Allen Cliffton White, a renowned American actor, was born in Houston, Texas. Growing up in San Francisco, he began his working life as a janitor in Golden Gate Park, simultaneously accumulating his first acting experience with local community theatres. An early starring role in the prison drama 'The Ballad of Dangerous George' led to White being invited to join the ensemble of the American Conservatory Theatre.
Over the course of the next three years, he appeared in an impressive seventeen productions, featuring works by esteemed playwrights such as Shakespeare, Dickens, and Williams. Notably, he originated the role of Memphis Lee in August Wilson's 1990 urban play 'Two Trains Running', which eventually made its way to Broadway and earned White a coveted Theatre World Award for Outstanding New Talent.
In addition to his stage work, White has been praised for his performance as Charles Henry "Jack" Blackburn, the boxing champion and trainer of 1937 World Heavyweight Champion Joe Louis, in Steven Drukman's play 'In this Corner'.
On screen, White has been prolific since 1970, often taking on roles as police or military officers. However, he is perhaps best known for his iconic portrayal of the Second Jive Dude in the comedy spoof Airplane! (1980). To prepare for this role, White studied library books on black idioms and slang, including the 1972 lexicon 'Black English' by J. L. Dillard.
Alongside actor Norman Alexander Gibbs, who played the First Jive Dude, White spent hours instructing white actress Barbara Billingsley, the passenger who awkwardly translates the jive-talk to a puzzled stewardess.
Throughout his career, White has made numerous TV appearances, including a recurring role in The Gangster Chronicles (1981) as Harlem policy banker Big Joe Isson, as well as supporting guest spots on Quincy, M.E. (1976),The A-Team (1983),Hill Street Blues (1981),Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983),MacGyver (1985),Simon & Simon (1981),JAG (1995),and Criminal Minds (2005).
In addition to his acting work, White has also pursued a sideline as a writer of both humorous and dramatic poetry.
