Debbie Allen

Deborrah Kaye Allen is a choreographer, dancer, actress, director, and producer who has shaped American entertainment for five decades — from her iconic role as Lydia Grant on Fame ("You want fame? Well, fame costs. And right here is where you start paying — in sweat.") to her work as a director and executive producer on Grey's Anatomy for over a decade. She is one of the most prolific and versatile creative forces in Hollywood.

Born in Houston, Texas, on January 16, 1950, Allen was denied admission to the Houston Ballet Foundation at age eight because of her race. She studied at Howard University instead, where she trained in dance, theater, and music. She made her Broadway debut in Purlie (1972) and won two Tony nominations, two Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe, and five NAACP Image Awards over the course of her career.

Allen's greatest legacy may be the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, founded in 2001 in Los Angeles, which has trained thousands of young dancers of all backgrounds. She was named a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2021 for her contributions to American culture. She has directed episodes of some of television's most important shows, produced major theatrical works, and used every platform available to ensure that the next generation of artists has the opportunities that were denied to her as a child in Houston.