' || 1956 || Gil Dalliford || Season 2 Episode 10: "[[List of Alfred Hitchcock Presents episodes|Jonathan]]"
|-
|''[[The Shadow on the Window]]'' || 1957 || Gil Ramsey ||
|-
|''[[The Big Caper]]'' || 1957 || Roy ||
|-
|''[[The Restless Gun]]'' || 1958 || George || Episode "Friend in Need"
|-
|''[[Darby's Rangers (film)|Darby's Rangers]]'' || 1958 || Private Pittsburgh Tony Sutherland ||
|-
|''[[Juvenile Jungle (film)|Juvenile Jungle]]'' || 1958 || Hal McQueen ||
|-
|''[[Party Girl (1958 film)|Party Girl]]'' || 1958 || Cookie La Motte ||
|-u
|''[[Private Property (1960 film)|Private Property]]'' || 1960 || Duke || Top Card Lead Billing
|-
|''[[Key Witness (1960 film)|Key Witness]]'' || 1960 || Magician ||
|-
|''[[Sea Hunt]]'' || 1961 || Young || Episode: "Quicksand"
|-
|''[[Sweet Bird of Youth (film)|Sweet Bird of Youth]]'' || 1962 || Scotty ||
|-
|''[[The Chapman Report]]'' || 1962 || Wash Dillon ||
|-
|''[[Combat!]]'' || 1964 || Private Garrett || Episode: A Rare Vintage
|-
|''Original: Do Not Project'' || 1972 || Psychiatrist ||
|-
|''The Works'' || 2004 || Mr. M ||
|-
|''Quarantined'' || 2009 || Mr. Eagle || Voice, (final film role)
|}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist|2}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{imdb name|id=0001904}}
*{{Amg name|79360}}
* {{IMDb name|0001904}}
* {{AllMovie name|79360}}
{{memoryalpha}}
* {{Find a Grave|54252497}}

{{Memory Alpha}}


{{EmmyAward DirectingDrama 1976-2000}}
{{EmmyAward DirectingDrama 1976-2000}}


{{Authority control}}
<!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] -->
{{Persondata
|NAME= Allen, Corey
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Cohen, Alan
|SHORT DESCRIPTION= Actor, director, producer, writer
|DATE OF BIRTH= 1934-6-29
|PLACE OF BIRTH= [[Cleveland, Ohio]], [[United States|U.S.]]
|DATE OF DEATH= 2010-6-27
|PLACE OF DEATH= [[Hollywood, California]], [[United States|U.S.]]
}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Corey}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Corey}}
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:2010 deaths]]
[[Category:2010 deaths]]
[[Category:American film actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American television actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American film directors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male screenwriters]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male television writers]]
[[Category:American television directors]]
[[Category:American television directors]]
[[Category:American film producers]]
[[Category:American screenwriters]]
[[Category:American television writers]]
[[Category:American television writers]]
[[Category:Actors from Ohio]]
[[Category:Burials at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery]]
[[Category:Deaths from Parkinson's disease]]
[[Category:Deaths from Parkinson's disease in California]]
[[Category:People from Cleveland, Ohio]]
[[Category:Film directors from Ohio]]
[[Category:University of California, Los Angeles alumni]]
[[Category:Film producers from Ohio]]
[[Category:Gay actors]]
[[Category:Jewish American male actors]]
[[Category:Male actors from Cleveland]]

[[Category:Screenwriters from Ohio]]
[[de:Corey Allen]]
[[Category:UCLA Film School alumni]]
[[fr:Corey Allen]]
[[it:Corey Allen (regista)]]
[[nl:Corey Allen]]
[[pt:Corey Allen]]

Latest revision as of 14:12, 18 August 2024

For those of a similar name, see Cory Allen (disambiguation).

Corey Allen
Allen in an episode of Medic (1954)
Born
Alan Cohen

(1934-06-29)June 29, 1934
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
DiedJune 27, 2010(2010-06-27) (aged 75)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeHillside Memorial Park Cemetery
Alma materUCLA School of Theater, Film and Television
Occupations
  • Actor
  • director
  • producer
  • writer
Years active1954–2009
Children1[1]
FatherCarl Cohen

Corey Allen (born Alan Cohen; June 29, 1934 – June 27, 2010) was an American film and television director, writer, producer, and actor. He began his career as an actor but eventually became a television director. He is best known for playing the character Buzz Gunderson in Nicholas Ray's Rebel Without a Cause (1955). He was the son of Carl Cohen.

