Comedienne and Actress. Named for her birthplace, she was raised in New York City, and her siblings included the equally unusual "birthplace" names Lebanon, Cortland and Harlem. (The youngest was named "Lastone", for "Last One", and pronounced "Last 'Un.") Portland Hoffa started appearing in vaudeville as a teenager, and in 1922 she met Fred Allen and began working in his act. They married in 1927, and when Allen began his radio show in 1932 Hoffa continued to perform with him. She used her name on the air, but played a fictionalized version of herself, and she remained on the show with Allen until his declining health caused him to end it in 1949. Allen and Hoffa also appeared together occasionally on Jack Benny's and Tallulah Bankhead's radio shows in the 1940s and 1950s, and when Allen became a panelist on the game show "What's My Line?" in 1954 Hoffa appeared as a "mystery guest". After Allen's death Hoffa retired from performing and married bandleader and advertising executive Joseph Rines, to whom she remained married until his 1986 death. Her Hollywood Walk of Fame star is located at 1692 Vine Street.
Comedienne and Actress. Named for her birthplace, she was raised in New York City, and her siblings included the equally unusual "birthplace" names Lebanon, Cortland and Harlem. (The youngest was named "Lastone", for "Last One", and pronounced "Last 'Un.") Portland Hoffa started appearing in vaudeville as a teenager, and in 1922 she met Fred Allen and began working in his act. They married in 1927, and when Allen began his radio show in 1932 Hoffa continued to perform with him. She used her name on the air, but played a fictionalized version of herself, and she remained on the show with Allen until his declining health caused him to end it in 1949. Allen and Hoffa also appeared together occasionally on Jack Benny's and Tallulah Bankhead's radio shows in the 1940s and 1950s, and when Allen became a panelist on the game show "What's My Line?" in 1954 Hoffa appeared as a "mystery guest". After Allen's death Hoffa retired from performing and married bandleader and advertising executive Joseph Rines, to whom she remained married until his 1986 death. Her Hollywood Walk of Fame star is located at 1692 Vine Street.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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