Kalen Allen
{{Short description|American actor and internet personality (born 1996)}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kalen Allen
| image = Kalen Allen May 2024.jpg
| caption = Allen in 2024
| birth_date = {{Birthdate and age|1996|01|04}}
| birth_place = Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.
| education = Temple University
| occupation = {{flatlist|
}}
| module2 = {{Infobox YouTube personality|embed=yes
| channel_handle = TheKalenAllen
| subscribers = 877 thousand
| views = 46 million
| years_active = 2017–present
| stats_update = October 3, 2024
}}
}}
Kalen Allen (born January 4, 1996) is an American actor, comedian, and internet personality who gained widespread recognition and fame through his viral food reaction videos. His social media popularity led to regular appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. He subsequently appeared on the 2020 film An American Pickle, the Amazon Prime series With Love, HBO Max's A Black Lady Sketch Show, and the Netflix film, Meet Me Next Christmas.{{Cite web |last=Simon |first=Jordan |date=March 28, 2023 |title=CHRISTINA MILIAN, DEVALE ELLIS, KOFI SIRIBOE AND KALEN ALLEN TO STAR IN NETFLIX'S 'MEET ME NEXT CHRISTMAS' |url=https://blavity.com/entertainment/christina-milian-devale-ellis-kofi-siriboe-and-kalen-allen-to-star-in-netflixs-meet-me-next-christmas |access-date=16 May 2024 |website=Blavity}} Kalen is currently starring in Elf, The Musical on Broadway, in the role of Store Manager.{{Cite web |last=CULWELL-BLOCK |first=LOGAN |date=October 8, 2024 |title=Ashley Brown, Kalen Allen, Kayla Davion, More Join Upcoming Broadway Elf Revival |url=https://playbill.com/article/ashley-brown-kalen-allen-kayla-davion-more-join-upcoming-broadway-elf-revival |access-date=21 Nov 2024 |website=Playbill}}
Early life and education
Kalen Allen was born and grew up in Kansas City, Kansas. He attended Sumner Academy of Arts & Science, a high school in Kansas City.{{Cite news |last=Randle |first=Aaron |date=November 29, 2018 |title=New movie, viral videos and Ellen: This KCK native won't admit it, but he's famous |work=The Kansas City Star |url=https://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/article222063715.html |access-date=October 5, 2023}} He subsequently went to Temple University where he majored in film, theater, and media arts.{{Cite web |last=McCoy |first=Kimeko |date=October 14, 2019 |title=It Started With a 7-Up Salad for Viral Video Star Kalen Allen |url=https://www.adweek.com/performance-marketing/it-started-with-a-7-up-salad-for-viral-video-star-kalen-allen/ |access-date=October 6, 2023 |website=AdWeek |language=en-US}} Using Temple University's Los Angeles Study Away program, he graduated in 2018 soon after his rise in popularity.{{Cite web |last=Hatmaker |first=Julia |date=January 7, 2019 |title=Temple grad Kalen Allen celebrates one year anniversary with Ellen DeGeneres |url=https://www.pennlive.com/life/2019/01/temple-grad-kalen-allen-celebrates-one-year-anniversary-with-ellen-degeneres.html |access-date=October 6, 2023 |website=The Patriot-News |language=en}} As of 2022, Allen is enrolled in a master's in journalism program at New York University.{{Cite web |last=Vlessing |first=Etan |date=September 22, 2022 |title=Kalen Allen Signs With WME (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/kalen-allen-signs-with-wme-exclusive-1235225371/ |access-date=October 7, 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}
Career
In 2017, while still a college student, Allen stumbled upon a video tutorial for a peculiar dish called 7-Up Salad. The recipe consisted of soda, marshmallows, lime Jell-O, cream cheese, and other unlikely ingredients. Intrigued by the absurdity of the recipe, Allen recorded his reaction and posted it on social media, adding humorous commentary. The video went viral.{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Vincent |date=November 6, 2019 |title=How Kalen Allen turned 15-minute internet fame into a budding entertainment career |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/free-times/arts/how-kalen-allen-turned-15-minute-internet-fame-into-a-budding-entertainment-career/article_0b5e358e-ffec-11e9-a96d-ab6df47c6c49.html |access-date=October 8, 2023 |website=Post and Courier |language=en}}
Allen started the YouTube channel Kalen Reacts,{{Cite web |last=Hatmaker |first=Julia |date=January 5, 2018 |title=Temple student 'may be the best thing on the internet,' according to Ellen DeGeneres |url=https://www.pennlive.com/entertainment/2018/01/pa_student_may_be_the_best_thi.html |access-date=October 6, 2023 |website=The Patriot-News |language=en}} which primarily featured him reacting to other bizarre and unconventional videos of people making food with unusual recipes.{{Cite web |last=Davenport |first=Emily |date=July 29, 2020 |title=Kalen Allen talks landing a job on 'Ellen' and new role in An American Pickle |url=https://www.amny.com/news/kalen-allen-talks-landing-a-job-on-ellen-and-new-role-in-an-american-pickle/ |access-date=October 6, 2023 |website=AM New York Metro |language=en-US}} He posted his first Kalen Reacts video in November 2017.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Gayneté |date=March 31, 2023 |title=TV's Funny, New 'It Man' Kalen Allen Is on a Mission to Spread Joy |url=https://www.blackenterprise.com/tvs-funny-new-it-man-kalen-allen-is-on-a-mission-to-spread-joy/ |access-date=October 6, 2023 |website=Black Enterprise |language=en-US}} But these videos quickly gained traction, garnering millions of views and attracting widespread attention.{{Cite web |last=Harden |first=Brandon T |date=October 6, 2023 |title=Kalen Allen's first movie was 'An American Pickle' |url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2020/aug/07/kalen-allens-first-movie-was-an-american-pickle/ |access-date=October 6, 2023 |website=The Columbian |language=en-US}} Ellen DeGeneres took notice of them and expressed her admiration on her talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, in an episode that aired on December 7, 2017. She invited him to appear on her show and later also offered him a job opportunity. During his appearance on January 2, 2018, Allen was officially hired to create reaction videos for the show.
