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Debbie Allen (born Deborrah Kaye Allen on January
16, 1950 in Houston, Texas) is an United
States|American actress, choreographer, film
director, television producer and a member of the
President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities.

She earned a B.A. degree in classical Greek
literature, speech, and theater from Howard
University and holds honorary doctorates from both
her alma mater and the North Carolina School for
the Arts. She has starred in film and on broadway
she earned two Tony Award nominations.

Allen both choreographed and acted in the 1980
movie Fame (movie)|Fame and its follow-up 1982
television show of the Fame (television)|same name
for which she won two Emmy Awards and one Golden
Globe Award. She then spun-off the Fame franchise
into a reality show in 2003 but it met with only
limited success .

She has directed many television programs
including the sitcom, A Different World,
choreographed the Academy Award show for five
consecutive years, and has developed and produced
films as Amistad with Steven Spielberg. 

She teaches young dancers at her Debbie Allen
Dance Academy. She also taught choreography to
former L.A. Laker dancer-turned singer, Paula
Abdul. 

In 2001, Debbie Allen was appointed by President
George W. Bush as a member of the President's
Committee on the Arts and Humanities.

Allen is also the sister of actress Phylicia
Rashad, aka Phylicia Ayers-Allen, and is married
to former NBA player Norm Nixon.


==External links==
*ibdb name|id= 1014 |name=Debbie Allen
*imdb name|id= 0000739|name=Debbie Allen