Debbie Allen Biography (1950-)

Full name, Deborrah Kaye Allen; born January 16, 1950, in Houston, TX; daughter of Arthur (a dentist) and Vivian (an artist, poet, playwright, and publisher; maiden name, Ayers) Allen; sister of Phylicia Rashad (an actress) and Andrew Arthur "Tex" Allen (a jazz musician); married Winfred "Win" Wilford (a recording executive), December, 1975 (divorced, 1983); married Norman Ellard Nixon (a professional basketball player), 1984; children: (second marriage) Vivian Nichole, Norman Ellard, Jr. Addresses: Agent: William Morris Agency, 151 South El Camino Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212.; Publicist: Ame van Iden, Wolf/Kasteler Public Relations, 335 North Maple Dr., Suite 351, Beverly Hills, CA 90210.

Nationality: American
Gender: Female
Occupation: Actress, dancer, singer, choreographer, producer, director, writer
Birth Details: January 16, 1950; Houston, Texas, United States

Famous Works

CREDITS
Television Appearances
Series
The Jim Stafford Show, ABC, 1975
Host, Three Girls Three (also known as 3 Girls 3), NBC, 1977
Lydia Grant, Fame, NBC, 1982-1983 syndicated, 1983-1987
Host, Friday Night Videos, NBC, 1989
Jackie Warren, In the House, NBC, then UPN, 1995-1996
Voice, C Bear and Jamal (animated), 1996
Also voice for the series Drawing Power.
Miniseries
Nan Branch Haley, Roots: The Next Generations, ABC, 1979
Regina Brown, Celebrity (also known as Tommy Thompson's Celebrity), NBC, 1984
Movies
Julie Sutton, The Greatest Thing That Almost Happened, CBS, 1977
Claire "Ebony" Bryant, Ebony, Ivory, and Jade, CBS, 1979
Alice at the Palace, 1981
Carol Freeman, Women of San Quentin, NBC, 1983
Estelle, Stompin' at the Savoy, CBS, 1992
Deloris Jordan, Michael Jordan: An American Hero (also known as American Hero: The Michael Jordan Story), Fox, 1999
Also appeared in the movie Midnight Special.
Specials
Ben Vereen--His Roots, ABC, 1978
Loretta Lynn in the Big Apple, NBC, 1982
Host, Battle of the Network Stars XII, ABC, 1982
Texaco Star Theatre: Opening Night, NBC, 1982
Host, Battle of the Network Stars XIII, ABC, 1982
Parade of Stars, ABC, 1983
John Schneider's Christmas Holiday, CBS, 1983
Live ... and in Person, NBC, 1983
Fame Takes a Look at Music '83, syndicated, 1983
The Kids from Fame, NBC, 1983
Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS,1984
Motown Returns to the Apollo, NBC, 1985
Disneyland's 30th Anniversary Celebration, NBC, 1985
The Night of 100 Stars II, ABC, 1985
Dancing in the Wings, syndicated, 1985
Liberty Weekend, ABC, 1986
Texas 150: A Celebration Special, ABC, 1986
An All-Star Celebration Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., NBC, 1986
NBC's 60th Anniversary Celebration, NBC, 1986
Las Vegas: An All Star 75th Anniversary, ABC, 1987
Emmanuel Lewis: My Very Own Show, ABC, 1987
Happy Birthday Hollywood, ABC, 1987
Superstars and Their Moms, ABC, 1987
Our Kids and the Best of Everything, ABC, 1987
Celebrating a Jazz Master: Thelonious Sphere Monk, PBS, 1987
The Debbie Allen Special, ABC, 1989
All-Star Tribute to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, NBC, 1989
Judge, The 1989 Miss America Pageant, NBC, 1989
Sammy Davis Jr.'s 60th Anniversary Celebration, ABC, 1990
