Suzanne de Passe facts for kids

Suzanne de Passe is an amazing American businesswoman, TV producer, music producer, and film producer. She was born on July 19, either in 1946, 1947, or 1948. She is currently a co-chairwoman of the de Passe Jones Entertainment Group.

Meet Suzanne de Passe: A Trailblazer in Entertainment

Suzanne's Early Life and Education

Suzanne de Passe was born in New York City. Her mother was from Harlem and had Jamaican roots. Her father had Haitian and French family.

Suzanne grew up in Harlem. She went to the New Lincoln School. Later, she graduated from Syracuse University in 1968.

Suzanne's Journey in Show Business

Suzanne de Passe started her career in entertainment at the Cheetah nightclub in New York. She became friends with Cindy Birdsong, who joined The Supremes in 1967. This friendship helped her get a job at Motown.

At Motown, she worked as a creative assistant for the company's founder, Berry Gordy. Early on, Suzanne helped design the stage clothes for The Jackson 5. She also helped plan their live shows.

Suzanne was key in bringing Motown's music to television. She produced many famous TV specials. One big one was Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever. This was when she was president of Motown Productions.

When Motown was sold, Suzanne teamed up with Berry Gordy. They formed Gordy/de Passe Productions. Later, in 1992, she started her own company, de Passe Entertainment.

Suzanne's work with Berry Gordy was even featured in Vanity Fair magazine in 2008. The article was called Motown the Untold Story.

Sharing Knowledge: Teaching and Awards

Suzanne de Passe has been the subject of two studies at Harvard Business School. These studies looked at her work with "Suzanne de Passe and Motown Productions" and "de Passe Entertainment." She has also given talks at Harvard Business School many times.

In 2002, she became a visiting professor at Howard University. She taught in the Department of Radio, Television and Film. In 2006, Howard University gave her an honorary doctorate degree. This means she received a special title for her achievements.

Suzanne has also been a Producer-in-Residence at Emerson College in Boston. She has also been an executive producer for TV shows like Sister, Sister and Smart Guy. These shows were popular on The WB network.

From 2002 to 2008, Suzanne was an executive producer for Showtime at the Apollo. This was a weekly variety show. She also helped create and write the Black Movie Awards for TNT in 2005 and 2006.

Suzanne is currently working on a film called King. It will be about the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. In 2009, she was featured in HBO's The Black List: Vol. 2. This documentary highlighted important African Americans.

In 2024, Suzanne de Passe was chosen for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She received the Ahmet Ertegun Award. This award is for people who are not performers but have made a big impact on music.

Suzanne's Work in Television

Suzanne de Passe has produced many TV shows and movies. Here are some of her notable works:

Mini-series Productions

• The Temptations (1998): This NBC miniseries won an NAACP Image Award. It was also nominated for six Emmy Awards.
• Dead Man's Walk (miniseries) (1996): An ABC miniseries.
• Buffalo Girls (1995): This CBS miniseries was nominated for eleven Emmy Awards. It starred Anjelica Huston and Melanie Griffith.
• Streets of Laredo (miniseries) (1995): A CBS miniseries.
• Return to Lonesome Dove (1993): A CBS miniseries.
• The Jacksons: An American Dream (1992): This ABC miniseries was nominated for many Emmy Awards. It told the story of the Jackson family.
• Lonesome Dove (miniseries) (1989): This CBS miniseries won an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Peabody Award. It was a very successful western based on a famous book.
• Small Sacrifices (1989): An ABC miniseries that won a Peabody Award.

TV Series and Movies

• King: An upcoming DreamWorks movie about Martin Luther King Jr.
• Becoming KK Jones: An upcoming series for Fox Television.
• Life Changers: A TV series with music producer Rodney Jerkins.
• Humpty Dumpty: Another production.

TV Movies for Networks

• The Loretta Claiborne Story (2000): A Disney/ABC movie.
• Someone Else's Child (1998): An ABC movie.
• The Last Electric Knight (1989): An ABC movie, also known as Sidekicks.
• Bridemaids (1989): A CBS movie.
• Happy Endings (1983): A CBS movie.

