Who Are Vivian and Andrew Allen? All You Need To Know About Debbie Allen And Phylicia Rashad’s Parents

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Reflecting upon the lives of Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen, two extraordinary women whose roots trace back to a family deeply rooted in art and service, I am struck by the profound impact their parents had on shaping their destinies.

Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashad, both actors, were nurtured in Houston by their parents, Andrew (a city dentist) and Vivian (a poet and cultural advocate associated with the Harris County Community Association). It was here that they cultivated a profound affection for the world of performances.

In their Texas upbringing, the sisters encountered racial prejudice because the state was severely segregated. This tumultuous setting prompted their family to temporarily move to Mexico. Amid these hardships, Vivian stood by Debbie and Phylicia in their creative pursuits, offering guidance as they navigated these trying times. Nowadays, Debbie and Phylicia have achieved considerable success in the acting world and are revered as cultural icons.

Hailing from Houston, Texas, the Allen sisters have made a name for themselves in the entertainment world with their substantial achievements. Phylicia Rashad became widely recognized for her role as Clair Huxtable on The Cosby Show and later took on roles such as faculty member, guest speaker, and dean at Howard University’s School of Arts. Debbie Allen is lauded for her work on shows like Fame and A Different World, as well as for pioneering new trends in Hollywood choreography.

Let’s delve further into the backgrounds of Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashad’s parents – Vivian and Andrew Allen.

Vivian and Andrew share four kids

Vivian and Andrew Allen had four children as a family unit, including two sons and two daughters. Whilst Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashad embarked on careers within the movie business, their two brothers decided to steer clear of the limelight. Andrew Arthur “Tex” Allen Jr., an accomplished jazz pianist, and Hugh Allen, who works in real estate financing, are their sons.

Vivian and Andrew raised their kids in Texas

In the bustling artistic neighborhood of Houston, Texas, Vivian and Andrew nurtured their family. As expressed by Phylicia in an interview with Town & Country in 2018, “The arts were as integral to our daily lives as exploring nature itself, like climbing trees.”

When Phylicia Rashad visited Texas to perform at Jones Hall with the Houston Symphony, she shared openly with the Houston Chronicle about her upbringing. Phylicia shared that she grew up in Houston and frequently went to the music hall as a child to watch the Houston Symphony play. Yet, during her childhood, Texas was segregated. At one point, she recalled, “I wasn’t allowed to attend dance classes because I was African-American.”

Debbie and Phylicia’s mother, Vivian is a poet and scholar

Vivian Allen is recognized as a poet, advocate for culture, and an American scholar of classics. One of her most celebrated pieces is a 1952 collection of poems called “Spice of Dawns,” which garnered her a nomination for the prestigious Pulitzer Prize, as acknowledged by the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture.

1957 saw Vivian Allen self-publish the critically acclaimed poem “Hawk.” Apart from her notable literary career, Vivian, the mother of Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashad, is deeply committed to education. As per Ebony, she not only delved into studying and translating books about Greek and Mayan astronomy and culture but also pursued classical Greek at Princeton, Columbia, and Rice universities.

1. Vivian’s academic achievements have been acknowledged with honorary doctorates from Wilberforce University and Bennett College. In 1973, she partnered with the Harris County Community Association in Houston to create her unique educational approach, which was later patented. This program garnered such high praise that Nancy Hanks, who was then the director of the National Endowment for the Arts at the time, proposed it as a blueprint for community-led arts education across the nation.

Debbie and Phylicia’s father, Andrew was a dentist and a veteran

Back in an interview with the Houston Chronicle in March 2017, Phylicia Rashad mentioned that as a kid, one of her favorite hangouts was her dad’s dental practice. In fact, during her teenage summers, she had the job of being his receptionist.

Last year on Veterans Day, Phylicia paid tribute to her veteran father, Andrew Arthur Allen Sr., by posting a touching message on Instagram. Her caption read, “Happy Veteran’s Day to my dear father, Andrew Arthur Allen Sr.!” She also shared an old photo of herself being held by her father as a baby, and added, “I deeply miss you.”

Debbie and Phylicia learned to love arts from Vivian

Vivian Allen has consistently inspired her daughters to follow their artistic dreams by teaching them various artistic skills, such as choral speaking and gymnastics within the house. This was revealed by Phylicia Rashad during an interview with NPR in 2010.

In an October 2018 interview with Town & Country, Debbie Allen shared that as a youngster, no ballet school in Texas would admit her due to her ethnicity. To surmount this obstacle, Vivian (Debbie’s mother) constructed a ballet barre at home and engaged a skilled dancer to tutor Debbie privately.

Vivian and Andrew divorced when their kids were young

Phylicia was six years old when Vivian and Andrew separated, as reported by The Huffington Post. In January 2017, the actress reminisced about her childhood with the publication, expressing, “I cherish fond memories of family.” We can continue to lean on one another, much like we did then.

Andrew passed away in 1984

In 1984, when she was 63 years old, the actresses’ father died from diabetes. In a September 2023 interview with Essence, Debbie shared her father’s words about the illness: “Keep dancing, Deborah Kaye, and you won’t be affected.” Upon taking this advice seriously, the performer immediately prioritized her health.

Vivian was recignized by NASA

Vivian Ayers Allen, Debbie and Phylicia’s mother, received acknowledgment for her work with NASA. On July 19, NASA paid tribute to the women instrumental in the Apollo 11 mission that led to Neil Armstrong’s groundbreaking moon landing in 1969, at what was formerly known as the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, by holding a ceremony there.

In the competition to reach the moon during the 1960s known as the Space Race, women held significant positions at the space center. One such woman was Vivian, a poet, activist, and scholar, who was even nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and penned the poem “Hawk,” where she linked freedom to space exploration.

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2024-08-26 15:53