Motown 30: What's Goin' On!, CBS, 1990
Martin Luther King, Jr., Parade, TBS, 1990
Host, "Spike and Co.: Do It A Capella" (also known as "A Capella Do-Wop"), Great Performances, PBS, 1990
Welcome Home, America!--A USO Salute to America's Sons and Daughters, ABC, 1991
Gladys Knight's Holiday Family Reunion Concert, syndicated, 1991
Host, Story of a People: Expressions in Black, syndicated, 1991
Host, Funny Women of Television: A Museum of Television and Radio Tribute, NBC, 1991
Back to School '92 (also known as Education First!), CBS, 1992
In a New Light '93, ABC, 1993
The Wonderful World of Disney: 40 Years of Television Magic, ABC,1994
50 Years of Funny Females, ABC, 1995
The Soul Train 25th Anniversary Hall of Fame Special, CBS, 1995
Nissan Presents a Celebration of America's Music, ABC, 1996
Celebrate the Dream: 50 Years of Ebony, ABC, 1996
Intimate Portrait: Debbie Allen, Lifetime, 1997
One Day, The Disney Channel, 1998
Nissan Presents: The 2nd Annual Celebration of America's Music, ABC, 1998
Intimate Portrait: Patti LaBelle, Lifetime, 1998
Intimate Portrait: Phylicia Rashad, Lifetime, 1998
An African American Salute to the Academy Awards, syndicated, 1998
Host, International DanceSport Championship, NBC, 1998
Host, An Evening of the Stars: A Celebration of Educational ExcellenceBenefitting The United Negro College Fund, syndicated and Black Entertainment Television, 1998
Stars over Mississippi, with Prince Edward, PBS, 1999
The Nicholas Brothers: Flying High, Arts and Entertainment, 1999
Intimate Portrait: Josephine Baker, Lifetime, 1999
Host, An Evening of the Stars: A Celebration of Educational ExcellenceBenefitting The United Negro College Fund, syndicated, 1999
Bob Fosse: The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 1999
An American Celebration at Ford's Theatre, ABC, 1999
Cohost, An Evening of Stars: A Celebration of Educational Excellence, syndicated, 2000
It's Black Entertainment, Showtime, 2000
Intimate Portrait: Harriet Tubman, Lifetime, 2000
Judge, The 49th Annual Miss Universe Pageant, CBS, 2000
Cohost, An Evening of Stars: A Celebration of Educational Excellence, syndicated, 2001
What Is a Producer?, E! Entertainment Television, 2001
Mariah Carey: The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 2001
Just Cause, Oxygen Network, 2001
Intimate Portrait: Jasmine Guy, Lifetime, 2001
Inside TV Land: African Americans in Television, TV Land, 2002
Cohost, An Evening of Stars: A Celebration of Educational Excellence Benefitting the United Negro College Fund, syndicated, 2002
The 1st 13th Annual Cartoon Network Fancy Anvil Award Show Program Special ... Live! ... in Stereo, Cartoon Network, 2002
Episodic
Diana Buchanan, "J. J.'s Fiancee: Parts 1 & 2," Good Times, CBS, 1976
Selena Moore, "The Decision/Poor Little Rich Girl/Love Me, Love My Dog,"The Love Boat, ABC, 1979
"The Decision," The Love Boat, ABC, 1979
Guest panelist, The Hollywood Squares, 1979
"Alice at the Palace," Project Peacock, NBC, 1982
"The Captain and the Kid/The Dean and the Flunkee/Poor Rich Man/Isaac's Aegean Affair," The Love Boat, ABC, 1983
Emma, "If the Dress Fits, Wear It," The Cosby Show, NBC, 1988
At Rona's, NBC, 1989
Joanna Chapman, "Private Dancer--October 6, 1979," Quantum Leap, NBC, 1991

