Trivia

Received an honorary doctorate from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, the same institution that denied her admittance to its dance department when she was sixteen years old; she was told then that she had the wrong type of body for dance.

Her father passed away ten days after he accompanied her to the Emmy Awards Ceremony in which she won for Best Choreography for Fame (1982).

Daughter of dentist Arthur Allen and Pulitzer-prize nominated Vivian Ayers (artist, poet, playwright and publisher). Older siblings are jazz musician Tex (Andrew Arthur Allen Jr., born 1945) and actress Phylicia Ayers-Allen (Phylicia Rashad, born 1948), and brother Hugh Allen (real estate banker in North Carolina).

Her husband, Norman Nixon, is a former NBA player with the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers.

Received the first Lena Horne Award for Career Achievement at the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards.

Choreographed five Academy Award shows.

Her mother Dr. Vivian Elizabeth Ayers attended Brainerd Institute, Barber Scotia College and Bennett College. Vivian was the first poet in the state of Texas to receive the Pulitzer Prize Award nomination in 1952. Vivian was often called the "Poet Laureate of Texas". In the late 1950s, her poetry, "Hawk", attracted the attention of NASA and for twenty years was the only poetry celebrated by NASA. She worked as an apprentice librarian at the Fondren Library of Rice University and was accorded faculty status in 1965, becoming the first African American to be so qualified. During her years at Rice, she organized and published The Adept Quarterly, an important contribution to the small publications movement of the time.

Has twice been nominated for Tony Awards: in 1980, as Best Actress (Featured Role -Musical) for a revival of "West Side Story", and in 1986, as Best Actress (Musical) for playing the title character in a revival of Bob Fosse's "Sweet Charity".

Founded the Debbie Allen Dance Institute in Culver City, California (2000).

Received her Bachelor of Arts degree in classical Greek literature, speech and theater from Howard University in Washington, D.C. She later received an honorary doctorate from the university.

Daughter Vivian Nixon followed in Debbie's footsteps by playing Debbie's "Anita" role in a 2006 revival of the musical The Making of 'West Side Story' (1985). Debbie returned to her hometown of Houston, Texas to see her daughter perform.

Is one of four people (Gene Anthony Ray, Albert Hague and Lee Curreri) to appear in both the musical film Fame (1980) and the television series Fame (1982).

Her daughter, Vivian Nixon, is in the lead role of the Broadway musical "Hot Feet". Vivian was classically trained at Washington D.C.'s Kirov Academy of Ballet and at The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

In 1972, her mother Vivian's work, "Workshops in Open Fields", was hailed and recommended to the nation as a "prototype of grass roots programming" by the director of NEA. Vivian established the Adept New American Museum--a museum for art and history of the American Southwest; which features "Juneteenth" Black Cowboys, American Indian Sand Painting, seminars on the Emancipation Proclamation and Mayan studies--in Mount Vernon, New York. She is known as a leader in the arts community in New York area.

Is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Her most notable role to date, that of Lydia Grant on the television series Fame (1982), earned her three Emmy nominations and one Golden Globe.

She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6904 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on October 11, 1991.

Ex-sister-in-law of Victor Willis and Ahmad Rashad.

Has said that the war drama Glory (1989) is her favorite film.

Received the "Legend Award" at the 9th annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood event. (February 2016)

Is the only person who appears in Fame (1980), Fame (1982) and Fame (2009).

She studied drama at the HB Studio in Greenwich Village, New York City.

Her mother worked at NASA as a mathematician.

Has arthritis in her right shoulder and right ankle.

Grew up in Mexico.

Friends with Bill Cosby and Vanessa Bell Calloway.

She and her elder sister Phylicia Rashad both made guest appearances in The Love Boat (1977).