By Harry Wilson 
Martie Allen is an American former television actress, educator, clinical psychologist, and LGBTQ advocate. Most people know her as the longtime partner of Emmy Award-winning actress Kristy McNichol. The two have been together since the early 1990s, making their relationship one of the most enduring in Hollywood history. Allen stepped into the public eye in January 2012, when McNichol came out publicly and shared their story with People magazine.
Since then, curiosity about Allen’s background, career, and life has grown steadily every year. She has spent more than 3 decades building a quiet life defined by education, advocacy, and a private partnership. This biography covers everything confirmed about her life, career, and relationship.
Quick Facts: Martie Allen
| Full Name | Martha Miles Allen |
| Date of Birth | January 1, 1960 |
| Age (2025) | 65 years old |
| Birthplace | United States of America |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White (Caucasian) |
| Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
| Height | Approximately 5 ft 4 in (unconfirmed) |
| Profession | Former Actress, Educator, Clinical Psychologist, LGBTQ Advocate |
| Partner | Kristy McNichol |
| Together Since | Early 1990s (publicly confirmed January 2012) |
| Residence | Los Angeles, California |
| Social Media | No verified public accounts |
Who Is Martie Allen?
Martie Allen is one of the most searched celebrity partners in entertainment, despite spending decades completely out of the public eye. She was born on January 1, 1960, in the United States, and her full birth name is Martha Miles Allen. Beyond her date of birth and nationality, most details about her early years remain private by choice.
Early Life and Date of Birth
Allen was born on New Year’s Day 1960, making her a Capricorn by zodiac. She is 65 years old as of 2025 and 2 years older than her partner Kristy McNichol, who was born in 1962. No verified records confirm her exact birthplace within the United States.
Family Background and Upbringing
Allen grew up in a typical American household. No public record confirms details about her parents, siblings, or extended family. She has never given a public interview discussing her childhood. This level of privacy has been consistent across her entire adult life and appears entirely deliberate.
Education
Allen studied clinical psychology, according to multiple published reports. Several sources identify her as a qualified clinical psychologist and educator. No verified record confirms which institution she attended or when she completed her degree. Any specific school claims found elsewhere should be treated as unconfirmed.
Martie Allen Career
Allen’s professional life covers several areas: acting, education, clinical psychology, and social advocacy. She did not pursue fame the way her partner did. Instead, she built a career across service roles, teaching, and community work.
Philanthropy and Advocacy Work
Allen’s most documented professional role is her work with Aspiranet, a California-based social services organization focused on foster care and at-risk youth. She appeared in an interview as Aspiranet’s Director at the time of filming, in a segment produced by Consortium Media Services during Foster Care Month. This role placed her directly in the field of child safety and family support. She has worked with organizations that focus on securing stable futures for children without families.
Acting and Television Work
Allen appeared in television productions during the 1980s, primarily in supporting roles. Her acting credits are limited and largely undocumented in major entertainment databases. No verified acting credits for Allen appear on IMDb or similar platforms. Her television work during this period did not bring significant media attention.
She later developed a career as a voice actor and audiobook narrator, according to reporting by AmoMama. This work kept her connected to performance without requiring public visibility.
Clinical Psychology and Education Career
Allen holds qualifications in clinical psychology and has worked as an educator. Multiple sources confirm she worked in teaching and counseling roles, though specific employers and timelines are not publicly available. Her background in psychology appears to inform her advocacy work, particularly around child welfare and mental health.
Relationship with Kristy McNichol
The relationship between Martie Allen and Kristy McNichol spans more than 3 decades and represents one of Hollywood’s most quietly enduring partnerships. It began in the late 1980s, remained entirely private for over 20 years, and finally reached the public in 2012.
How and When Did They Meet?
Allen and McNichol met in the late 1980s and began their relationship around 1991. No confirmed account describes the exact circumstances of how they first connected. Both women were involved in the Los Angeles entertainment world at that time, which likely provided the setting for their introduction.
Kristy McNichol Coming Out — The 2012 Announcement
On January 10, 2012, Kristy McNichol publicly confirmed her relationship with Martie Allen through an exclusive with People magazine. McNichol shared a photograph of herself and Allen together. Her publicist Jeff Ballard told People: “She hopes that coming out can help kids who need support. She would like to help others who feel different.”