Dr. Langhorne, "Ex-Communication," A Different World, NBC, 1991
"Honeymoon in L.A.: Part 1," A Different World, NBC, 1991
Dr. Langhorne, "Twelve Steps of Christmas," A Different World, NBC, 1991
"The Telethon," The Sinbad Show, 1994
She TV, 1994
Voice of insect, "Thumbelina," Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (animated), HBO, 1995
Voice, "Beauty and the Beast," Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales of Every Child (animated), HBO, 1995
Valerie Dixon, "Sins of the Father," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1996
Debra, "Dating Games," Cosby, CBS, 1997
Instant Comedy with the Groundlings, FX, 1997
Quilly McGrath (Queen Esther), "The Old Settler," PBS Hollywood Presents, PBS, 2001
Awards Presentations
The 34th Annual Tony Awards, 1980
The 40th Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1986
Host, The 19th Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1987
The 15th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1989
Host, The 16th Annual Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, syndicated, 1989
The Television Academy Hall of Fame, Fox, 1990
The 22nd Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1990
The Essence Awards, CBS, 1992
Host, Soul Train Comedy Awards, syndicated, 1993
The 26th Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1994
Presenter, The Walt Disney Company Presents the American Teacher Awards, The Disney Channel, 1994
Presenter, The Newsweek American Achievement Awards, CBS, 1995
Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, syndicated, 1995
Family Film Awards, CBS, 1995
The 1996 World Music Awards, ABC, 1996
Presenter, The Screen Actors Guild Awards, NBC, 1997
Presenter, The 28th Annual NAACP Image Awards, Fox, 1997
Host, The 1999 Trumpet Awards, TBS, 2000
Presenter, Lifetime Presents Disney's American Teacher Awards, Lifetime, 2000
Other
Sunday, Sunday in Paris (pilot; also known as Fresher Pastures), NBC, 1991
Cool Women, Romance Classics and Women's Entertainment, 2000
Television Work
Series
Producer, choreographer, and main titles designer, A Different World, NBC, 1988-1993
Voice director, C Bear and Jamal (animated), 1996
Also co-executive producer of Fame, NBC.
Pilots
Director, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (also known as The FreshPrince Show), NBC, 1990
Executive producer, Sunday in Paris (also known as Fresher Pastures), NBC, 1991
Director and executive producer, The Boys, ABC, 1992
Movies
Director and choreographer, "Polly," The Magical World of Disney,NBC, 1989
Director and choreographer, Polly Comin' Home! (also known as Polly--One More Time!), NBC, 1990
Director and assistant choreographer, Stompin' at the Savoy, CBS,1992
Television Director
Episodic
A Different World, NBC, between 1988 and 1993
(And choreographer) "Private Dancer--October 6, 1979," Quantum Leap, NBC, 1991
The Jamie Foxx Show, The WB, 1997
Between Brothers, Fox, 1997
Linc's, Showtime, 1998
(And executive producer) "The Old Settler," PBS Hollywood Presents, PBS, 2001
Also directed episodes of The Bronx Zoo, NBC; Fame, NBC andsyndicated; and Family Ties, NBC.
Television Choreographer
Episodic
"Come One, Come All," Fame, NBC, c. 1982
"Class Act," Fame, NBC, c. 1983
"The Rivalry," Fame, syndicated, c. 1985
Specials
The Debbie Allen Special, ABC, 1989
"African American Odyssey," Motown 30: What's Goin' On!, CBS, 1990
Sammy Davis Jr.'s 60th Anniversary Celebration, ABC, 1990
The 63rd Annual Academy Awards Presentation, ABC, 1991
The 64th Annual Academy Awards Presentation, ABC, 1992
The 65th Annual Academy Awards Presentation, ABC, 1993
The 66th Annual Academy Awards Presentation, ABC, 1994
The 67th Annual Academy Awards Presentation, ABC, 1995
Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, 1995
The Soul Train 25th Anniversary Hall of Fame Special, CBS, 1995
50 Years of Funny Females, ABC, 1995
The 71st Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1999
An American Celebration at Ford's Theatre, ABC, 1999
The 73rd Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 2001
Television Work
Specials; Other
Director, The Debbie Allen Special, ABC, 1989
Director, "Sinbad Live from the Paramount--Afros and Bellbottoms," HBOComedy Hour, HBO, 1993, expanded version released on video as Afros & Bellbottoms
Artistic consultant, Nissan Presents a Celebration of America's Music, ABC, 1996
Consulting producer, Celebrate the Dream: 50 Years of Ebony, ABC,1996
Executive producer and director, One Day, The Disney Channel, 1998
