These '80s Pictures of Dance Icon Debbie Allen Are a Gift to Us All

Getty | Michael Tran

Ever since Debbie Allen landed her breakout role as Lydia Grant in Fame (first in the movie, then in the TV show), she's become a living legend. Over the past 40 years, Allen has danced, directed, choreographed, acted, sang, produced, and even served as a member of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities, all while raising three children with her husband of nearly 37 years, former NBA star Norm Nixon. Though she's currently busy playing Dr. Catherine Avery Fox on Grey's Anatomy (among other projects), Allen recently brought her talents to Netflix with her documentary Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker, and it's as magical as you'd expect. In honor of her 40-year career, we've rounded up pics of Allen over the years!

Debbie Allen in 1981
Getty | Ron Galella

Debbie Allen in 1981

Debbie Allen in 1982
Getty | Michael Ochs Archives

Debbie Allen in 1982

Debbie Allen in 1983
Getty | Ron Galella

Debbie Allen in 1983

Debbie Allen in 1984
Getty | Ron Galella

Debbie Allen in 1984

Debbie Allen in 1985
Getty | Harry Langdon

Debbie Allen in 1985

Debbie Allen in 1986
Getty | Michael Ochs Archives

Debbie Allen in 1986

Debbie Allen in 1988
Getty | Ron Galella

Debbie Allen in 1988

Debbie Allen in 1989
Getty | Ron Galella

Debbie Allen in 1989

Debbie Allen in 1990
Getty | Ron Galella

Debbie Allen in 1990

Debbie Allen in 1991
Getty | Ron Galella

Debbie Allen in 1991

Debbie Allen in 1992
Getty | Ron Galella

Debbie Allen in 1992

Debbie Allen in 1993
Getty | Ron Galella

Debbie Allen in 1993

Debbie Allen in 1995
Getty | Ron Galella

Debbie Allen in 1995

Debbie Allen in 1996
Getty | Ron Galella

Debbie Allen in 1996

Debbie Allen in 1997
Getty | Ron Galella

Debbie Allen in 1997

Debbie Allen in 1998
Getty | Ron Galella

Debbie Allen in 1998

Debbie Allen in 1999
Getty | Ron Galella

Debbie Allen in 1999

Debbie Allen in 2000
Getty | Sam Levi

Debbie Allen in 2000

Debbie Allen in 2002
Getty | Jeff Kravitz

Debbie Allen in 2002

Debbie Allen in 2003
Getty | Steve Grayson

Debbie Allen in 2003

Debbie Allen in 2004
Getty | Jean-Paul Aussenard

Debbie Allen in 2004

Debbie Allen in 2005
Getty | Dimitrios Kambouris

Debbie Allen in 2005

Debbie Allen in 2006
Getty | Matthew Simmons

Debbie Allen in 2006

Debbie Allen in 2007
Getty | Alexandra Wyman

Debbie Allen in 2007

Debbie Allen in 2009
Getty | Ethan Miller

Debbie Allen in 2009

Debbie Allen in 2010
Getty | Gregg DeGuire

Debbie Allen in 2010

Debbie Allen in 2011
Getty | Jeffrey Mayer

Debbie Allen in 2011

Debbie Allen in 2012
Getty | David Livingston

Debbie Allen in 2012

Debbie Allen in 2013
Getty | Mindy Small

Debbie Allen in 2013

Debbie Allen in 2014
Getty | Michael Tran

Debbie Allen in 2014

Debbie Allen in 2016
Getty | Michael Kovac

Debbie Allen in 2016

Debbie Allen in 2017
Getty | Allen Berezovsky

Debbie Allen in 2017

Debbie Allen in 2018
Getty | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin

Debbie Allen in 2018

Debbie Allen in 2019
Getty | Rodin Eckenroth

Debbie Allen in 2019

Debbie Allen in 2020
Getty | David Crotty

Debbie Allen in 2020