Best known for his “Hello Dere” greeting and comedy team partnership with Steve Rossi – wild-haired, bug-eyed Marty Allen died last night at the ripe old age of 95.
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Amazingly, he was still working up until several months ago with his wife, Karon. performing the “straight man” role.
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Marty was a TV mainstay during the 60’s and 70’s on talk shows, game shows, variety shows, (including appearances on 44 Ed Sullivan Shows) and even dramatic roles.
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I first met and worked with him many years ago. While chatting backstage, I told him about my favorite of his routines — a rarely performed pantomime of a clown applying and removing his makeup. It was a very poignant and powerful piece.
A few weeks later, a package arrived for me at my agent’s office. It was from Marty and contained an inscribed photo of him performing that classic routine I loved so much. 
Truly a class act.
G’bye dere, Marty.
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MARTY ALLEN
(Morton David Alpern)
23 March 1922 – 12 February 2018