Jeff Allen (comedian)
| Jeff Allen | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Jeffrey Allen Mishler |
| Born | June 5, 1956 Sauk Village, Illinois, U.S. |
| Medium | Film |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Spouse | Tami Mishler |
Jeffrey Allen Mishler (born June 5, 1956[1]), known professionally as Jeff Allen, is an American comedian best known for his film Happy Wife, Happy Life, Revisited.[2] He is also known for his starring roles in several full-length comedy films, including: Bananas,[3] Thou Shalt Laugh,[4] Apostles of Comedy,[5] and Apostles of Comedy: Onwards and Upwards.[6] Allen currently tours [7] the United States performing in churches, corporate venues and comedy clubs.
Early life
Born in Sauk Village, Illinois, he moved to Sauk Village, Illinois at age five.[8] Allen's father, Jack Mishler, aspired to be a painter but could only support his family as a construction worker.[9] His mother, Arlene Mishler, worked for 30 years at Stauffer Chemical Company.
Early career
Allen began his career in 1978 in the comedy clubs of Chicago. Humiliated by the low pay and lack of respect, Allen, then a self-declared atheist, turned to drugs and alcohol.[10] In 1987 he got sober and in 1997 he became a born-again Christian. As he worked clean, in the style of Bill Cosby and Jerry Seinfeld, churches became a significant venue for his act, which, unless specifically requested, is devoid of Christian references.[11]
Personal life
He lives in Fairview, Tennessee with his wife Tami and two children (his wife has one additional child from a previous marriage). His oldest son served with the 101st Airborne in Iraq.[12]
Humanitarian causes
Since becoming a Christian, Jeff Allen has been involved with many humanitarian causes, including being an early supporter of the Bridge Ministry.[13] For years he served as a “World Vision Artist” – performing at various events and espousing the virtues of the organization.[14] In 2012, Jeff Allen became allied with Gestures of Generosity [15] sponsored by Thrivent Financial,[16] a faith-based, $75 billion not-for-profit Fortune 500 company which provides financial and philanthropic services throughout the world. Gestures of Generosity supports multiple humanitarian causes, including intervening in human trafficking. Allen performs annually, and is a spokesperson for, Hope House International,[17] an international ministry for orphans.
Filmography
- 2002 Happy Wife, Happy Life® [18]
- 2003 Ken Davis and Friends: Lighten Up and Laugh [19]
- 2005 Happy Wife, Happy Life, Revisited® [20]
- 2005 The Bananas Comedy Special: Volume I [21]
- 2006 The Bananas Comedy Special: Volume II [22]
- 2006 Thou Shalt Laugh [23]
- 2008 Apostles of Comedy – The Movie [24]
- 2008 My Heart, My Comedy [25]
- 2013 Apostles of Comedy – Onwards and Upwards [26]
Discography
- 2002 Happy Wife, Happy Life
- 2005 Happy Wife, Happy Life, Revisited [27]
- 2005 The Bananas Comedy Special: Volume I [28]
- 2012 Three Word Vocabulary™ [29]
Television and other major appearances
- One‐hour comedy special, Happy Wife, Happy Life®, on the Odyssey Channel, Family Net and the Worship Network
- Two‐time featured performer at the National Prayer Breakfast
- Performed for the troops in Bahrain and on ships in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean
- Comedy Central's Premium Blend
- Showtime
- VH1's Standup Spotlight
- Grand Ole Opry
- Montreal's ‘’Just For Laughs’’ International Comedy Festival
- Co‐hosted the Gospel Music Associations Pre‐Dove Awards
- HBO’s US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado
- Featured performer at the Inaugural Gala for President George W Bush’s Inauguration
- Starred in national tours, ‘’Apostles of Comedy’’ and ‘’Jeff Allen & Friends: Funny People of Faith’’
- Featured comedian on Bill Gaither’s Homecoming Tours
- Regularly heard on SiriusXM Radio, Jones Radio Network, Focus on the Family [30] and The Blaze
- Performing at Franklin Christian Academy's 1st Annual "SpringStation" Thursday, April 23
Books and other publications
- My Life as a Bystander [31]
- Living with Teenagers (regular columnist) 2006-2009 [32]
- Homelife (regular columnist) 2007-2009 [33]
- Homecoming (regular columnist) 2007-2010 [34]
References
- ^ ""Announcing Apostles of Comedy" Zanies.com, September 8, 2008". nashville.zanies.com.
- ^ Happy Wife, Happy Life, Revisited
- ^ "Bananas". amazon.com.
- ^ "Thou Shalt Laugh". amazon.com.
- ^ "Apostles of Comedy". amazon.com.
- ^ "Apostles of Comedy: Onwards and Upwards". amazon.com.
- ^ "tours". jeffallencomedy.com.
- ^ ""Announcing Apostles of Comedy" Zanies.com, September 8, 2008". nashville.zanies.com.
- ^ ""Christian Comedy: And He Say That It Was Funny" Chicago Tribune, November 07, 2011". articles.chicagotribune.com.
- ^ ""Christian Comedy: And He Say That It Was Funny" Chicago Tribune, November 07, 2011". articles.chicagotribune.com.
- ^ "Jeff Allen Bio, The Grable Group". thegrablegroup.com.
- ^ ""Announcing Apostles of Comedy" Zanies.com, September 8, 2008". nashville.zanies.com.
- ^ "Bridge Ministry". bridgeministry.org.
- ^ "Artists and Speakers". World Vision Canada. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
- ^ "Gestures of Generosity". gesturesofgenerosity.com.
- ^ "Thrivent Financial". thrivent.com.
- ^ "Hope House International". hopehouseinternational.org.
- ^ "Happy Wife, Happy Life®". amazon.com.
- ^ "Ken Davis and Friends: Lighten Up and Laugh". amazon.com.
- ^ "Happy Wife, Happy Life, Revisited®". amazon.com.
- ^ "The Bananas Comedy Special: Volume I". amazon.com.
- ^ "The Bananas Comedy Special: Volume II". amazon.com.
- ^ "Thou Shalt Laugh". amazon.com.
- ^ "Apostles of Comedy – The Movie". amazon.com.
- ^ "My Heart, My Comedy". amazon.com.
- ^ "Apostles of Comedy – Onwards and Upwards". dove.org.
- ^ "Happy Wife, Happy Life, Revisited". amazon.com.
- ^ "The Bananas Comedy Special: Volume I". amazon.com.
- ^ "Three Word Vocabulary™". amazon.com.
- ^ "Jeff Allen on Focus, The Grable Group". thegrablegroup.com.
- ^ "My Life as a Bystander". amazon.com.
- ^ "Living with Teenagers". lifeway.com.
- ^ "Homelife". lifeway.com.
- ^ "Homecoming". homecomingmagazine.com.
External links
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |