Get to Know Eugene Allen, the Inspiration Behind "The Butler"
The White House butler’s legacy lives on.
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A Legacy Lives On - BET.com gives you a look into the life of former White House butler Eugene Allen, who served under eight U.S. presidents and is now the inspiration behind the movie The Butler, which hits theaters in August. Forest Whitaker stars as Cecil Gaines, a character inspired by Allen's life, alongside an all-star cast that includes Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo and Terrence Howard. — Britt Middleton (Photo: Kevin Clark/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
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Humble Beginnings - Eugene Allen was born on July 14, 1919, in Scottsville, Virginia. After working as a waiter in several restaurants, he took a job as a pantry chef at the White House, washing dishes and replenishing the cabinets, in 1952. The job paid $2,400 a year. (Photo: Kevin Clark/The Washington Post/Getty Images)
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Presidential Assignments - Allen was eventually promoted to butler. In 34 years at the White House, he served presidents including Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy and Jimmy Carter. Under President Ronald Regan, he was promoted to maître d', the highest ranking among White House butlers. Allen retired in 1986. (Photo: Kevin Clark/The Washington Post/Getty Images)
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Facing Adversity - He came of age in the time of Jim Crow and, like many African-Americans of the era, endured the harsh effects of racism and segregation. Despite working inside the White House, a shining beacon for social and political change, Blacks were not given high-ranking positions and instead were relegated to kitchen help or doormen. (Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
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Love at Last - In 1942, he met his wife, Helene, at a birthday party in Washington (in the movie, Oprah Winfrey plays Gloria Gaines, a character based on Helene). They married one year later and had a son, Charles. The couple had been married 65 years before Helene passed away in 2008. (Photo: REUTERS/Jason Reed /Landov)
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In Good Company - Allen was said to have served celebrities including Sammy Davis Jr., Duke Ellington and met Martin Luther King Jr., among many others. (Photo: National Archive/Newsmakers)
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Presidential Perks - Over the years, his role had evolved from butler to confidant and friend for many presidents in office. His experiences include having golfed with President Gerald Ford, riding aboard Air Force One, and being invited by Nancy Reagan to a state dinner for West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl. (Photo: Pete Souza/White House via Getty Images)
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Always at Service - Committed to his role, he was invited to the funeral of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, but declined. "Somebody had to be at the White House to serve everyone after they came from the funeral," Allen told the Washington Post in 2010. (Photo: Keystone/Getty Images)
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Witnessing History - Allen worked in the White House during some of America's most prominent turning points, but nothing prepared him to witness President Obama, America's first Black president, being sworn in to office. "You wouldn't even dream that you could dream of a moment like this," Allen told the Washington Post of Obama's historic election. (Photo: Dennis Brack/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Connection to Obama - Allen received a VIP invitation from the White House for Obama's swearing-in ceremony. Allen told the Washington Post he and his wife were excited to vote for Obama in the 2009 election. Sadly, Allen cast his ballot for Obama alone as Helene passed away on the eve of Election Day. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)
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