Raymond Allen (television actor)
Encyclopedia
Raymond Gilmore Allen (born March 5, 1929 in Kansas City, Missouri
) is an American actor best known for his appearances on television in the 1970s. He had recurring roles as Ned the Wino on the series Good Times
, as Aunt Esther's long-suffering, prone to drink husband, Uncle Woody on the NBC-TV sitcom series Sanford and Son
, and as mechanic
Merle the Earl on Starsky and Hutch
. He reprised his role of Uncle Woody Anderson in the Sanford and Son spin-off
, The Sanford Arms
. Allen also made guest appearances on The Jeffersons
, What's Happening!!
, The Love Boat
and the film Wattstax
.
page, Allen was forced to retire from acting due to illness. Presently, Allen lives with his wife Barbara and daughter, former child actress Ta-Ronce Allen
in Lancaster, California
. He visits the Los Angeles area to visit his daughter Brenda Allen.
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
) is an American actor best known for his appearances on television in the 1970s. He had recurring roles as Ned the Wino on the series Good Times
Good Times
Good Times is an American sitcom that originally aired from February 8, 1974, until August 1, 1979, on the CBS television network. It was created by Eric Monte and Michael Evans, and developed by Norman Lear, the series' primary executive producer...
, as Aunt Esther's long-suffering, prone to drink husband, Uncle Woody on the NBC-TV sitcom series Sanford and Son
Sanford and Son
Sanford and Son is an American sitcom, based on the BBC's Steptoe and Son, that ran on the NBC television network from January 14, 1972, to March 25, 1977....
, and as mechanic
Mechanic
A mechanic is a craftsman or technician who uses tools to build or repair machinery.Many mechanics are specialized in a particular field such as auto mechanics, bicycle mechanics, motorcycle mechanics, boiler mechanics, general mechanics, industrial maintenance mechanics , air conditioning and...
Merle the Earl on Starsky and Hutch
Starsky and Hutch
Starsky and Hutch is a 1970s American cop thriller television series that consisted of a 90-minute pilot movie and 92 episodes of 60 minutes each; created by William Blinn, produced by Spelling-Goldberg Productions, and broadcast between April 30, 1975 and May 15, 1979 on the ABC...
. He reprised his role of Uncle Woody Anderson in the Sanford and Son spin-off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
, The Sanford Arms
The Sanford Arms
The Sanford Arms is an American sitcom that aired from September to October 1977 on NBC. The series is an attempted continuation of the sitcom Sanford and Son.After six seasons, Redd Foxx left Sanford and Son to star in a variety show for ABC...
. Allen also made guest appearances on The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons is an American sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, through June 25, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes. The show was produced by the T.A.T. Communications Company from 1975–1982 and by Embassy Television from 1982-1985...
, What's Happening!!
What's Happening!!
What's Happening!! is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from August 5, 1976 to April 28, 1979. The show premiered as a summer series. With good ratings and reviews, and after the failure of several other shows on the network, What's Happening!! returned in November 1976 as a weekly...
, The Love Boat
The Love Boat
The Love Boat is an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC Television Network from September 24,1977, until May 24,1986.The show starred Gavin MacLeod as the ship's captain...
and the film Wattstax
Wattstax
Wattstax is a 1973 documentary film by Mel Stuart that focused on the 1972 Wattstax music festival and the African American community of Watts in Los Angeles, California. The film was nominated for a Golden Globe award for Best Documentary Film in 1974...
.
Personal life
Allen has not appeared in any acting roles since 1985, but still makes infrequent public appearances, where he speaks and signs autographs. According to his MySpaceMySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page, Allen was forced to retire from acting due to illness. Presently, Allen lives with his wife Barbara and daughter, former child actress Ta-Ronce Allen
Ta-Ronce Allen
Ta-Ronce Allen is an American actress best known for her appearances as a teen actress on television in the 1970s. She had a role as Michael Evans's girlfriend "Yvonne" in two episodes of the hit...
in Lancaster, California
Lancaster, California
Lancaster is a charter city in northern Los Angeles County, in the high desert, near the Kern County line. Lancaster currently ranks as the 30th largest city in California, and the 148th largest city in the United States. Lancaster is the principal city within the Antelope Valley...
. He visits the Los Angeles area to visit his daughter Brenda Allen.