Debbie Allen
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| Debbie Allen | |
|---|---|
| Image:Replace this image.svg | |
| Born | Deborrah Kaye Allen January 16 1950 Houston, Texas, United States |
| Occupation | Actor, choreographer, television director, television producer, singer |
| Boards on | President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities |
| Spouse | Norm Nixon |
| Children | Vivian Nixon Norm Nixon Jr. |
| Website | debbieallendanceacademy.com |
Debbie Allen (born Deborrah Kaye Allen on January 16, 1950 in Houston, Texas) is an American actress, choreographer, television director, television producer, and a member of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. She is best known for her role as Lydia Grant in the hit television series, Fame.
Allen earned a B.A. degree in classical Greek literature, speech, and theater from Howard University and holds honorary doctorates from both her alma mater and the North Carolina School for the Arts. She currently teaches young dancers at her Debbie Allen Dance Academy. She also taught choreography to former L.A. Laker dancer-turned singer, Paula Abdul. Her daughter, Vivian Nixon, played Kalimba in the Broadway production of Hot Feet. She graduated from Jack Yates Senior high school 1967.
She is the sister of Phylicia Rashād, and is married to former NBA player Norm Nixon.[1] She and Nixon have two children, Vivian (born 1984) and Norm Jr (born 1987).
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[edit] Fame
Allen was first introduced as Lydia Grant in the 1980 movie Fame. Although her role in the film was relatively small, Lydia would become a central figure in the highly popular television adaptation, which ran from 1982 to 1987. During the opening montage of each episode, Ms. Grant told her students: "You've got big dreams? You want fame? Well, fame costs. And right here is where you start paying ... in sweat." Allen was also lead choreographer for the film and television series, winning two Emmy Awards and one Golden Globe Award. She then spun-off the Fame franchise into a reality show in 2003 but it was met only with limited success.
[edit] A Different World
In an article from the Museum of Broadcast Communications, the Hollywood Reporter commented on Debbie Allen's impact as the producer-director of the popular television series, A Different World. The show dealt with the life of students at the fictional historically black college, Hillman, and ran for six seasons on NBC.
- [Allen], a graduate of historically black Howard University--drew from her college experiences in an effort to accurately reflect in the show the social and political life on black campuses. Moreover, Allen instituted a yearly spring trip to Atlanta where series writers visited two of the nation's leading black colleges, Morehouse and Spelman. During these visits, ideas for several of the episodes emerged from meetings with students and faculty"[2].
Debbie Allen was also selected to debut in the critically acclaimed Roots by Alex Haley where she plays the wife of Alex Haley in this film.
[edit] Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
In 2008 she will direct the all-African-American Broadway production of Tennessee Williams's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, starring stage veterans James Earl Jones (Big Daddy), her sister Phylicia Rashad (Big Mama) and Anika Noni Rose (Maggie, the Cat), as well as film actor Terrence Howard, who will make his Broadway debut as Brick.
[edit] Some of Debbie's Work
[edit] Actor
- Ragtime - Sarah
- Fame (TV series) - Lydia Grant
- Fame (film) - Lydia Grant
- In The House - Jackie Warren
[edit] Guest appearances
- A Different World
- The Cosby Show
- Cosby
- Blank Check
- All of Us - Episode - Parents Just Don't Understand (23 November 2004) - Kate, Neesee's Mother
- Good Times - Episode-J.J.s Junkie Fiancee
- So You Think You Can Dance (Season 3) - Episode 10 (Guest Judge)
[edit] Choreographer
- The Academy Awards Show for five consecutive years
- Carrie, the notorious Broadway musical (which ran for only 5 performances)
- Molly Doodle, she played the roll of Molly Doodle, in Mallway
[edit] Director
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[edit] Producer
- Amistad with Steven Spielberg.
[edit] Writer
- movmnt magazine, regular columnist since 2006
[edit] Honors
In 2001, Debbie Allen was appointed by President George W. Bush as a member of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities.
[edit] References
- ^ BASN's Hometown Hero, by Peter Vecsey; published on Mar 13, 2007
- ^ [1]
[edit] External links
- Debbie Allen at the Internet Broadway Database
- Debbie Allen at the Internet Movie Database
- Museum of Broadcast Communications
- Cat on a Hot Tin Roof All African-American production websitefr:Debbie Allen
nl:Debbie Allen fi:Debbie Allen
Categories: 1950 births | Living people | African-American actors | American television actors | American film actors | American choreographers | American television directors | American stage actors | Actor-singers | American television producers | Hollywood Walk of Fame | Howard University alumni | People from Houston
