Robert Thomas Allen
Robert Thomas Allen | |
---|---|
Born | 1911 Toronto, Ontario |
Died | 1990 San Bernardino, California |
Occupation | humorist |
Nationality | Canadian |
Period | 1950s-1970s |
Notable works | The Grass Is Never Greener, Wives, Children and Other Wild Life |
Robert Thomas Allen (1911–1990) was a Canadian humorist, best known as a two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Award for humour.[1] He won the award in 1957 for The Grass Is Never Greener, and in 1971 for Wives, Children and Other Wild Life.[1]
Born in Toronto, Ontario, Allen began his career as an advertising writer for Eaton's and Simpsons,[2] and was a freelance contributor of humorous essays to publications such as Maclean's, Saturday Night, The Canadian, Weekend and Star Weekly.[2] He published 14 books throughout his career, including both compilations of his essays and works of children's literature.[2] In addition to his two Leacock Awards, he won the Ruth Schwartz Award for children's literature in 1976 for his book The Violin.[1]
A recurring character in the work of Toronto Star editorial cartoonist Duncan Macpherson, a bespectacled "average Canadian", was originally drawn as a caricature of Allen.[3]
Following his retirement, Allen and his family moved to Sun City, California in 1983.[1] He died of a heart attack in San Bernardino in 1990, aged 79.[1]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Robert Allen hailed as humorist". Toronto Star, July 15, 1990.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Robert Thomas Allen Magazine writer was gentle humorist". The Globe and Mail, July 21, 1990.
- ^ Roy Macgregor, "Canadian readers lose a delightful old friend". Ottawa Citizen, September 13, 1990.
- 1911 births
- 1990 deaths
- 20th-century Canadian essayists
- 20th-century Canadian male writers
- Writers from Toronto
- Canadian magazine writers
- Canadian children's writers
- Stephen Leacock Award winners
- Canadian humorists
- Maclean's writers and editors
- Canadian male essayists
- Canadian writer stubs