Debbie Allen Biography
Summary
"Deborrah Kaye 'Debbie? Allen" (born January 16, 1950) is an American actress, choreographer, television director, television producer, and a member of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. She is probably best known for her role as Lydia Grant in the 1982 TV series "Fame". She is the sister of Phylicia Rash?d.
Biography
Early years
Allen was born in Houston, Texas, the youngest of four children to orthodontist Andrew Arthur Allen Sr. (a Louisiana Creole who died in 1984), and African American Vivian (née Ayers) Allen, a poet ("Spice of Dawns" and other books) and museum art director.
She went on to earn a B.A. degree in classical Greek literature, speech, and theater from Howard University. She holds "honoris causa" Doctors from Howard and the North Carolina School for the Arts. She currently teaches young dancers. 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.
Career
She first began receiving critical attention in 1980, when Debbie appeared in the role of Anita in the Broadway revival of "West Side Story" which earned her a Tony Award nomination and a Drama Desk Award. One of her earlier television appearances was in the TV sitcom "Good Times" in a memorable 2-part episode titled 'J.J's Fiancee'.' Allen portrayed J.J's drug-addicted fiancee, Diana.
Allen was first introduced as Lydia Grant in the 1980 film "Fame". Although her role in the film was relatively small, Lydia would become a central figure in the 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. She played the school principal in the 2009 adaption of the film. Debbie also released two solo albums, 1986's "Sweet Charity" and 1989's "Special Look" which also had several singles off the album.
In an article from the "Museum of Broadcast Communications", the "Hollywood Reporter" commented on Debbie Allen's impact as the producer-director of the 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.
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.
In 2008 she directed the all-African-American Broadway production of Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, starring stage veterans James Earl Jones (Big Daddy), her sister Phylicia Rash?d (Big Mama) and Anika Noni Rose (Maggie, the Cat), as well as film actor Terrence Howard, who will make his Broadway debut as Brick.
She also appears on "So You Think You Can Dance" as a judge.
She is the only actress to have appeared in all three incarnations of "Fame", playing Lydia Grant in both the 1980 film and 1982 television series and playing the school principal Angela in the 2009 remake.
Awards and honors
In 2001, Allen was appointed by President George W. Bush as a member of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities.
For contributions to the television industry, Debbie Allen was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Allen was presented with the George and Ira Gershwin Award for Lifetime Musical Achievement, at the 1992 UCLA Spring Sing.
Personal life
Allen is married to former NBA player Norm Nixon, and they are the parents of dancer Vivian Nichole Nixon, and basketball player Norman Ellard Nixon Jr. (Wofford College & Southern University).
She is the sister of actress Phylicia Rash?d, and Tex Allen (Andrew Arthur Allen Jr, born 1945), noted jazz composer.
Work
Film
"Fame (2009 film)" - Principal Angela Simms
"Blank Check" - Yvonne
"Ragtime" - Sarah
"Fame (1980 film)" - Lydia Grant
"Next Day Air" - Ms. Jackson
"The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh" - Ola
"Jo-Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling" - Michelle
Television
"All of Us:" 'Parents Just Don't Understand'
"A Different World" - Dr. Langhorne
"The Cosby Show" - Emma
"Fame (1982 TV series)" - Lydia Grant
"In The House" - Jackie Warren
"Good Times:" J.J.'s Junkie Fiancée
"So You Think You Can Dance", seasons 3, 4 and 5 - Guest Judge
Choreographer
"The Academy Awards Show" for five consecutive years
"Carrie"
"Molly Doodle" Molly Doodle
Director
"Girlfriends"
"Everybody Hates Chris"
"All of Us"
"Life Is Not A Fairy Tale"
"That's So Raven"
"The Jamie Foxx Show"
"A Different World"
"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"
"Family Ties"
"Fame (1982 TV series)"
"Polly"
"Polly: Coming Home"
Producer
"Amistad" with Steven Spielberg.
"Soldiers of Change" with Michael Armand Hammer.
Writer
"movmnt" magazine, regular columnist since 2006
Dance
Dancing in the Wings and Brothers of the Night
External links
(Museum of Broadcast Communications)
(Cat on a Hot Tin Roof All African-American production website)
Credit
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article about Debbie Allen.
