Debbie Allen

Debbie Allen
Allen in 2025
Born
Deborah Kaye Allen

(1950-01-16) January 16, 1950
Houston, Texas, U.S.
EducationHoward University (BA)
Occupation(s)Actress, dancer, choreographer, singer, television director, television producer
Years active1969–present
Spouses
Win Wilford
​
​
(m. 1975; div. 1983)​
    Norm Nixon
    ​
    (m. 1984)​
    Children3, including Vivian Nixon
    RelativesPhylicia Rashad (sister)
    Condola Rashad (niece)
    WebsiteDebbie Allen Dance Academy
    Debbie Allen Twitter

    Deborah Kaye Allen (born January 16, 1950) is an American actress, dancer, choreographer, singer, director, producer, and a former member of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities.[1][2] She has been nominated for 22 Emmy Awards (winning five),[3] and two Tony Awards.[4] She has won a Golden Globe Award,[5] and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1991. In 2025, she will receive an Academy Honorary Award.[6]

    Allen is best known for her work in the musical-drama television series Fame (1982–1987), where she portrayed dance teacher Lydia Grant, and served as the series' principal choreographer. For this role in 1983, she received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy and two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Choreography and also received four nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Allen later began working as director and producer, most notably producing and directing 83 of 144 episodes of the NBC comedy series A Different World (1988–1993). She returned to acting, playing the leading role in the NBC sitcom In the House from 1995 to 1996, and in 2011, began playing Dr. Catherine Avery in the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy also serving as an executive producer/director.[7] She has directed more than 50 television and film productions.

    In 2001, Allen opened the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles,[8][9] where she currently teaches young dancers. She also taught choreography to former Los Angeles Lakers dancer-turned-singer, Paula Abdul. She is the younger sister of actress/director/singer Phylicia Rashad.

    1. ^ "Current Members". President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. Archived from the original on January 16, 2005. Retrieved August 13, 2008.
    2. ^ "Debbie Allen, Culver City, California". President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. 2008. Archived from the original on January 17, 2009. Retrieved August 13, 2008.
    3. ^ "Debbie Allen". Television Academy. Archived from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
    4. ^ Cite error: The named reference tonyaw was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
    5. ^ "Debbie Allen". www.goldenglobes.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
    6. ^ Davis, Clayton (June 17, 2025). "Tom Cruise, Dolly Parton, Debbie Allen and Wynn Thomas to Be Presented Honorary Oscars". Variety. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
    7. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 6, 2015). "Debbie Allen To Serve As Executive Producer/Director On 'Grey's Anatomy'". Archived from the original on July 29, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
    8. ^ Gibson, Cynthia (February 19, 2016). "Black History Profile: Debbie Allen, 'Born To Dance'". Los Angeles Wave. Archived from the original on September 7, 2016. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
    9. ^ de Luna, Marcy (January 15, 2019). "Houston-born actress and choreographer Debbie Allen turns 69". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
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