Debbie Allen
Deborah Allen, Deborah Kaye Allen
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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. She has been nominated for 22 Emmy Awards (winning six), and two Tony Awards. She has won a Golden Globe Award, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1991. In 2026, she received an Academy Honorary Award. 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. For this role in 1983, she received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy and two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Choreography and also received four nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Allen later began working as director and producer, most notably producing and directing 83 of 144 episodes of the NBC comedy series A Different World (1988–1993). 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.
Career
- 1950Birth
What happened recently
Debbie Allen Reveals Why She ‘Needed to Eliminate a Lot of Foolishness’ on ‘A Different World’
Debbie Allen Describes Changes She Made After Season 1 of A Different World That Made Show More Successful
Videos: Corbin Bleu Performs 'Magic to Do,' Debbie Allen Accepts Legacy Award, More at Broadway Celebrates Juneteenth Concert
As a ‘A Different World’ returns, Debbie Allen says Black stories, like Black people, aren’t going anywhere
Debbie Allen, Felicia Pride, And Maleah Joi Moon Discuss Bringing ‘A Different World’ To A New Generation
Corbin Bleu to host ‘Broadway Celebrates Juneteenth’ concert as Debbie Allen receives legacy award
How a Call From Denzel Washington Brought Debbie Allen Back to Broadway With Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Debbie Allen gets emotional as husband Norm Nixon delivers surprise anniversary moment on air
Debbie Allen Gushes Over Tom Cruise's 'Incredible' Dance Skills After Duo Went Viral: 'He Can Get Down!'
Debbie Allen Urges Others to Stop Making 'Hurtful' Comments About People Living with Diabetes (Exclusive)
How Debbie Allen Got Whoopi Goldberg to Appear in Historic AIDS Story Line on ‘A Different World’
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