Allen Danziger was born in the Bronx, New York. He graduated from City College of New York with a Bachelor of Science in Social Psychology and Social Work in 1964, and in 1970, he graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Masters Degree in Social Psychology and Masters Degree in Social Work. In 1969, he made his movie debut in Eggshells. Five years later, he played Jerry in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, his second and final role.