Multi-talented television pioneer Steve Allen passed away suddenly Monday night October 30th at the home of his youngest son, Bill, in Encino, California. Allen was resting after a visit with four of his twelve grandchildren when he lost consciousness and died of an apparent heart attack.

He's best known to tv audiences as the creator and first host of NBC's Tonight Show. He also won Peabody and Emmy awards for his PBS series Meeting of Minds and starred in the motion picture "The Benny Goodman Story".

The composer of over 8,500 songs, including the popular standard "This Could be the Start of Something Big" and the Grammy award winning "Gravy Waltz", Steve Allen was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the "most prolific composer of modern times."

Only the day before his death Allen had performed before a sold out audience at Victor Valley College, one of the scores of music and comedy concerts he continued to give around the country each year during his seventh decade of life.

He was also the author of more than 50 published books including comedies and mysteries as well as more serious tomes on subjects as diverse as education, morality, China and the farm worker movement of Caesar Chavez.

On the day of his death, Allen was working on the promotional plans for the December release of his 53rd book "Steve Allen's Private Joke File", and adding the final touches to his manuscript for his 54th book, "Vulgarians at the Gate" concerning the rising tide of violence and vulgarity in the popular media.

Steve Allen was married to television, film and stage actress Jayne Meadows for more than 46 years. She described Allen as "my best friend and my partner on stage and off for more than 48 years. He was the most talented man I've ever known and the one true love of my life."

Steve Allen is survived by Miss Meadows, four sons, eleven grandchildren and three great grand children.