Actor, Director.  He is best remembered for his role as Buzz Gunderson in the classic 1955 film “Rebel Without a Cause”, in which he challenged James Dean to a deadly drag race. Born Alan Cohen, he studied Drama at UCLA and began his acting career in college stage productions, before making his screen debut in “A Time Out of War” (1954). He maintained a busy performing career through the 1960s, appearing in such TV programs as “Gunsmoke”, “Trackdown”, “Rawhide” and “Combat!”, and in the films “Juvenile Jungle” (1958), “Sweet Bird of Youth” (1962) and “The Chapman Report” (1962). Allen then moved behind the camera and established himself as a reputable TV director in a wide range of programs, including “Mannix”, “Police Woman”, “Dallas”, and “Star Trek: The Next Generation”. He received an Emmy Award for directing a 1983 episode of “Hill Street Blues”. Allen died of natural causes two days before his 76th birthday. (bio by: C.S.)  Family links:  Parents:  Carl Cohen (1913 – 1986)  Frances Garber Cohen (1909 – 1994)