Billie Allen | |
|---|---|
 Allen in Route 66, 1961 | |
| Born | Wilhelmina Louise Allen January 13, 1925 Richmond, Virginia, USA |
| Died | December 29, 2015 (aged 90) |
| Years active | 1949–1996 |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Candace Allen (niece) |
Billie Allen (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.[1] 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 WAC on staff on the CBS army base comedy The Phil Silvers Show, from 1955 to 1959.[1] She was one of the first African Americans to appear on television commercials in the U.S.[1] 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 The Edge of Night. Allen was also known for her work on Broadway and off-Broadway.[2]
- ^ a b c Weber, Bruce (January 10, 2016). "Billie Allen, Actress Who Bridged a Racial Gap, Dies at 90". The New York Times. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
- ^ Simonson, Robert (January 13, 2016). "Billie Allen, Pioneering Black Stage Actress, Dies at 90". Playbill.com. Retrieved January 27, 2016.