Debbie Allen Explains How She & Husband Norm Nixon Have Overcome Hardships Amid 40 Years Of Marriage

Debbie Allen, Norm Nixon

Debbie Allen Explains How She & Husband Norm Nixon Have Overcome Hardships Amid 40 Years Of Marriage

Multi-talented entertainer Debbie Allen is sharing her thoughts on how to make a marriage last a lifetime.

The 74-year-old revealed during a recent interview with PEOPLE that having things in common with her partner of 40 years, Norman Nixon, 68, set the foundation for their successful union. She stated:

“I think our relationship has always been born on friendship and commonality in terms of things that we both like…[We both like] to read books. We both like to go to the movies. We both like to travel. We both love our children.”

Continuing, Debbie Allen admitted that their love affair hasn’t been without its difficulties.

“Wherever there have been differences and there have been. Honey, over 40 years, child, we’ve hit some rocks and hit some walls…But at the end of the day, we really love each other and we sleep together every night and we love our family.”

Debbie Allen, Norm Nixon

Debbie Allen and Norm Nixon tied the knot in April 1984 and share two children, Vivian Nixon, 39, and Norm Nixon Jr., 36. The famed dancer is also stepmother to Nixon’s eldest son from a previous relationship, DeVaughn Nixon, 40.

Further in the interview, the Grey’s Anatomy star, who was being honored with the Humanitarian Angel Award at Project Angel Food’s 35th Annual Angel Awards Gala in Hollywood this past Saturday (Sept. 28), gushed about soon becoming a grandmother to four littles who call her “Ma D.”

She stated:

“Vivian has given me two. One is three, one is five. I’m so in love with them…I could do nothing else but just be with them and she’s such a good mother. She educates them. They’re so smart. They came home singing Duke Ellington one day. I’m like, ‘What? What is going on?’”

And added:

“Speaking Chinese and understanding that there’s a global world out there, so I love children right now…The Debbie Allen Dance Academy, it’s my whole life, but my grandkids are very special and I’m just excited that I got two more and they’re all girls, so I’m going to have my own corps de ballet.”

Can you relate to what Debbie Allen shared? Tell us in the comments below! 

[VIA]