She graduated from Howard University and used her experiences from attending an historically Black College to inform her production and direction of the TV show A Different World. She, her sister Phylicia Rashad, brother Tex and their mother spent over a year in Mexico when they were young. Her mother made the decision to go there to give her children a brief experience of not having to endure the chronic racism and segregation that was typical of Texas during Debbie's childhood. As a result of this experience, Debbie and her sister Phylicia are fluent in Spanish. Although her parents divorced, Debbie remained extremely close to her father, Arthur Allen, until his death. She and her sister had a production company called "D.A.D." which stood for "Doctor Allen's Daughters". Her Pulitzer-nominated poet mother is, however, the artistic and free spirit that has influenced and encouraged the remarkable creativity that so marks Allen as a performer. Her daughter, Vivian, was named for Debbie's mother, Vivian Ayers-Allen.
Sister of Phylicia Rashad. Her husband, Norman Nixon, is a former NBA player with the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers. Received an Honorary doctorate from The 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. Has an Honorary doctorate from her alma mater Howard University. Won 1992 & 1995 Essence Awards. Won the first Lena Horne Award for Career Achievement at the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards. 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." Received a Drama Desk Award in 1979. She has two honorary doctorates, one from the North Carolina School of the Arts and one from her alma mater Howard University. Her most notable role to date, that of "Lydia Grant" on the TV Series Fame, earned her three Emmy Nominations and one Golden Globe. Founder of the Debbie Allen Dance Institute Choreographed five Academy Award shows Her father passed away ten days after he accompanied her to the Emmy Awards Ceremony in which she won for Best Choreography for Fame. Authored children's books entitled, "Brothers of the Knight" and "Dancing in the Wings". Children with Norman Nixon: Vivian (b. 1984) and Norm Jr (b. 1987). Adopted Stepson, Devaughn Ex-sister-in-law of Victor Willis and Ahmad Rashad. Her daughter Vivian 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. Is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.