Became interested in stop motion animation after viewing a re-release of KING KONG (1933) as a child. Visual effects and special effects supervisor who entered American film with WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH (1970). He specialized in puppet and stop-motion animation. Some of his other feature credits include THE HOWLING and CAVEMAN (both 1981), THE HUNGER and TWILIGHT ZONE: THE MOVIE (both 1983), *batteries not included (1987) WILLOW (1988), and GHOSTBUSTERS II, HONEY I SHRUNK THE KIDS and PUPPET MASTER (all 1989). Allen died of cancer in Burbank, CA, at the age of 54.  Nominated for Visual Effects 1985: YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES (w. Dennis Muren, Kit West & John Ellis) 1 nomination