Allen Jenkins
The quintessential fast-talking New York sidekick, his mug and voice added grit and humor to over a hundred Hollywood films.
1900–1974 (age 74)·American actor·Birthday: April 9·The Lost Generation
Biography
With a face made for the city and a voice that sounded like it was filtered through a subway grate, Allen Jenkins was the go-to guy for urban character parts in Hollywood's Golden Age. A former Broadway hoofer, he brought a streetwise authenticity to roles as cabbies, gangsters, cops, and reporters, often providing comic relief with perfect timing. He worked constantly, appearing in supporting parts for Warner Bros. in classics like 'The Maltese Falcon' and 'Five Star Final.' Jenkins had a rare crossover into animation immortality as the voice of the perpetually exasperated Officer Dibble in 'Top Cat.' His career, spanning five decades, is a testament to the indelible impact a brilliant character actor can have, filling the edges of the screen with life and laughter.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Allen was born in 1900, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Allen Was Born
The biggest hits of 1900
Allen's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1900Born
Boxer Rebellion in China
President: William McKinley
1905Started school
Einstein publishes the theory of special relativity
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1913Became a teenager
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1916Could drive
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1918Could vote
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Turned 21
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1930Turned 30
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1940Turned 40
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1950Turned 50
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1960Turned 60
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1970Turned 70
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1974Died at 74
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
Key Achievements
- Appeared in over 180 films throughout the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, often at Warner Bros. studios.
- Provided the iconic voice of Officer Charlie Dibble in the animated series 'Top Cat.'
- Transitioned successfully from a stage career in Broadway musicals to a prolific film and television actor.
- Played memorable supporting roles in major films like '42nd Street,' 'The Maltese Falcon,' and 'The Case of the Curious Bride.'
Did You Know?
He began his career as a dancer in Broadway musicals and vaudeville.
Jenkins served in the United States Navy during World War I.
His real last name was originally 'Curtis,' which he used as his middle name professionally.
He was a close friend and frequent co-star of actor and fellow character actor Frank McHugh.
“I've played more cab drivers than there are cabs in New York.”
