Actor, director, dancer/choreographer and singer, Debbie Allen's career has touched nearly every facet of the entertainment industry.Allen's Broadway career as a dancer, singer and actor began in the chorus of "Purlie". She next appeared in "Raisin", then in the 1979 production West Side Story", for which she won a prestigious Drama Desk Award, as well as, her first Tony Award nomination. Allen received another Tony Award nomination in 1986 for her role as Bob Fosse's "Sweet Charity".Allen's choreography career soared in 1980 with the international hit TV series "Fame". In 1988 she went behind the scenes to choreograph the new American Musical "Carrie with the Royal Shakespeare Company" and has continued to devote herself to that discipline. She holds the distinction of having choreographed the Academy Awards for five consecutive years. Allen collaborated with James Ingram to create "Brothers of the Knight" which played at the prestigious Kennedy Center in Washington, DC in the spring of 1998.As Resident Director of the hit television series "Fame", in which she also starred, Allen went on to direct episodes of "Family Ties", "Bronx Zoo", "A Different World" and the pilot for "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air", which she also produced. Her work with made-for-television movies, such as Disney's "Polly" and CBS's "Stompin at the Savoy" earned a reputation as one of the most sought after directors in Hollywood.Recently, she directed the Martin Luther King special, entitled "One Day" for the Disney Channel as well as the critically acclaimed "Linc's Place" for Showtime.Allen received international recognition as producer of Steven Spielberg's breathtaking "Amistad" As an actress, Allen received three Emmy Award nominations and one Golden Globe for her role as Lydia Grant in "Fame" She also received favorable notices for her role as Deloris Jordan in Fox Family Channels "Michael Jordan: An American Hero" and as Richard Pryor's feisty wife in the semi-autobiographical film "Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling."Other feature films to her credit include Milo Forman's "Ragtime" and "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh". This year she amazed audiences and critics alike with her portrayal of Harriet Tubman in "Harriet's Return" at the Geffen Playhouse.Some of Allen's many honors include Essence Awards in 1992 and 1995, the first Lena Horne Award for Career Achievement at the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards and two honorary doctorates, one from the North Carolina School of the Arts and the other from her alma mater, Howard University.Allen currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband, Norman Nixon, and their two children, Vivian Nichole and Norman Jr.
Daughter of dentist Arthur Allen and Pulitzer-prize nominated Vivan Ayers ( artist, poet, playwright, and publisher). Older siblings are jazz musician Tex (Andrew Arthur Allen Jr, born 1945) and actress Phylicia Ayers-Allen (Phylicia Rashad , born 1948), and brother Hugh Allen (real estate banker in North Carolina).
Her husband, Norman Nixon , is a former NBA player with the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers.
Received an Honorary doctorate from The North Carolina School of the Arts, the same institution that denied her admittance to its dance department when she was sixteen years old; she was told then that she had the wrong type of body for dance.
Has an Honorary doctorate from her alma mater Howard University.
Won 1992 & 1995 Essence Awards.
Won the first Lena Horne Award for Career Achievement at the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards.
Has twice been nominated for Tony Awards: in 1980, as Best Actress (Featured Role -Musical) for a revival of "West Side Story," and in 1986, as Best Actress for playing the title character in a revival of Bob Fosse s "Sweet Charity."
Received a Drama Desk Award in 1979.
Her most notable role to date, that of "Lydia Grant" on the TV series "Fame" , earned her three Emmy nominations and one Golden Globe.
Founded the Debbie Allen Dance Institute in Culver City, CA, in 2000.
Choreographed five Academy Award shows.
Her father passed away ten days after he accompanied her to the Emmy Awards Ceremony in which she won for Best Choreography for "Fame" .
Ex-sister-in-law of Victor Willis and Ahmad Rashad.
Her daughter, Vivian Nixon , is in the lead role of the Broadway musical "Hot Feet". Vivian was classically trained at Washington D.C.s Kirov Academy of Ballet and at The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
Is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Daughter Vivian Nixon followed in Debbies footsteps by playing Debbies "Anita" role in a 2006 revival of the musical Leonard Bernstein Conducts West Side Story . Debbie returned to her hometown of Houston to see her daughter perform.
Her mother Dr Vivian Elizabeth Ayers attended Brainerd Institute, Barber Scotia College and Bennett College. Vivian was the first poet in the state of Texas to receive the Pulitzer Prize Award nomination in 1952. Vivian was often called the "Poet Laureate of Texas." In the late 50s, her poetry, "Hawk," attracted the attention of NASA and for twenty years was the only poetry celebrated by NASA. She worked as an apprentice librarian at the Fondren Library of Rice University and was accorded faculty status in 1965, becoming the first African American to be so qualified. During her years at Rice, she organized and published The Adept Quarterly, an important contribution to the small publications movement of the time.
In 1972, her mom Vivians work, "Workshops in Open Fields," was hailed and recommended to the nation as a "prototype of grass roots programming" by the director of NEA. Vivian established the Adept New American Museum--a museum for art and history of the American Southwest; which features "Juneteenth" Black Cowboys, American Indian Sand Painting, seminars on the Emancipation Proclamation and Mayan studies-- in Mt Vernon NY. She is known as a leader in the arts community in New York area.
Mother of Norman Nixon Jr. and Vivian Nixon .
Has arthritis in her right shoulder and right ankle.
Is one of four people (Gene Anthony Ray , Albert Hague and Lee Curreri ) to appear in both Fame and "Fame" the TV series.
She studied drama at the HB Studio in Greenwich Village in New York City.
Its the only person who appears in Fame , "Fame" and Fame.
Has said that Glory is her favorite film.
Friends with Bill Cosby , and Vanessa Bell Calloway.
Received the "Legend Award" at the 9th annual Essence Black Women In Hollywood event, February, 2016.
But out of limitations comes creativity. .
