Suzanne de Passe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Suzanne de Passe
De Passe in 1986
Born	(1946-07-19) July 19, 1946 (age 79) or (1947-07-19) July 19, 1947 (age 78) or (1948-07-19) July 19, 1948 (age 77) (sources differ) New York City, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Syracuse University
Occupation	Executive producer chairwoman television producer businesswoman screenwriter
Years active	1966–present
Notable work	The Temptations The Jacksons: An American Dream Sister, Sister Lady Sings the Blues
Spouse(s)	Paul Le Mat ​ ​ (m. 1978; div. 1994)​
Children	3

Suzanne Celeste de Passe is a very successful American businesswoman, TV, music, and film producer. She was born on July 19, in 1946, 1947, or 1948. She helps lead a company called de Passe Jones Entertainment Group.

About Suzanne de Passe

Her Early Life and School

Suzanne de Passe was born in New York City. Her mother was from Harlem and had Jamaican family. Her father had Haitian and French family. Suzanne grew up in Harlem. She went to New Lincoln School and later graduated from Syracuse University in 1968.

Starting Her Career in Entertainment

Suzanne de Passe began her career in the entertainment world at the Cheetah nightclub in New York City. She became friends with Cindy Birdsong, who joined the famous music group The Supremes. Through this friendship, Suzanne started working at Motown. She became a creative assistant to Motown's founder, Berry Gordy.

Early in her career, Suzanne helped design the clothes for The Jackson 5. She also helped plan their live shows. She was very important in bringing Motown's music to television. She produced many special TV shows, like Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever. This was when she was the president of Motown Productions.

When Motown was sold, Suzanne worked with Berry Gordy to create Gordy/de Passe Productions. Later, in 1992, she started her own company, de Passe Entertainment.

Teaching and Special Honors

Suzanne de Passe has given talks at the Harvard Business School. She also taught at Howard University for three years. In 2006, Howard University gave her an honorary doctorate degree. This is a special award for her achievements. She has also been a special guest producer at Emerson College in Boston.

In 2024, Suzanne de Passe was chosen to join the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She received the Ahmet Ertegun Award, which is for people who are not performers but have greatly helped the music industry.

Suzanne de Passe's TV Work

Suzanne de Passe has produced many popular TV shows and movies.

Popular Mini-Series

• The Temptations (1998): This four-hour miniseries was about the famous music group. It won an NAACP Image Award for Best Miniseries. It also won an Emmy Award for Best Director.
• The Jacksons: An American Dream (1992): This five-hour miniseries told the story of The Jackson 5. It was nominated for several Emmy Awards.
• Lonesome Dove (miniseries) (1989): This eight-hour western miniseries won many awards. These included an Emmy, a Golden Globe Award, and a Peabody Award. It was named "Outstanding Program of the Year." Suzanne was even inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame because of its success.
• Buffalo Girls (1995): This miniseries was nominated for eleven Emmy Awards. It starred famous actors like Anjelica Huston and Melanie Griffith.
• Small Sacrifices (1989): This miniseries won a Peabody Award. It was nominated for three Emmy Awards.

TV Shows and Movies

Suzanne de Passe has also produced many TV series and movies.

• Sister, Sister (1995–1999): This was a popular half-hour comedy show. It aired on ABC and The WB.
• Smart Guy (1996–1999): Another half-hour comedy show that aired on The WB.
• Showtime at the Apollo (2002–2008): She was an executive producer for this weekly variety show.
• Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century (1999): This was a popular movie for The Disney Channel. Its sequels, Zenon: The Zequel (2001) and Zenon: Z3 (2004), were also produced by her.
• The Loretta Claiborne Story (2000): A two-hour movie for Disney/ABC.

Special TV Events

Suzanne de Passe has produced many special TV events, often celebrating music history.

• Commander In Chief's Inaugural Ball (2009): She was an executive producer for President Barack Obama's inaugural ball.
• 70th Anniversary Tribute to the Apollo Theatre (2004): A two-hour special for NBC.
• Motown 40: The Music is Forever (1998): A four-hour documentary about Motown's music.
• Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever (1983): This two-hour special won an Emmy Award for Best Variety Program. It also won an NAACP Image Award and a Peabody Award.

Awards and Honors

Suzanne de Passe has received many awards for her work in TV, movies, and music.

• She was nominated for an Academy Award for co-writing the movie Lady Sings the Blues. This made her the first African-American person nominated for Best Original Screenplay.
• She won two Emmy Awards and NAACP Image Awards for producing Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever and Motown Returns to the Apollo.
• For Lonesome Dove, she won a Golden Globe and a Peabody Award. It was also named "Outstanding Program of the Year."
• She won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Miniseries for The Temptations.
• She has received a Crystal Award from Women in Film. This award honors women who have helped expand the role of women in entertainment.
• In 2010, she received The George Arents Award. This is the highest honor for alumni from Syracuse University.
• She received the Jackie Robinson Foundation Trailblazer Award in 2006.
• In 2004, Ebony Magazine gave her the Madame C. J. Walker Award.

Her Family Life

In 1978, Suzanne de Passe married actor Paul Le Mat. They had three daughters together. They divorced in 1994.