Artistic consultant, Nissan Presents: The 2nd Annual Celebration of America's Music, ABC, 1998
Executive producer, Ship of Slaves: The Middle Passage, History Channel, 1999
Other
Executive producer and director, Cool Women, Romance Classics andWomen's Entertainment, 2000
Film Appearances
(As Debra Allen) Ola, The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh, United Artists, 1979
Lydia Grant, Fame, United Artists, 1980
Sarah, Ragtime, Paramount, 1981
Voices, The Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation (animated), Columbia, 1985
Michelle, Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling, Columbia, 1986
Yvonne, Blank Check (also known as Blank Cheque), Buena Vista, 1994
Betty, Mona Must Die (also known as Ein Fast perfektes Verhaeltnis), 1994
Manicurist, Out-of-Sync, Live Entertainment, 1995
Librarian, Everything's Jake, Blackjack Entertainment/Boz Productions, 1999
Narrator, Living Positive (documentary), 1999
Ruth, All about You, Faith Filmworks, 2001
Bertha Lee Gilmore, The Painting, 2002
Film Work
Song performer, "The Fight Song," The Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation (animated), Columbia, 1985
Director, Out-of-Sync, Live Entertainment, 1995
Choreographer, Forget Paris, Columbia, 1995
Producer (with Steven Spielberg and Colin Wilson), Amistad, DreamWorks, 1997
Executive producer, The Painting, 2002
Stage Appearances
Anna Lucasta, New York City, 1972
Firefly, Ti-Jean and His Brothers, Delacorte Theatre, Public Theatre, New York City, 1972
Purlie, Billy Rose Theatre, New York City, 1972
Raisin, Forty-Sixth Street Theatre, New York City, 1973
Ain't Misbehavin', Longacre Theatre, then Plymouth Theatre, both New York City, 1978
The Illusion, Dallas Theatre Center, Dallas, TX, 1979
Holiday, Dallas Theatre Center, 1979
Anita, West Side Story, Minskoff Theatre, New York City, 1980
Daisy, Louis, New Federal Theatre, New York City, 1981
The Song Is Kern!, Asolo State Theatre, Sarasota, FL, 1981
Josephine Baker, Parade of Stars Playing the Palace, Palace Theatre, New York City, 1983
The Night of 100 Stars II, Radio City Music Hall, New York City, 1985
Title role, Sweet Charity, Minskoff Theatre, 1986
Waitin' in the Wings, Triplex Theatre, New York City, 1986
Harriet Tubman, Harriet's Return, Geffen Playhouse, Los Angeles, 1998
Brothers of the Knight (musical), John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC, 1998
Appeared as Adelaide, Guys and Dolls, Broadway production.
Major Tours
Title role, Sweet Charity, U.S. cities, 1985
Stage Work
Choreographer, Carrie, Virginia Theatre, New York City, 1988
Director, Pepito's Story (ballet), John F. Kennedy Center for thePerforming Arts, Washington, DC, 1995
Producer and choreographer, Brothers of the Knight (musical), JohnF. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 1998
Director and choreographer, Soul Possessed (musical), Alliance Theatre Company, Atlanta, GA, 2000
Also affiliated with a production of Carmen Jones, John F. KennedyCenter for the Performing Arts, 2002.
RECORDINGS
Albums
Special Look, MCA Special Products, 1989
(Contributor) All Is Well, Al Hobbs, Light, 1992
(Contributor) Songs of Faith, Vol. 2, Saint Augustine Choir, GIA,1993
(Contributor) Songs of Faith, Vol. 1, Saint Augustine Choir, GIA,1995
WRITINGS
For Television
Lyricist (with Earl Brown), Motown Returns to the Apollo (special), NBC, 1984
The Debbie Allen Special, ABC, 1989
(With Norm Nixon) Song, "Stand Up," "Polly" (movie), The Magical Worldof Disney, NBC, 1989
For Stage
Soul Possessed (musical), Alliance Theatre Company, Atlanta, GA, 2000
Film Music
Songs, "Timuyandya," "The Ladder Is Broken," "Ya Weh," "Let's Stand Together," and "Today We Face the Wall," Amistad, DreamWorks, 1997
Children's Books
Brothers of the Knight, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, Dial (New York City), 1999
Dancing in the Wings, illustrated by Nelson, Dial, 2000

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Books

Contemporary Black Biography, Volume 13, Gale, 1996
Newsmakers: The People behind Today's Headlines, Issue 2, Gale, 1998
Walz, Barbra, and Jill Barber, Starring Mothers, Dolphin/Doubleday(New York City), 1987

Periodicals

Dance, April, 2001, p. 33
Ebony, December, 1997, pp. 54-58; March, 1998, p. 140
Entertainment Weekly, October 13, 1995, p. 85
Jet, April 24, 1995, p. 56; December 22, 1997, pp. 58-63
Life, December, 1997, pp. 44-46
NEA Today, January, 1998, p. 42
People Weekly, September 15, 1997, p. 55; December 22, 1997, p. 22; October 22, 2001, p. 103

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