Life and career

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Allen was born as Alan Cohen in Cleveland, Ohio, on June 29, 1934. He was the son of Carl and Frances Freudenreich Cohen; his father was an illegal bookie and gambling operator for the Mayfield Road Mob in Cleveland,[2] and later became an important gambling executive at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.[3][4] Cohen attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where he received his start in acting and was awarded a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1954.[4]

Allen was best known for his role as gang leader Buzz Gunderson in Nicholas Ray's 1955 film Rebel Without A Cause. James Dean starred as Jim Stark, a disaffected teenager who has moved to Los Angeles to start a new life, only to find more problems in his new home. After a show at the Griffith Observatory, Buzz challenges Jim to a knife fight, which Stark wins by subduing Buzz with his switchblade. During the filming of the knife fight both Allen and Dean, aficionados of method acting, used real knives and Dean was injured when Allen lunged at him with his knife.[4] The gang challenges Jim to a chickie run, in which two stolen cars will be raced towards a cliff and the winner will be the last one to jump out.[4] Before the two embark on their death race, Buzz and Jim stand at the edge of the cliff, looking down at the fall they might face if they remain in their cars to the end. Buzz, realizing Jim’s moxie in accepting the car challenge and actually besting him in the earlier knife confrontation, discloses Jim has earned his respect, that he “likes him.” It’s a poignant moment where social acceptance is within the grasp of perpetual misfit Jim Stark. Jim had passed an initiation where he would be accepted in with the “wheels.” Jim thus questions why then go ahead with this race. Buzz underwhelmingly responds, "You got to do something, don't you".[1] Allen would later recall that his classic line was "the underlying question of each generation. Here we are: What do we do?".[5] As the cars are heading to the cliff, Buzz attempts to jump out but is unable to escape when his leather jacket gets caught on the car door handle; he is killed in the crash on the beach below.[4]

He appeared in some minor film roles before Rebel and afterward was seen in The Chapman Report, Darby's Rangers, Juvenile Jungle, Party Girl, Sweet Bird of Youth, in addition to guest appearances on Bonanza, Dr. Kildare, Gunsmoke, Have Gun, Will Travel and Perry Mason.[1] In 1960 Allen played murderer Rennie Foster in "The Case of the Red Riding Boots", and in 1962 he played murder victim Lester Menke in "The Case of the Borrowed Baby".

He was actively involved in theatrical productions in the Los Angeles area, creating the touring company Freeway Circuit Inc. in 1959 and the Actors Theater in 1965. He was also involved in teaching theater at The Actors Workshop.[1]

Allen turned to directing starting in the 1960s, where he worked on such television programs as Dallas, Hawaii Five-O, Hill Street Blues, Ironside, Mannix, Murder, She Wrote, Police Woman, The Rockford Files, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: The Next Generation and The Streets of San Francisco.[4] He won an Emmy Award, in 1984, for directing an episode of Hill Street Blues.[6]

In 1967, Corey and his business partner Gary Stromberg met with Charles Manson early in both of their careers, as new director and cult leader respectively. Manson was invited to help them write a film treatment called Black Jesus (later produced by an Italian company in 1968) and Manson's "family" was allowed to live briefly in Corey's small acting studio on Western Ave. After Corey's then-girlfriend expressed her concerns about Manson, he broke ties with him.[7]

He died from complications of Parkinson's disease at his home in Hollywood on June 27, 2010, two days before his 76th birthday.[1][4] He is buried in grave 7-51-2 in the Sunset Slope section of Hillside Memorial Park in Los Angeles.[8]

Filmography

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As director

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As actor

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Title Year Role Notes
The Mad Magician 1954 Gus the Stagehand Uncredited
A Time Out of War 1954 Connor Short
The Bridges at Toko-Ri 1954 Enlisted Man Uncredited
The Night of the Hunter 1955 Young Man in Town Uncredited
Rebel Without a Cause 1955 Buzz Gunderson
Alfred Hitchcock Presents 1956 Gil Dalliford Season 2 Episode 10: "Jonathan"
The Shadow on the Window 1957 Gil Ramsey
The Big Caper 1957 Roy
The Restless Gun 1958 George Episode "Friend in Need"
Darby's Rangers 1958 Private Pittsburgh Tony Sutherland
Juvenile Jungle 1958 Hal McQueen
Party Girl 1958 Cookie La Motte
Private Property 1960 Duke Top Card Lead Billing
Key Witness 1960 Magician
Sea Hunt 1961 Young Episode: "Quicksand"
Sweet Bird of Youth 1962 Scotty
The Chapman Report 1962 Wash Dillon
Combat! 1964 Private Garrett Episode: A Rare Vintage
Original: Do Not Project 1972 Psychiatrist
The Works 2004 Mr. M
Quarantined 2009 Mr. Eagle Voice, (final film role)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Corey Allen dies at 75; actor played gang leader in 'Rebel Without a Cause'". Los Angeles Times. June 30, 2010.
  2. ^ Levy, Shawn (1999). Rat Pack Confidential: Frank, Dean, Sammy, Peter, Joey and the Last Great Show Biz Party. Crown/Archetype. p. 77. ISBN 0385500254.
  3. ^ Levy (1999), pp. 78-79.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Nagourney, Eric. "Corey Allen, Actor and Director, Dies at 75", The New York Times, June 30, 2010. Accessed July 1, 2010.
  5. ^ Fujiwara, Chris. "The Rebel: Fifty years ago, Nicholas Ray's 'Rebel Without a Cause' changed American culture. But did it call for rebellion, conformity, or both?", The Boston Globe, October 30, 2005. Accessed July 1, 2010.
  6. ^ "Corey Allen Obituary". Archived from the original on July 3, 2010.
  7. ^ "Are Any Rebel Without a Cause Cast Members Still Alive?". MovieWeb. October 27, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  8. ^ Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More than 14000 Famous Persons (entry 181) by Scott Wilson
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