He had recurring roles as Ned the Wino on Good Times, as Aunt Esther's husband, Woodrow "Woody" Anderson on the NBC sitcom series Sanford and Son, and as mechanic Merle the Earl on Starsky and Hutch. He reprised his role as Uncle Woody Anderson in the Sanford and Son spin-off, The Sanford Arms. Allen also made guest appearances on The Jeffersons, What's Happening!!, The Love Boat and the film Wattstax.[1][better source needed]