page_title: Debbie Allen
section_title: 1970—1981: Early works
hierarchical_section_title: Debbie Allen / Career / 1970—1981: Early works
caption_attribution_description: English: "The Kids from Fame" at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, Netherlands. They are performers on Fame (1982 TV series). Gene Anthony Ray is in the back row partially covered by Debbie Allen's arm. Debbie Allen is in center of photo, with sunglasses on top of her head; Lori Singer is behind Allen, near her sunglasses. Carlo Imperato is at top left, wearing black sweatshirt.Nederlands: Collectie / Archief&#160;: Fotocollectie Anefo Reportage / Serie&#160;: Acteurs van de tv-serie "Kids from Fame" op Schiphol Beschrijving&#160;: Uitbundige groep met ondermeer "Danny" (Carlo Imperato) (l), Debbie Allen (m) en Lori Singer (bovenaan) Datum&#160;: 28 maart 1983 Locatie&#160;: Noord-Holland, Schiphol Trefwoorden&#160;: aankomst en vertrek, acteurs, televisieprogramma's Persoonsnaam&#160;: Allen, Debbie, Imperato, Carlo, Singer, Lori Fotograaf&#160;: Croes, Rob C. / Anefo Auteursrechthebbende&#160;: Nationaal Archief Materiaalsoort&#160;: Negatief (zwart/wit) Nummer archiefinventaris&#160;: bekijk toegang 2.24.01.05 Bestanddeelnummer&#160;: 932-5469
context_page_description: Deborah Kaye Allen is an American actress, dancer, choreographer, singer-songwriter, director, producer, and a former member of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. She has been nominated 20 times for an Emmy Award, two Tony Awards, and has also won a Golden Globe Award and received star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1991.
  Allen is best known for her work in the musical-drama television series Fame, 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 – Television Series Musical or Comedy and two Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography and was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Award 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 NBC comedy series A Different World. 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 served as an executive producer/director.
context_section_description: Allen began her career appearing on Broadway theatre. Allen had her Broadway debut in the chorus of Purlie in 1970. She later created the role of Beneatha in the Tony
  Award-winning musical Raisin (1973), and appeared in Truckload, and Ain't Misbehavin'. In 1980, she received critical attention for her performance as Anita in the Broadway revival of West Side Story which earned her a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical and won Drama Desk Award.
  In 1976, Allen made her television debut appearing in the CBS sitcom Good Times in a memorable 2-part episode titled "J.J.'s Fiancée" as J.J.'s drug-addicted fiancée, Diana. The following year, she went to star in the NBC variety show 3 Girls 3. Allen later was selected to appear in the 1979 miniseries Roots: The Next Generations by Alex Haley where she plays the wife of Haley. Also that year, she made her big screen debut appearing in an supporting role in the comedy film The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh. In 1981, she had the important role of Sarah, the lover of Coalhouse Walker (Howard E. Rollins) who is killed while trying to defend him in the movie version of the best-selling novel Ragtime. The same role earned a Tony Award for Audra McDonald, for her performance in the Broadway Musical.
caption: With The Kids from "Fame" (1983). Debbie Allen is center, with sunglasses on top of her head.
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