Allison Argo (born December 23, 1953) is an American film producer, director, writer, editor, and narrator. She is best known for her documentaries that focus on endangered wildlife and conservation. Her films have received awards including six National Emmy Awards. and the duPont-Columbia Award for journalism.
In her early career as an actress, Argo performed on Broadway, in television, and in film. Her theatre roles included work as an original cast member in two Broadway theatre productions, and her work in television and film included roles in television movies and a major role in a TV series, along with recurring roles in two soap operas.
In 1989, while on location in the state of Washington, Argo happened upon a gorilla caged as an exhibit in a shopping mall. This experience led Argo to produce and direct her first film, The Urban Gorilla (National Geographic 1992), about the lives of captive gorillas. Argo received the duPont-Columbia award for the documentary. Since that time, Argo has dedicated her work towards advocating for the welfare and understanding of wild animals through documentary films and public speaking engagements.
With her production company, ArgoFilms, LTD, Argo has produced eighteen films. Among others, notable award-winning films have included Keepers of the Wild (National Geographic and PBS 1992), The Last Frog (National Geographic 1996), The Secret Life of Cats (National Geographic 1999), The Urban Elephant (National Geographic and PBS NATURE 2000), Chimpanzees: An Unnatural History (PBS NATURE 2006), Crash: a Tale of Two Species (PBS NATURE 2008), and Parrot Confidential (PBS NATURE 2013), The Last Pig (2017).
Early life Argo was raised on Cape Cod as one of two daughters of Gordon Harold Argo (06/22/1924–07/10/2003) and Elizabeth "Betsy" Argo (née Brunk; 1922–2016),Obituary for Elizabeth "Betsy" Argo, legacy.com; accessed August 18, 2017. both actors. The Argos owned and operated the Orleans Arena Theater, America's first summer stock theater-in-the-round, in the town of Orleans, Massachusetts. From childhood, she was immersed in theater and the world of drama, which prepared her for a career as a professional actress in New York and Los Angeles.
Career as an actress On Broadway, Argo played major roles as an original cast member in the revivals of Ibsen's The Lady from the Sea (1976), and Tennessee Williams’ The Night of the Iguana (1976–1977), and she appeared in the musical Grease. She played a leading role on the CBS television series Ladies Man and was featured on WKRP in Cincinnati, as well as on ten television movies and pilots. Argo played recurring roles on the soap operas Search for Tomorrow and The Bold and the Beautiful. She also voiced cartoon characters, including the character Andrea in the Cathy animated television specials.
ArgoFilms
Argo's experience seeing the gorilla, Ivan, isolated and on display in an enclosure comprising two concrete rooms in a shopping mall was the catalyst for her forming ArgoFilms, LTD. Concerned about gorillas in similar situations as Ivan's, Argo made them the subject of her first film The Urban Gorilla, which in addition to the duPont-Columbia award was the recipient of two Emmy nominations.
Since The Urban Gorilla, ArgoFilms has gone on to advocate for, among others, frogs, snakes, cats, elephants, chimpanzees, and birds. One film has documented the effects of the September 11 attacks upon people. The Story of Dao, about a street elephant named Pang Dao, has been in pre-production since 2011. A scout (research expedition) was completed in Thailand in 2012.
ArgoFilms has produced eighteen documentaries for National Geographic, PBS, and the NATURE series. Allison Argo has either produced, directed, or written all films. Glenn Close narrated the first two films; and Argo has narrated since. The films have garnered twelve Emmy nominations, with six Emmys having been won in various categories including two for directing. Additionally, ArgoFilms has been awarded four Genesis Awards, most recently in 2014 for the film Parrot Confidential ( PBS NATURE 2013), and has also been recognized by the Missoula, Jackson Hole, and Japan Wildlife Film Festivals. In Parrot Confidential, the circumstances of parrots in captivity who often outlive their owners and suffer as a result are explored. The subject had received little documentation until the film was produced.
In an April 2014 article in a Cape Cod periodical, Argo has said that the most satisfying aspect of her work is when it makes a difference. Her goal is to open eyes; and if people are given the facts, they will do what they can to improve life. The work of ArgoFilms is meant to "foster compassion for animals and to champion wildlife through film, providing a voice for those who have none."
