Debbie Allen

Debbie Allen
Allen in 2012
Born	Deborrah Kaye Allen (1950-01-16) January 16, 1950 (age 67) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Nationality	American
Education	Howard University
Occupation	Actress, choreographer, dancer, film director, television director, television producer
Years active	1976–present
Spouse(s)	Win Wilford (m. 1975–83) Norm Nixon (m. 1984)
Relatives	Phylicia Rashad (sister) Vivian Nixon (daughter) Norman Nixon Jr
Awards	1982 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography (Fame) 1982 Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy (Fame) 1983 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography (Fame) 1991 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography (Motown 30: What's Goin' On!)
Website	Debbie Allen Dance Academy Debbie Allen Twitter

Deborrah Kaye "Debbie" Allen (born January 16, 1950) is an American actress, dancer, choreographer, television director, television producer, and a member of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. She is perhaps best known for her work on the 1982 musical-drama television series Fame, where she portrayed dance teacher Lydia Grant, and served as the series' principal choreographer. She currently portrays Catherine Avery on Grey's Anatomy. She is the younger sister of actress/director/singer Phylicia Rashad.

Allen was born in Houston, Texas, the third child to orthodontist Andrew Arthur Allen Jr. and Pulitzer Prize-nominated artist, poet, playwright, scholar, and publisher, Vivian (née Ayers) Allen, She went on to earn a B.A. degree in classical Greek literature, speech, and theater from Howard University. She holds honoris causa Doctorates from Howard University and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. She currently teaches young dancers. She also taught choreography to former Los Angeles Lakers dancer-turned-singer, Paula Abdul. Her daughter, Vivian Nixon, played Kalimba in the Broadway production of Hot Feet.