 ProductLink |
|
 Deborah Kaye Allen was born in Houston, Texas, to African-American parents, Vivian Elizabeth (Ayers), a poet and art director, and Andrew Arthur Allen, an orthodontist. As a child, Debbie, her older brother, Andrew (called Tex), and her older sister, actress Phylicia Rashad, lived in Mexico to escape US racism. Their mother decided to live there to give the Allen children a brief experience of not having to endure the chronic racism and segregation that was typical of Texas during the 1950s. Debbie and Phylicia are fluent in Spanish.Debbie graduated from Jack Yates Senior High School in Houston, TX in 1967. She graduated cum laude from Howard University in 1971 with a BFA in Classical Greek Literature, Speech, and Theater from Howard University. She used her experiences from attending Historically Black College Howard to inform her production and direction of the TV show A Different World (1987).Although her parents divorced, Debbie remained extremely close to her father until his death. With Phylicia she has production company "D.A.D." which stood for "Doctor Allen's Daughters". Her Pulitzer-nominated poet mother Vivian is, the artistic and free spirit that has influenced and encouraged the remarkable creativity that so marks Allen as a performer.
Bio:
Deborah Kaye Allen was born in Houston, Texas, to African-American parents, Vivian Elizabeth (Ayers), a poet and art director, and Andrew Arthur Allen, an orthodontist. As a child, Debbie, her older brother, Andrew (called Tex), and her older sister, actress Phylicia Rashad, lived in Mexico to escape US racism. Their mother decided to live there to give the Allen children a brief experience of not having to endure the chronic racism and segregation that was typical of Texas during the 1950s. Debbie and Phylicia are fluent in Spanish.Debbie graduated from Jack Yates Senior High School in Houston, TX in 1967. She graduated cum laude from Howard University in 1971 with a BFA in Classical Greek Literature, Speech, and Theater from Howard University. She used her experiences from attending Historically Black College Howard to inform her production and direction of the TV show A Different World (1987).Although her parents divorced, Debbie remained extremely close to her father until his death. With Phylicia she has production company "D.A.D." which stood for "Doctor Allen's Daughters". Her Pulitzer-nominated poet mother Vivian is, the artistic and free spirit that has influenced and encouraged the remarkable creativity that so marks Allen as a performer.
Tivia:
Received an honorary doctorate from the University of 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.Her father passed away ten days after he accompanied her to the Emmy Awards Ceremony in which she won for Best Choreography for Fame (1982).Choreographed five Academy Award shows.Her husband, Norman Nixon, is a former NBA player with the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers.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 1950s, 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.Daughter of dentist Arthur Allen and Pulitzer-prize nominated Vivian 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).Received the first Lena Horne Award for Career Achievement at the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards.Founded the Debbie Allen Dance Institute in Culver City, California (2000).Is one of four people (Gene Anthony Ray, Albert Hague and Lee Curreri) to appear in both the musical film Fame (1980) and the television series Fame (1982).Daughter Vivian Nixon followed in Debbie's footsteps by playing Debbie's "Anita" role in a 2006 revival of the musical The Making of 'West Side Story' (1985). Debbie returned to her hometown of Houston, Texas to see her daughter perform.Received her Bachelor of Arts degree in classical Greek literature, speech and theater from Howard University in Washington, D.C. She later received an honorary doctorate from the university.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.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 (Musical) for playing the title character in a revival of Bob Fosse's "Sweet Charity".Is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.Ex-sister-in-law of Victor Willis and Ahmad Rashad.She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6904 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on October 11, 1991.Her most notable role to date, that of Lydia Grant on the television series Fame (1982), earned her three Emmy nominations and one Golden Globe.She studied drama at the HB Studio in Greenwich Village, New York City.In 1972, her mother Vivian's 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 Mount Vernon, New York. She is known as a leader in the arts community in New York area.Has said that the war drama Glory (1989) is her favorite film.Received the "Legend Award" at the 9th annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood event. (February 2016)Has arthritis in her right shoulder and right ankle.Is the only person who appears in Fame (1980), Fame (1982) and Fame (2009).Friends with Bill Cosby and Vanessa Bell Calloway. |