Stage acting credits (Broadway) Year Title Role Notes1975GreasePatty Simcoxreplacement1976The Lady From the Sea (Revival)Hildaoriginal cast member1976-'77The Night of the Iguana (Revival)Charlotte Goodalloriginal cast member
Television acting credits Year Title Production Type Role Notes1976, '77Search For TomorrowTV seriesCindy French1977Between the Linesfilmdancer1979The GiftTV movieKathleen1980WKRP in CincinnatiTV seriesCarol TravisEpisode 36 "A Family Affair"1980High IceTV movieKathy1980CasinoTV movieAngie Taylor1980The Return of Frank CannonTV movieJessica Bingham1980, '81Ladies' ManTV seriesSusanMajor role, appeared in all 16 episodes1983An Uncommon LoveTV movieArvetta1984LegmenTV seriesLinda"I Shall be Re-Released"1984The Paper ChaseTV seriesUnnamedSeason 2, Episode 8 "Mrs. Hart"1985Cry From the MountainFeature filmLaurie MatthewsArgo's first feature film1986Club MedTV movieAllison1987The Bronx ZooTV seriesMrs. McKaren“Conspicuous by Their Abstinence”, “Changes”1987CathyTV movieAndrea (voice)Argo's first animated film1987The Bold and the BeautifulTV seriesRobin West“Episode #1.153”, “Episode #1.151”, “Episode #1.144”1988Family Medical CenterTV seriesUnnamed1988Cathy’s Last ResortTV movieAndrea (voice)1989Vytor: The Starfire ChampionTV movieBaboose (voice)1989Cathy’s ValentineTV movieAndrea (voice)1991Star Street: The Adventures of the Star KidsTV seriesMoon (voice)Major role
Filmography, awards, and nominations As producer, director, writer, or editor Year Film Title Involvement Notes1990The Urban Gorillaproducer, director, writer, editorNominated – 1990 Emmy AwardNominated – 1990 Emmy AwardDuPont-Columbia AwardJackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival – First recipient of the Best Newcomer awardChristopher Columbus AwardWorldFest-Houston International Film Festival AwardGenesis AwardNarrator – Glenn Close1992Keepers of the Wildproducer, director, writerWon – 1992 National Emmy Award for directingChristopher Columbus AwardNarrator – Glenn Close1996The Last Frogproducer, director, writer, narratorWon – 1996 National Emmy AwardJackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival AwardJapan international Wildlife Film Festival AwardMissoula International Wildlife Film Festival Best of FestivalEarthwatch Award1997Stolen Treasuresproducer, director, writer, narratorKing CobrawriterWon - 1997 Emmy Award News and DocumentaryLords of the EvergladeswriterExtraordinary Dogsproducer, directorFinalist - Jackson Hole Wildlife Film FestivalSnake Invasionproducer, director, writer, narrator1999The Secret Life of Catsproducer, director, writer, narratorWon – 1999 National Emmy AwardJackson Hole Wildlife Film FestivalJapan international Wildlife Film FestivalInternational Wildlife Film FestivalITVA Peer AwardsChristopher Columbus AwardWisdom of the Wildproducer, director, writer, narrator2000The Urban Elephantproducer, director, writer, narratorWon – 2001 Emmy Award for Outstanding Cultural & Informational Documentary – Best Director The New York Festivals World MedalGenesis Award2003Inca Mummies: Secrets of a Lost Worldproducer, director, writer, narratorITVA Peer Awards2004Return to Freedomproducer, director, writer, narrator, editorA short film for the American Wild Horse Sanctuary2006Chimpanzees: An Unnatural Historyproducer, director, writer, narratorWon - 2007 National Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft: Research “OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN A CRAFT: RESEARCH” NATIONAL TELEVISION ACADEMY 28TH ANNUAL NEWS AND DOCUMENTARY EMMY AWARDS - WINNERS p15Genesis AwardBest Editing, Best Television Program $250,000-$500,000 Budget, Merit for Powerful Storytelling, and Merit for Advocacy at the International Wildlife Film FestivalChristopher Columbus Award Explorer's Club2008Crash: A Tale of Two Speciesproducer, director, writer, editor, narrator 31st International Wildlife Film Festival: Sapphire Award-Second Place, Best Conservation & Environmental Issue, Best Script Nominated - National Emmy Award2009Frogs: The Thin Green Lineproducer, director, writer, editor, narratorSelection for DC Environmental Film Fest20119/11: Where Were You?producer, director, writer, editorThis film is about immediate responses to the attack on the World Trade Center.2013Parrot Confidentialproducer, writer, editor, narratorGenesis Award Special Jury Award, New York Wild Film Festival2015The Sagebrush Seaco-producer, writer, narrator2017The Last Pigdirector, co-producer
References
External links ArgoFilms website (entry "I", missing "Writer/Producer/Director" details) (entry "II", missing "Actor" details)