Jed Allan

Jed Allan Brown, known professionally as Jed Allan, was born on March 1, 1935, in the Bronx, New York, and died on March 9, 2019, at the age of 84. An American actor and television host, he built a career spanning five decades across Broadway, daytime television, primetime series, and game show hosting.

Allan studied drama at the University of Washington, where he also worked as a radio and television announcer and sportscaster to support himself. His stage career took him to Broadway between 1960 and 1967, where he appeared in the comedy Viva Madison Avenue!, All American, The Paisley Convertible, and Oliver Oliver. He also appeared in Barefoot in the Park during this period.

His television career began in daytime drama. In 1964, he made his soap opera debut playing Ace Hubbard on Love of Life, followed that same year by the role of college professor Paul Britton on The Secret Storm, a part he took over from Nicolas Coster, who would later become his co-star on Santa Barbara. Allan is perhaps best known in daytime television for portraying Don Craig on Days of Our Lives from 1971 to 1985, a long-running role that ended when the show shifted its focus to younger characters. He subsequently took on the role of C.C. Capwell on Santa Barbara from 1986 to 1993, and later appeared as Rush Sanders in a recurring capacity on Beverly Hills, 90210. In 2004, he began playing Edward Quartermaine on General Hospital, and he also held the role of Harold Johnson on The Bay.

Outside of soap operas, Allan starred as Forest Ranger Scott Turner on Lassie from 1968 to 1970, working alongside Jack De Mave, who played fellow ranger Bob Erickson. He hosted Celebrity Bowling during the 1970s and hosted a game show pilot titled Temptation in 1981, produced by Ralph Andrews and Columbia Pictures Television. He appeared in multiple made-for-television movies and had a recurring presence on Adam-12, playing burglar Reno West, whose signature method earned him the nickname "Take a little, leave a little." The character was ultimately apprehended by Reed and Malloy in the season six episode "Capture." Allan also appeared in the Carman film The Champion as Mr. Marraco.

In November 2004, Allan published a book titled Please, Spell the Name Right, drawn from his fifty years of experience working as an actor. He was married to Toby Brown from September 21, 1958, until her death in 2001. The couple had three sons: Mitch, Dean, and Rick. Allan resided in Palm Desert, California, in his later years.