Debbie Allen

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.

Allen had her Broadway debut in the chorus of Purlie in 1970.

She later created the role of Beneatha in the Tony Award-winning musical Raisin (1973), and appeared in Truckload, and Ain't Misbehavin'.

In 1976, Allen made her television debut appearing in the CBS sitcom Good Times in a memorable 2-part episode titled "J.J.'s Fiancée" as J.J.'s drug-addicted fiancée, Diana.

The following year, she went to star in the NBC variety show 3 Girls 3.

Allen later was selected to appear in the 1979 miniseries Roots: The Next Generations by Alex Haley where she plays the wife of Haley.

Also that year, she made her big screen debut appearing in a supporting role in the comedy film The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh.

In 1980, she received critical attention for her performance as Anita in the Broadway revival of West Side Story which earned her a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical and won her a Drama Desk Award.

In the film Fame (1980), Allen played the role of Lydia Grant.

She is the only actress to have appeared in all three screen incarnations of Fame, playing Lydia Grant in both the 1980 film and 1982 television series and playing the school principal in the 2009 remake.

Allen was also lead choreographer for the film and television series, winning two Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography and one Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy.

She became the first Black woman to win a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television Series—Musical or Comedy.

In 1981, she had the important role of Sarah in the movie version of the best-selling novel Ragtime, a role that earned Audra McDonald a Tony Award for in the Broadway musical.

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.

Though the film role was relatively small role, Lydia became a central figure in the television adaptation, which ran from 1982 to 1987.

During the opening montage of each episode, 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 nominated for the Emmy Award for Best Actress four times during the show's run.

For this role in 1983 she received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy and two Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography and was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

In 1986, Allen received a second Tony Award nomination, at that time for Best Actress in a Musical, for her performance in the title role of Bob Fosse's Sweet Charity.

Allen later began working as director and producer, most notably producing and directing 83 of 144 episodes of NBC comedy series A Different World (1988–⁠1993).

She has been nominated 20 times for an Emmy Award (winning five), two Tony Awards, and has also won a Golden Globe Award and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1991.

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.

She has directed more than 50 television and film productions.

In 2001, Allen opened the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles, 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.

Allen was born in Houston, Texas, the third child of orthodontist Andrew Arthur Allen and Pulitzer Prize-nominated artist, poet, playwright, scholar, and publisher, Vivian (née Ayers) Allen.

She earned a B.A. degree in classical Greek literature, speech, and theater from Howard University and studied acting at HB Studio in New York City.

She was a member of Chi Delta Mu Health Professional Fraternity.

She holds honoris causa doctorates from Howard University and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Debbie Allen auditioned at the Houston Ballet Academy at the age of twelve.

She was denied admission.

A year later, Allen was given another chance and admitted by a Russian instructor who accidentally saw Allen perform in a show.

Once admission recruiters from the academy became aware of the situation, they allowed Allen to stay because they recognized her talent.

While at the academy, she trained under Suzelle Poole.

Her experience at the Houston Ballet Academy is not the only time Allen was refused.

When she was sixteen, she had a successful audition for the North Carolina School of the Arts, and was given an opportunity to demonstrate dance techniques to other prospective students applying to the institution.

Unfortunately, Allen was refused admission, and was told her body was not suited for ballet.

After receiving numerous rejections, Allen decided to mainly focus on her academics and, from then on, was well on her way to the start of her acting career.

Allen began her career appearing on Broadway theatre.