Alison Mills Newman (b. 1951, Long Island, to Theodore and Margaret Mills) studied acting at the American Theatre of being under the direction of Frank Silvera. She performed in For My People, a traveling work consisting of Black poetry, with Maya Angelou, Beah Richards, Nichelle Nichols, and Dick Anthony Williams, and appeared as Emily in Thornton Wilder’s Our Town at the Inner City Repertory Company. She debuted on television at age thirteen in Mr. Novak, as Billie in “Where is There to Go, Billie, But Up?” (season two, episode 23); played Carol Deering the babysitter in NBC’s pioneering show Julia; and was a regular cast member on CBS’s The Leslie Uggams Show as Oletha, Leslie’s sister. Alison guest starred on The Love Boat, The John Forsythe Show, Cherish the Day, Doom Patrol, In Broad Daylight, and Rap Up.
She appeared on and off-Broadway, and in Amiri Baraka’s Spirit House. She co-produced and starred in the award-winning feature film, Virgin Again, directed by Francisco Newman. She is the author of St. Augustine’s Confessions, which she produced and directed at the Perris Theater.
As a musician, Alison opened for Don Cherry and Ornette Coleman, recorded with Taj Mahal, and performed with Jaco Pastorius and Weather Report (Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter). She recorded the album Apartheid Must Die, had her own band in New York City and a recording contract with A&M Records; Herb Alpert producing, Billy Preston on piano.
She is the author Francisco, Maggie 3, The Tree Widow Study Guide for the award-winning film The Tree Widow, poetry in various anthologies, and two books that remain unpublished.
Francisco and Alison served in ministry in Los Angeles, teaching youth/gang members about Christ and to read and write. She has a B.A in theology, is a chaplain at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, and pastor over a ministry for women. She is the host of the “Woman, You Are Loved” conference encouraging women in the pursuit of a holy life.
She was married to Francisco Toscano Newman. They have five amazing children and ten grandchildren.