McNichol explained her motivation directly. She told the magazine that approaching 50, she wanted to be open about who she is. The decision was not driven by external pressure. McNichol chose that moment specifically because of her concern about young people being bullied over their sexual orientation. Allen supported McNichol’s decision fully and stood alongside her in the photograph that ran in People.
Are Kristy McNichol and Martie Allen Married?
Allen and McNichol are not legally married, according to all available public records. No wedding announcement, marriage certificate, or official statement confirms a legal marriage. They have referred to each other as partners consistently across all public statements. Their relationship has lasted more than 30 years without a formal legal ceremony, at least none confirmed publicly.
Do They Have Children?
Allen and McNichol have no children together. No adoption records or public statements suggest they pursued parenthood. The couple has chosen a quiet domestic life focused on their relationship, their dogs, and their respective professional interests.
Are They Still Together in 2025?
Yes. Allen and McNichol remain together as of 2025. No credible report or public statement suggests any separation or change in their relationship status. They continue to live together in Los Angeles, California. Their partnership now spans more than 30 years.
Kristy McNichol — Who Is Martie Allen’s Partner?
Kristy McNichol is a two-time Emmy Award-winning actress who rose to fame as a child star in the 1970s. She was born on September 11, 1962, in Los Angeles, California. She is of Irish and Lebanese heritage. Her younger brother Jimmy McNichol was also a child performer and singer during the same era.
McNichol first gained national attention playing Letitia “Buddy” Lawrence in the ABC drama Family, which ran from 1976 to 1980. She won 2 Emmy Awards for that role. She later starred as Barbara Weston in the NBC sitcom Empty Nest from 1988 to 1995. Her film credits include Little Darlings (1980) and Only When I Laugh (1981), for which she received a Golden Globe nomination. In the early 1990s, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and stepped back from acting. She officially retired in 2001.
Martie Allen Age and Personal Facts
Allen turned 65 on January 1, 2025. She is 2 years older than Kristy McNichol, who turned 62 in September 2024.
Physical Appearance and Lifestyle
Allen stands approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall (unconfirmed), with blonde hair and dark brown eyes. McNichol’s publicist Jeff Ballard confirmed in a 2012 press statement that the couple stays active with tennis, yoga, travel, and caring for their dogs at their Los Angeles home.
Allen avoids social media entirely. No verified public accounts exist on Instagram, X, Facebook, or any other platform. One unverified Instagram handle (@m4rt13all3n) has appeared in search results but carries no confirmation of being operated by Allen herself.
LGBTQ+ Advocacy and Legacy
Allen and McNichol became a visible symbol for LGBTQ couples when McNichol came out in 2012. McNichol’s decision was rooted in concern for young people facing bullying over their sexuality. Allen stood alongside her partner through that announcement and has supported LGBTQ causes since. Their relationship, which began privately in the early 1990s, now represents over 30 years of committed partnership built entirely on their own terms, away from the media attention that once defined McNichol’s career.
Marty Allen vs. Martie Allen — Two Different People
Marty Allen the comedian and Martie Allen, Kristy McNichol’s partner, share only a similar name. They are 2 completely different people with no connection to each other.
Who Was Marty Allen the Comedian?
Marty Allen was an American comedian, actor, and philanthropist born March 23, 1922, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His real name was Morton David Alpern. He was famous for his wild black hair, wide eyes, and his signature catchphrase “Hello Dere.” He rose to fame as one half of the comedy duo Allen and Rossi, alongside straight man Steve Rossi. The duo made 44 appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, including the legendary episodes featuring The Beatles.
Allen also held a long-running spot on The Hollywood Squares and appeared regularly on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and The Merv Griffin Show. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and earned a Soldier’s Medal for bravery while stationed in Italy.
How Did Marty Allen the Comedian Die?
Marty Allen died on February 12, 2018, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was 95 years old. The cause of death was complications from pneumonia. His wife and performing partner Karon Kate Blackwell was by his side. He performed well into his mid-90s. His gravestone reads “Hello Dere from Heaven,” a nod to his lifelong catchphrase.
Why Do People Confuse the Two Names?
