Donald p. bellisario family photos

American actress, writer and producer

Deborah M. Pratt is an American director, writer, television producer and actress.

Early life

Pratt was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, to an African American family.^[1] She's the daughter of Geraldine Marian (née Bryant), a teacher, and Col.

Bertram Roberson Pratt, a vice president of Pullman Heritage Bank. Colonel Pratt commanded the segregated 827th Tank Destroyer Battalion in Europe during the Second World War and later served in the Illinois National Guard.^[2] Pratt has four sisters.^[3]

Pratt earned a degree in Psychology from Webster University and studied Theatre at The Conservatory of Theatre Arts.^[3]

Career

Pratt started performing on stage in Chicago theatre.

Deborah's talent was discovered through a nationwide search that brought her to Los Angeles under contract to NBC, singing and dancing, on The Dean Martin Show with The Golddiggers.^[4&