A native of Reading, Pennsylvania, Allen studied at the Pasadena Playhouse before appearing in her first screen role on the series O'Hara, U.S. Treasury in 1971.

In addition to her television credits, Allen starred in two feature films: the thriller You'll Like My Mother (1972) and the Western Billy Two Hats (1974).

[3] Allen appeared in the horror film You'll Like My Mother (1972), starring Patty Duke, Rosemary Murphy and Richard Thomas.

[7] Allen appeared on television series and miniseries such as Captains and the Kings, The Incredible Hulk, Ironside, The Rockford Files,[2] Alias Smith and Jones,[2] Bonanza, Kojak, Gunsmoke, Love, American Style, Columbo: Lovely but Lethal, Cagney & Lacey, Adam-12, and Hawaii Five-O.

[2] In 1974, she was the lead actress in the western Billy Two Hats, alongside Gregory Peck and Jack Warden.