Deborah Kaye Allen, professionally known as Debbie Allen (born January 16, 1950) is an American actress, dancer, choreographer, director, producer, and singer. She is best known for playing Lydia Grant in Fame, both the film and series. She also served as the choreographer for the show. In addition to acting and dancing, she was a producer and director for A Different World, and is credited for taking the show in a different direction from what its mothership show The Cosby Show intended for it.
She was appointed as a member of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities by George W. Bush in 2001. She is younger sister to fellow actress Phylicia Rashad and mother of Vivian Nixon, a fellow dancer as well as the voice of Millie on Helluva Boss.
Partial filmography as an actress
- Fame (1980) (also director)
- Ragtime (1981)
- Blank Check (1994)
- Fame (2009, remake)
- Fame (1982-1987)
- A Different World (1988-1993, also showrunner, director and producer)
- In the House (1995-1996)
- Grey's Anatomy (2011-present, also executive producer)
- S.W.A.T. (2017) (2018-present)
She has directed episodes of the following:
- Fame
- Family Ties
- The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
- Quantum Leap
- A Different World
- The Jamie Foxx Show
- The Twilight Zone (2002)
- The Parkers
- That's So Raven
- Girlfriends (2000)
- The Game (2006)
- Everybody Hates Chris
- Hellcats
- Grey's Anatomy
- Army Wives
- Witches of East End
- How to Get Away with Murder
- Empire
- Scandal
- Jane the Virgin
- Insecure
- Step Up: High Water
