Allen Pontes

ALLEN PHILLIP PONTES

Born February 21, 1958 in Rio Linda, CA

Passed away peacefully in Sacramento, CA on November 8th, 2024 at the age of 66, after a brave 16-month battle with Glioblastoma, a brain tumor.

Allen is survived by his sister Eileen Johnson, daughter Cherrie Park, granddaughter Hannah Radcliff, nephew Michael Johnson, and other loving family members and many friends. Allen is preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Theresa Pontes.

Allen was raised in Rio Linda, CA, a graduate of Rio Linda High School, class of 1976. He received a scholarship to studied Drama at California State University, Sacramento (CSUS). He also attended Sacramento City College where he studied Theatre and Accounting (his backup plan).

Allen's great love was the theatre, where he acted, directed, did sound, lighting, and set design. Above all he was an Actor-Extraordinaire.

He performed on stage throughout Northern California, performing a variety of roles ~ dramatic, comedic, classic, Shakespeare. He really could do it all. He especially loved comedy and his timing and wonderful sense of humor shone through his many performances. But Allen wasn't limited to the stage. He did commercial and film work, and was a voice over actor, sharing his silky voice to many commercials and video projects.

Allen owned and operated AP&C Productions, shooting video for weddings, school performances, events and various other projects, as well as editing them into memories to last a lifetime.

Allen also wrote, assembled, and performed school assemblies for Red Shoe Productions, along side of his partner and collaborator, Julie Anchor, for over 15 years, playing such notable characters as Awesome Allen, Webster, and the Great Trashini.

While Allen performed with various theatre companies throughout his career, his primary theatre home for the past two decades was with Main Street Theatre Works (MSTW) in Jackson, CA. He first performed as Reverend Hale in "The Crucible" in 1999, and then continued his work on the various MSTW stages in such notable roles as Atticas Finch in "To Kill A Mockingbird," Saliari in "Amadeus," Benedict in "Much Ado About Nothing," George in "Same Time Next Year," and Petruchio in "The Taming of the Shrew," to name a few. He also directed 15 shows with the company, worked with Julie on putting together marketing materials, was the board treasurer and ticket guru, and so much more. And as if that wasn't enough, Allen produced, directed, and starred in MSTW's Fall Fundraisers for over 10 years, establishing the MSTW Mercury Theatre Radio Players in a Live Radio Show ala Orson Welles, who he brilliantly channeled for each show.

His very best friend, Julie Anchor, often worked right alongside him through a myriad of MSTW projects, as a videographer, as his Jumpin' Jules, Wanda, and Terri the Trash Talker Carnival Barker at school assemblies, and whatever he needed to move life forward. She stayed beside him to the very end of his all too short life and, along with many others, she misses him deeply and looks forward to sharing the stage with him again in the next life.

A Celebration of Allen's Life will be held on January 11, 2025 at the Crest Theatre in Sacramento, CA from 2:00 - 5:00pm. We hope you can join us.