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This slim, handsome, blond young actor has been working his way up in series
and TV-movies since the early 1980s, occasionally making a hit with
recurring and regular roles. Born in California, Chad Allen began acting
early, with roles in such TV series as "St. Elsewhere" (NBC), as Ed Flanders'
autistic son, "Webster" (ABC, 1985-86), "Highway to Heaven," "The Wonder
Years" and "In the Heat of the Night". He also worked onstage in Los Angeles-area
productions of "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All To You", "A Man Called
Peter" and "Oliver!".
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Allen got his first notable role as the headstrong pre-teen son of Deidre
Hall (and younger brother of Shannen Doherty) on the heartwarming family
drama "Our House" (NBC, 1986-1988). He also played the cooler of the two
school friends competing for Staci Keanan on "My Two Dads" (NBC, 1987-1990).
His most fulfilling role to date, however, was Matthew, the eldest (and most
strong-willed) of the orphans adopted by "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" (CBS,
1993-98). The role gave Allen a showcase for his maturing talents. In 1996,
his character was even elected sheriff.
Allen was a tiny tot when he made his first TV-movie, a bit in the drama "Not
My Kid" (CBS, 1985). Slowly-growing roles followed in "The Bad Seed" and "A
Death in California (both ABC, 1985) and "Code of Vengeance" (NBC, 1985). In
1986, Allen voiced the lead characters in the animated "Happy New Year,
Charlie Brown!" (CBS) and "Pound Puppies" (ABC). From then on, his roles
were starring or co-starring: a "rental" in "Help Wanted: Kids" (ABC, 1986),
a resident of "Camp Cucamonga" (NBC, 1990), a teen seduced into evil in "Murder
in New Hampshire: The Pamela Smart Story" (CBS, 1991) and the son of
potential murder victim Barry Bostwick in "Praying Mantis" (USA, 1993; Dr.
Quinn herself, Jane Seymour, played the villainess).
Allen's only theatrical film thus far did not appeal to either critics or
audiences: he played the heroic teen who tries to protect his family from a
space alien in "TerrorVision" (1986). The politically active actor is
involved in such groups as MADD, The American Diabetes Association, The
Autistic Children's Foundation and Angel's Flight, a teen halfway house. He
also appeared in a 1988 anti-drug special, "Straight Up" (PBS). |
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