The confusion is a spelling issue. Marty Allen the comedian spelled his name M-A-R-T-Y. Martie Allen, Kristy McNichol’s partner, spells hers M-A-R-T-I-E. Search engines frequently surface both names together because users type “Marty Allen” when searching for information about McNichol’s partner. The 2 people have no connection. One is a male comedian born in 1922 who died in 2018. The other is a female television personality born in 1960 who lives in Los Angeles today.
Martie Allen Net Worth
No official financial disclosure exists for Martie Allen. Her net worth is an estimate based on known career activities.
Estimated Net Worth 2025
Allen’s personal net worth sits at approximately $1 million, according to multiple entertainment biography sources. This figure accounts for her television work in the 1980s, voice acting and audiobook narration work, her role at Aspiranet, and her career in education and clinical psychology.
Income Sources
Allen’s confirmed income sources include her television appearances in the 1980s, voice acting work, audiobook narration, her clinical psychology practice, and her position at Aspiranet. Teaching and counseling roles likely contributed to her earnings over the years, though specific salary details are not publicly available.
Kristy McNichol Net Worth
Kristy McNichol’s estimated net worth is $6 million, according to published celebrity finance sources. Her earnings came primarily from her acting career across Family, Empty Nest, and multiple film roles between 1976 and 2001. As a calculated estimate based on both figures, Allen and McNichol’s combined household net worth sits at approximately $7 million. Both women live modestly relative to that figure, with no reported luxury spending or high-profile purchases.
Where Is Martie Allen Now? (2025 Update)
Allen and McNichol continue to live together in Los Angeles, California as of 2025. Neither woman has made a public appearance or media statement in recent years. McNichol’s publicist confirmed in 2012 that she stays active with tennis, yoga, travel, and caring for her dogs. No credible update suggests that routine has changed.
Allen continues her advocacy work quietly. Her connection to Aspiranet and youth welfare causes remains her most publicly documented professional activity. She does not attend industry events, give interviews, or maintain any social media presence. As of 2025, no news outlet or credible publication has reported any change in their relationship or lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Martie Allen
Martie Allen is an American former television actress, educator, clinical psychologist, and LGBTQ advocate. She is best known as the longtime partner of Emmy Award-winning actress Kristy McNichol. The two have been together since the early 1990s and publicly confirmed their relationship in January 2012 through People magazine.
How old is Martie Allen
Martie Allen is 65 years old as of 2025. She was born on January 1, 1960, in the United States.
How long have Kristy McNichol and Martie Allen been together
Kristy McNichol and Martie Allen have been together for over 30 years. Their relationship began around 1991. McNichol publicly confirmed it in January 2012 through People magazine.
Are Kristy McNichol and Martie Allen married
No. Kristy McNichol and Martie Allen are not legally married. No public record or official statement confirms a legal marriage. They refer to each other as partners.
What is Martie Allen’s net worth
Martie Allen’s estimated net worth is approximately $1 million. Her combined household net worth with Kristy McNichol is estimated at around $7 million.
What movies or TV shows has Martie Allen been in
Martie Allen had minor television appearances in the 1980s, primarily in supporting roles. No major acting credits appear in verified entertainment databases such as IMDb. She later worked as a voice actor and audiobook narrator.
Is Marty Allen the comedian the same as Martie Allen
No. Marty Allen (1922 to 2018) was a male American comedian famous for the duo Allen and Rossi and his catchphrase “Hello Dere.” Martie Allen (born 1960) is Kristy McNichol’s female partner. The 2 share only a similar name and have no connection to each other.
Where is Martie Allen now
Martie Allen lives in Los Angeles, California with Kristy McNichol. She maintains a private life away from media and social media. Her advocacy work in youth welfare and LGBTQ causes continues quietly as of 2025.
Final Thoughts
Martie Allen has spent 30 years building a life that most people in her position would have traded for fame. She had proximity to Hollywood, a partner who was a household name, and every opportunity to step into the spotlight. She chose none of it. Instead, she built a career in education, psychology, and child welfare advocacy that stands entirely on its own.
When McNichol came out in January 2012, Allen stood in that photograph without hesitation. That single image told the public everything the couple had chosen to keep private for over 20 years. Since then, nothing about their approach has changed. They live in Los Angeles, stay off social media, and continue the quiet, stable life they built long before anyone was searching for it.