Eugene Allen
Eugene Allen | |
|---|---|
| File:Eugene Allen.jpg | |
| Born | July 14, 1919 |
| Died | March 31, 2010 (aged 90) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Head Butler |
| Known for | The Butler |
Eugene Allen (July 14, 1919 – March 31, 2010)[1] worked for the White House for 34 years until he retired as the head butler in 1986. He started in the White House in 1952 as a "pantry man" and over the years rose in his position until finally attaining the most prestigious rank of butlers serving in the White House, Maître d'hôtel.[2]
Life
Allen was born in Scottsville, Virginia, and died at the Washington Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park, Montgomery County, Maryland; his death was caused by renal failure.[1] Allen had been married to his wife, Helene, for 65 years. Helene died on Nov 3, 2008.[3] The couple had one son, Charles Allen.[4]
Allen and other workers who served presidents were featured in a 32-minute documentary, Workers at the White House, which was directed by Marjorie Hunt and released on a 2009 DVD, White House Workers: Traditions and Memories by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.[5]
Allen's life was the inspiration for the 2013 film The Butler.[6] Danny Strong's screenplay was inspired by a The Washington Post article "A Butler Well Served by This Election."[7][8]
References
- ^ a b Haygood, Wil (April 2, 2010). "Eugene Allen, White House butler for 8 presidents, dies at 90". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
- ^ Haygood, Wil (November 7, 2008). "A Butler Well Served by This Election". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 6, 2009.
- ^ The Man at the Door. The Washington Post (August 12, 2013). Retrieved on August 31, 2013.
- ^ Dockterman, Eliana (August 16, 2013). "The True Story of The Butler: Fact vs. Fiction in Lee Daniels' The Butler". Time.
- ^ "News and Press". Smithsonian Folkways. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
- ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (May 7, 2013). "'The Butler' Trailer: Oprah Winfrey Plays 'Proud' Wife to Forest Whitaker (Video)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
- ^ Haygood, Wil (November 7, 2008). "A Butler Well Served by This Election". The Washington Post.
- ^ "No, President Obama isn't doing a cameo in 'The Butler'". The Washington Post. August 6, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
External links
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