Billie Allen

Wilhelmina Louise 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 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 She was one of the first African Americans to appear on television commercials in the US She was also one of the earliest AfricanAmerican actors on daytime soap operas as she appeared in the mid1950s 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 offBroadway