Allen won a Webby Award in 2020 for OMKalen. He made his film acting debut the same year in An American Pickle starring Seth Rogen.{{Cite web |last=Harden |first=Brandon T. |date=July 31, 2020 |title=Temple grad Kalen Allen landed his first movie gig, alongside Seth Rogen |url=https://www.inquirer.com/entertainment/movies/kalen-allen-an-american-pickle-ellen-degeneres-20200731.html |access-date=October 8, 2023 |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer |language=en}} The film's plot revolves around a man who falls into a vat of pickles in 1918, is preserved, and reemerges in present-day Brooklyn. Allen plays one half of a Brooklyn gay couple who help the man establish a successful pickle business. In November 2020, Allen released debut album For Christmas Sake!{{Cite magazine |last=Daw |first=Stephen |date=November 2, 2020 |title=Kalen Allen Wants to Light Up Your Holiday With Debut Album 'For Christmas Sake:' Exclusive |url=https://www.billboard.com/culture/pride/kalen-allen-announces-debut-christmas-album-9476914/ |access-date=October 8, 2023 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}
In 2021, Allen became a judge on Cakealikes{{Cite web |last=Totiyapungprasert |first=Priscilla |title=3 Arizona teams will compete on this new Food Network cake show. Here's how to watch |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/dining/2021/01/03/watch-arizona-bakers-compete-new-food-network-show-cakealikes/4092807001/ |access-date=October 8, 2023 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=en-US}} which aired on Food Network and the streaming service Discovery+.{{Cite web |last=Garrity |first=Katie |date=April 26, 2021 |title=Comedian Kalen Allen Steals the Spotlight on Cakealikes |url=https://www.distractify.com/p/cakealikes-judges |access-date=November 26, 2023 |website=Distractify |language=en-US}} In 2022, he was also a judge on the network's Supermarket Stakeout. Allen also hosted Buddy vs Duff, a competition between Buddy Valastro and Duff Goldman. He has appeared in episodes the Amazon Prime series With Love. and HBO Max's A Black Lady Sketch Show. In September 2022, Allen began co-hosting Raised by Ricki, a podcast with Ricki Lake.{{Cite web |last=Seemayer |first=Zach |date=September 22, 2022 |title=Ricki Lake Talks New Podcast, Looking Back at Her Old Show and Reveals Her Dream Guests |url=https://www.cbs8.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-tonight/ricki-lake-talks-new-podcast-looking-back-at-her-old-show-and-reveals-her-dream-guests-exclusive/603-32588d25-ff31-4d73-be3b-586dc26e3889 |access-date=November 30, 2023 |website=CBS8 |language=en-US}} At the end of 2022, Allen became a judge, along with Stephanie Boswell and Carla Hall, on Food Network's Holiday Baking Championship: Gingerbread Showdown, a spin off of Holiday Baking Championship.{{Cite web |last=Bobic |first=Chrissy |date=November 1, 2021 |title=The 'Holiday Baking Championship: Gingerbread Showdown' Judges Are Here to Crown a Winner |url=https://www.distractify.com/p/holiday-baking-championship-gingerbread-showdown-judges |access-date=November 30, 2023 |website=Distractify |language=en-US}}
In 2023, Allen hosted the year's GLSEN Respect Awards.{{Cite web |last=Ring |first=Trudy |date=May 31, 2023 |title=60 Photos of Your Favorite Celebs Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth at GLSEN Respect Awards |url=https://www.advocate.com/activism/glsen-respect-awards-photos-2023 |access-date=November 30, 2023 |website=Advocate |language=en}}
Personal life
Filmography
= Television =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="margin-right: 0;" |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{tooltip|Refs.|References}} |
|---|
| 2018–2021
| Guest contributor | style="text-align: center;" | |
| 2021–2023
| Cyn |
| 2021
|Cakealikes |Panel judge |
| rowspan="4" |2022
|Host |
| Snack on This
|Host | style="text-align: center;" | |
| Supermarket Stakeout
|Judge |
| A Black Lady Sketch Show
| Arms dealer |
| 2022–2023
|Holiday Baking Championship: Gingerbread Showdown |Judge |
= Film =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="margin-right: 0;" |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{tooltip|Refs.|References}} |
|---|
| rowspan="2" |2020
| Kevin |
| For Christmas Sake: The Movie Musical
|Kokoa Klaus | |
| 2024
|Jordy |
Discography
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|channel=UCLal92cwX3CEBTq2T5E-zjg|title=Kalen Allen}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Kalen}}
Category:21st-century American actors
Category:21st-century American comedians
Category:Comedians from Kansas
Category:Male actors from Kansas City, Kansas
Category:Temple University alumni
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:American male comedians