Deborah Kaye "Debbie" Allen (born January 16, 1950) is an American actress, dancer, choreographer, television director and producer, and a member of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. Allen was born in Houston, Texas, the youngest of four children, and began dancing at 3 yrs old. By the age of 4, she knew she wanted to be a performer. She is the youngest sister of Phylicia Rashad, better known as Claire from the The Cosby Show. Debbie graduated from Jack Yates Senior High Scho