Dianne Houston (born July 22, 1954 in Washington, D.C.) is an African-American film director, producer and screenwriter. Her first plays were produced in 1977. In 1990, she wrote for Brewster Place, a show produced by Harpo Productions. After this, Oprah Winfrey became a supporter and financial backer on occasion. In 1994, she directed the short film Tuesday Morning Ride, which starred Ruby Dee and Bill Cobbs, and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in 1995. She is the first and only African-American woman to be nominated for an Oscar for directing work. She has since directed for a variety of TV series, including NYPD Blue and Crossing Jordan, while continuing in film work. As a screenwriter, she worked on Take the Lead among other projects.

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