175:(January 13, 1925 – December 29, 2015) was an American actress, theater director, dancer and entertainer. Allen was one of the first black actors and performers to appear on television and stage in the United States, at a time when those venues were largely closed to African Americans. During the 1950s, Allen became one of the first black entertainers to have a recurring role on network television when she was cast as a
542:, New York City, on December 29, 2015, at the age of 90, just 15 days shy of her 91st birthday. She was survived by her son and daughter, Duane H. Grant, Jr. and Carolyn J. Grant; one granddaughter; several stepchildren; a brother, Dr. Edward B. Allen, and a host of relatives and artists that she directed and mentored throughout her long career. The writer
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189:, from 1955 to 1959. She was one of the first African Americans to appear on television commercials in the U.S. She was also one of the earliest African-American actors on daytime soap operas as she appeared in the mid-1950s as the character Ada Chandler on the popular daytime soap opera
242:. She then moved to New York City during the mid-1940s to pursue acting and dance. She was cast as a dancer in several Bradway productions early in her career, including the 1947 musical review
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503:, in 2006. Allen had originated the role of the lead character "Sarah" during the play's debut in 1964. She was also awarded in 2006, The
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441:, theater director and acting teacher. Notable students of the Frank Silvera Writers Workshop have included award-winning playwrights
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453:. By the early 1980s, Allen was established as an impeccable director, directing such edgy and provocative productions as
298:. She was later cast as understudy in the part of "Beneatha Younger" in the 1959 Broadway premier production of playwright
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341:. Her character "Essie" was the housekeeper of the play's main protagonist, theater critic "Parker Ballantine," played by
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535:. Allen and Henderson, who were both AUDELCO Award Winners, remained married until his death in 2003.
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to establish the Frank
Silvera Writers Workshop, located in Harlem, as a tribute to its namesake,
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ran for a record 97 preview performances before closing the day after its official opening night.
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in New York and was later staged and directed by Allen in the early 2000s at
Atlanta, Georgia's
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opera, which also opened in 1952. She also appeared with one of her mentors, the legendary
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exited the role. Allen befriended several members of the cast, notably actress
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In 1960, Billie Allen portrayed a maid in the
Broadway debut of
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Allen attended the
Hampton Institute, now known as present-day
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Duane H. Grant, Sr. ended in divorce. Her second husband was
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on CBS during the 1950s, her other television roles included
607:"Billie Allen, Actress Who Bridged a Racial Gap, Dies at 90"
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On the small side, Allen appeared in the opening sketch for
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653:"Billie Allen, Pioneering Black Stage Actress, Dies at 90"
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Billie Allen was married twice. Her first marriage to
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363:. Her last Broadway production as an actress was in
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400:during the 1990s. Allen's film credits included
720:"The Year in Theatre and Farewell to a Friend"
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378:Aside from her breakthrough recurring role in
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231:barred Anderson from performing at the
219:. Her father, William R. Allen, was an
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739:Marché, Leah (January 13, 2016).
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833:American television actresses
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509:Classical Theatre of Harlem
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515:Personal life and death
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381:The Phil Silvers Show
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808:Actors Studio alumni
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305:A Raisin in the Sun
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699:The New York Times
612:The New York Times
521:aerospace engineer
465:Anna Deavere Smith
300:Lorraine Hansberry
245:Caribbean Carnival
240:Hampton University
217:Richmond, Virginia
118:(divorced)
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489:Allen received a
476:Miss Ethel Waters
451:Samm-Art Williams
318:Saint Lucy's Eyes
275:Mamba's Daughters
192:The Edge of Night
183:army base comedy
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94:Years active
78:December 29, 2015
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80:(2015-12-29)
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664:January 27,
618:January 27,
361:Emmett Till
343:Henry Fonda
310:Diana Sands
777:Categories
550:References
529:Little Ham
59:1925-01-13
540:Manhattan
463:in 1982,
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406:in 1964,
369:in 1969.
333:Ira Levin
291:race film
160:Relatives
97:1949–1996
37:Allen in
486:(1987).
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425:, actor
314:Ruby Dee
197:Broadway
152:Children
40:Route 66
409:The Wiz
221:actuary
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