Chad Allen Biography

Chad Allen was born on June 5, 1974 in Cerritos, California. Chad, whose full name is Chad Allen Lazzari, grew up in Long Beach, CA. He's the youngest of four boys, and his parents were hoping for a girl. They got one, in the shape of Chad's twin sister, Charity. Chad was the 'extra change', as he puts it. After high school, Chad was accepted as a student at New York University, however he decided to put off college when he was offered the part of Matthew Cooper on Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman. With this new role he became one of the few former child stars to successfully make the transition to a career as an adult. Despite being busy on Dr. Quinn, Chad was one of the co-founders of The Creative Outlet theater company in 1995, and has appeared in several theater productions during the summer breaks. Chad has continued focusing his career on the theater since the end of Dr. Quinn, appearing in well received theatrical productions of 'Change at Babylon, in Los Angeles, Temporary Help, in Seattle and Westport, Connecticut and Sons of Lincoln, in L.A. Courageously, in the October 9, 2001 issue of The Advocate, Chad came out as a gay man. He also acknowledged past problems with drugs and alcohol. He also has spoken to a number of groups and at events about gay rights issues including taking part in a forum on Larry King Live on the issue of gay marriage.