Vivian Nixon
Vivian Nixon | |
|---|---|
| Born | Vivian Nichole Nixon May 30, 1984 |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, dancer |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent(s) | Debbie Allen Norm Nixon |
| Relatives | Phylicia Rashad (aunt) Condola Rashād (cousin) |
Vivian Nichole Nixon (born May 30, 1984)[1] is an American dancer and actress, the daughter of Debbie Allen and former NBA star Norm Nixon.
Early life
Born in Miami, Florida, she is one of three children of former NBA star Norm Nixon and dancer/choreographer/producer/director/actress Debbie Allen.[2] She was named after her grandmother Vivian Ayers-Allen. Her aunt is actress Phylicia Rashad and her younger brother is basketball player Norm E. Nixon Jr. Vivian took gymnastics until she was 13, but when a fellow gymnast fell and was seriously injured, her mother took her out of the sport. She went on to study at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D. C. and at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles.
Career
While still in her final year of the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program in Dance, in 2006 Nixon was cast as Kalinda in the Broadway production of Hot Feet, the classic storyline of The Red Shoes with a '70s funk facelift, and Kalimba is the ambitious girl at the center of it who can't stop dancing (literally).[1][3] She was named of the top "25 to Watch" by Dance Magazine in 2007.[4] Her regional credits including Alan Johnson’s West Side Story (Anita), Bayou Legend (Sara), Pearl (Pearl), Soul Possessed, Dreams, Brothers of the Knight and The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker. She performed on the European tour of West Side Story, and Harriet.
Nixon has appeared in films 500 Days of Summer (2009) and Top Five (2014). On television, she had secondary roles in the Fox musical series Glee and NBC's Smash. In 2015, she began appearing as Dr. Hannah Brody in the ABC medical drama series, Grey's Anatomy. In 2020, she appeared in its spin-off series, Station 19.
Nixon is associate director at Debbie Allen Dance Academy.[5][6]
Personal life
Nixon has one daughter, Shiloh Elizabeth Williams, born on February 7, 2019.[7]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Glee | Andrea Cohen | Episodes: "Pilot", "Acafellas" and "Journey to Regionals" |
| Everybody Hates Chris | Pretty Woman | Episode: "Everybody Hates Fake IDs" | |
| 500 Days of Summer | Dancer | ||
| 2010 | Louis | Anaya-Bolden's Muse | |
| 2012 | Smash | Dancer | 10 episodes |
| 2013 | Boardwalk Empire | Onyx Club Dancer | ("Farewell Daddy Blues") |
| 2014 | Top Five | Jasmine | |
| It Could Be Worse | Receptionist | Episode: "Fate" | |
| Power | Fiona | Episodes: "Who You With?" and "Loyalty" | |
| 2015 | Bolden! | Ayan | |
| 2015-present | Grey's Anatomy | Dr. Hannah Brody | Recurring role |
| 2020 | Station 19 | Dr. Hannah Brody | Episodes: "I Know This Bar" and "House Where Nobody Lives" |
References
- ^ a b Mandel, Lyssa (May 22, 2015). "Vivian Nixon Broadway.com Interview". Retrieved May 1, 2006.
- ^ Company, Johnson Publishing (August 14, 2006). "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company – via Google Books.
- ^ Lanes, Elliot. "BWW Interview: Theatre Life with Debbie Allen and Vivian Nixon". BroadwayWorld.com.
- ^ "25 To Watch". Dance Magazine. January 4, 2007.
- ^ ABOUT OUR STAFF
- ^ "SIMPLY JESSICA: Vivian Nixon launches Fit Program at Debbie Allen Dance Academy -". September 24, 2015.
- ^ "Debbie Allen Gushes About Becoming a First-Time Grandma (Exclusive)". March 25, 2019.