Debbie Allen

Brief

     Allen (1950) is an actress, choreographer, director, producer, and founder of a performing arts academy. The TV series Fame (1982-1987) marked her entertainment breakthrough when she both played dance teacher Lydia Grant and choreographed the series.  She also received three Golden Globe nominations and one win for Best Actress for her role in Fame.  She also earned multiple Emmy Award nominations, winning five, and making history as the first Black woman to receive the Emmys' prestigious Governors Award for significant contributions to television.

     Drawing from her own experiences as an HBCU graduate of Howard University, she directed 83 episodes of the sitcom A Different World. The series addressed social and political issues like class differences, voting, access to higher education, AIDS, and domestic violence. She has directed and produced over 50 television and film productions, including episodes of Grey's Anatomy, where she also serves as executive producer and portrays Dr. Catherine Avery.  In 2021, she received a Kennedy Center Honor, recognizing her lifetime achievements in the performing arts.