TV Movies for Cable Channels

• Zenon: Z3 (2004): A Disney Channel movie.
• Zenon: The Zequel (2001): This Disney Channel movie had very high ratings when it first aired.
• Cheaters (2000): An HBO Films movie.
• Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century (1999): A Disney Channel movie.

Special TV Programs

• Executive Producer for President Barack Obama's Inaugural Ball.
• 70th Anniversary Tribute to the Apollo Theatre (2004): An NBC special.
• Motown 40: The Music is Forever (1998): A four-hour documentary for ABC.
• Motown 30: What's Goin' On (1990): A CBS special nominated for an Emmy Award.
• Motown Returns to the Apollo (1985): An NBC special that won an Emmy Award.
• Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever (1983): An NBC special that won an Emmy and a Peabody Award.

Regular TV Series

• Sister, Sister (1995–1999): A popular half-hour sitcom with 122 episodes.
• Smart Guy (1996–1999): Another half-hour sitcom with 51 episodes.
• On Our Own (1994–1995): A half-hour sitcom.
• The Motown Revue starring Smokey Robinson (1986): Six one-hour episodes for NBC.

Syndicated TV Shows

• Showtime at the Apollo (2002–Present): A variety program with over 130 episodes.
• Lonesome Dove, The Outlaw Years (1994-1996): A western drama series.

Award Shows Produced

• 2006 Black Movie Awards (TNT).
• 2005 Black Movie Awards (TNT).
• 34th NAACP Image Awards (2003, FOX).
• 2003 Essence Awards (FOX).
• 2002 Essence Awards (FOX).
• 33rd NAACP Image Awards (2002, FOX).
• 32nd NAACP Image Awards (2001, FOX).

Awards and Honors for Suzanne

Suzanne de Passe has received many awards for her amazing work.

• She was nominated for an Academy Award for co-writing the movie Lady Sings the Blues. She was the first African-American to be nominated for Best Original Screenplay.
• Suzanne won two Emmy Awards and NAACP Image Awards. These were for her work as executive producer of Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever and Motown Returns to the Apollo.
• She was also an executive producer for the CBS western miniseries Lonesome Dove. This series won both Golden Globe and Peabody Awards. It was also named "Outstanding Program of the Year" by TV critics.
• As executive producer of The Temptations, Suzanne won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Miniseries. She was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award.
• Her other Emmy-nominated miniseries include Small Sacrifices, The Jacksons: An American Dream, and Buffalo Girls.

Suzanne has also received many other honors for her contributions to TV, movies, and music:

• Essence: Hollywood Women of Power Visionary Award (2008)
• Savannah Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award (2008)
• Black Enterprise Top 50 Hollywood Power Brokers (2007)
• The AWRT (American Women in Radio and Television) Silver Satellite Award (1999)
• Revlon Business Woman of the Year Award (1994)
• Inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame (1990)
• Essence Award (1989)
• Women in Film Crystal Award (1988): This award honors women who have helped expand the role of women in entertainment.
• Candace Award, National Coalition of 100 Black Women (1983 and 1989)

Recent community honors include:

• The George Arents Award from Syracuse University (2010): This is the highest honor for alumni.
• Jackie Robinson Foundation Trailblazer Award (2006)
• Ebony Magazine's Madame C. J. Walker Award (2004)
• Whitney M. Young Award from the Los Angeles Urban League (2003)

Suzanne's Personal Life

In 1978, Suzanne de Passe married actor Paul Le Mat. They later divorced.

Suzanne's Board Memberships and Affiliations

Suzanne de Passe is a member of many important groups in the entertainment industry:

• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
• Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority (Honorary Member)
• American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
• American Film Institute (Trustee)
• American Society of Composers and Publishers
• Caucus of Writers, Producers and Directors (Executive Committee)
• Debbie Allen Dance Academy (Board Member)
• Humanities Prize (Board Member)
• Los Angeles Opera (Board Member)
• National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences
• National Association of Television Arts and Sciences
• Producers Guild of America
• Writers Guild of America

She has also spoken at events for many businesses and industry groups.