| Name: |
Debbie Allen |
Type: |
Producer,Actress,Director (IMDB) |
| Area: |
All World |
Platform: |
IMDB |
| Category: |
|
Business scope: |
Producer,Actress,Director |
| Products for sale: |
Producer,Actress,Director |
| Model rank: |
1438 |
| Last update: |
2024-07-01 04:49:17 |
| Height: |
5' 2' (1.57 m) |
| Biography: |
Deborah Kaye Allen was born in Houston, Texas, to African-American parents, Vivian Elizabeth (Ayers), a poet and art director, and Andrew Arthur Allen, an orthodontist. As a child, Debbie, her older brother, Andrew (called Tex), and her older sister, |
| Trivia: |
Received an honorary doctorate from the University of 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.Her father passed away ten days after he accompanied her to the Emmy Awards Ceremony in which she won for Best Choreography for Fame (1982).Choreographed five Academy Award shows.Her husband, Norman Nixon, is a former NBA player with the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers.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 1950s, 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.Daughter of dentist Arthur Allen and Pulitzer-prize nominated Vivian 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).Received the first Lena Horne Award for Career Achievement at the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards.Founded the Debbie Allen Dance Institute in Culver City, California (2000).Is one of four people (Gene Anthony Ray, Albert Hague and Lee Curreri) to appear in both the musical film Fame (1980) and the television series Fame (1982).Daughter Vivian Nixon followed in Debbie's footsteps by playing Debbie's "Anita" role in a 2006 revival of the musical The Making of 'West Side Story' (1985). Debbie returned to her hometown of Houston, Texas to see her daughter perform.Received her Bachelor of Arts degree in classical Greek literature, speech and theater from Howard University in Washington, D.C. She later received an honorary doctorate from the university.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.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 (Musical) for playing the title character in a revival of Bob Fosse's "Sweet Charity".Is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.Ex-sister-in-law of Victor Willis and Ahmad Rashad.She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6904 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on October 11, 1991.Her most notable role to date, that of Lydia Grant on the television series Fame (1982), earned her three Emmy nominations and one Golden Globe.She studied drama at the HB Studio in Greenwich Village, New York City.In 1972, her mother Vivian's 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 Mount Vernon, New York. She is known as a leader in the arts community in New York area.Has said that the war drama Glory (1989) is her favorite film.Received the "Legend Award" at the 9th annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood event. (February 2016)Has arthritis in her right shoulder and right ankle.Is the only person who appears in Fame (1980), Fame (1982) and Fame (2009).Friends with Bill Cosby and Vanessa Bell Calloway. |
| Quotes: |
[on working with rapper Malicious Jynx (2005)] There is just something about him, he is so talented and so gifted, so flamboyant and so charismatic. He doesn't deserve the harsh criticism he receives. Anyone who listens to his albums with their hearts and their ears will see his love, and his warmth. He is such a lovely young man and I love him for that. He gets negative publicity but people need to know the real person that's inside of him. |
| Salaries: |
A Different World (1987) - $1,000,000 |
| Job title: |
Producer,Actress,Director |
| Others works: |
(2000) TV infomercial: COPA Hair Relaxer.
(2000) Stage: Wrote / directed / choreographed / appeared in / co-wrote (w/Arturo Sandoval, James Ingram) "Soul Possessed". Musical. Alliance Theatre, Atlanta, GA. NOTE: Originally commissioned by the K |
| Spouse: |
Norman Nixon (April 27, 1984 - present) (2 children)Winnfred Wilford (June 22, 1975 - 1983) (divorced) |
| Children: |
Vivian NixonNorman Nixon Jr. |
| Parents: |
Arthur Allen
Vivan Ayers |
| Relatives: |
Phylicia Rashad (Sibling)
Dola Rashad (Aunt or Uncle)
Dola Rashad (Niece or Nephew) |
|
