Phylicia Rashād
Acting
Phylicia Rashad (née Ayers-Allen; born June 19, 1948) is an American actress. She was most recently dean of the College of Fine Arts at Howard University before her three-year contract ended in May 2024. Known for her roles on stage and screen, she has received two Tony Awards as well as nominations for six Primetime Emmy Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
She is best known for her role as Clair Huxtable on the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–1992) which earned her two Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series nominations in 1985 and 1986. She also played Ruth Lucas on Cosby (1996–2000), and Brenda Glover in Little Bill (1999–2004). She was also Emmy-nominated for her roles in A Raisin in the Sun (2008) and This Is Us (2019–2021).
On stage, Rashad became the first Black actress to win the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play, for a revival of A Raisin in the Sun (2004). She won her second Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for Dominique Morisseau's Skeleton Crew (2022). Her other Broadway credits include Into the Woods (1988), Jelly's Last Jam (1993), Gem of the Ocean (2004), and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (2008).
She has appeared in various films such as For Colored Girls (2010), Good Deeds (2012), Creed (2015), Creed II (2018), Creed III (2023), and The Beekeeper (2024). She lent her voice to the Disney-Pixar animated film Soul (2020).
In the 21st century, she has directed revivals of three plays by August Wilson, in major theaters in Seattle, Princeton, New Jersey; and Los Angeles. She also directed Purpose (play) in its 2024-2025 run at the Helen Hayes Theater on Broadway.
Media of
Phylicia Rashād
Photos (21)
Filmography of
Phylicia Rashād
Naomi
... 2025
Eloise Parker
... 2024
Nancy
... 2023
Maya
... 2023
Self (voice)
... 2023
Mary-Anne Creed
... 2023
"Sunday" Legend #12
... 2021
"There's No Business Like Show Business" Performer
... 2021
... 2021
Anna Campbell
... 2021
Narrator (voice)
... 2021
Libba Gardner (voice)
... 2020
... 2020
Grandmother Journey
... 2020
Lillian
... 2020
Self - Actress
... 2020
Sarah
... 2020
Mary Anne Creed
... 2018
Narrator (voice)
... 2018
Victoria Young
... 2017
Self - Host
... 2017
Mary Anne Creed
... 2015
Emily (Segment 5)
... 2015
... 2015
... 2014
Demeter
... 2013
Clairee
... 2012
Wilimena Deeds
... 2012
Dorothy
... 2011
Edna
... 2010
Gilda
... 2010
Ella McKnight
... 2010
Lena Younger
... 2008
Self / Clair Huxtable (archive footage)
... 2002
... 2002
Cassandra Hawkins
... 2001
Elizabeth Barney
... 2001
Dr. Coles
... 2001
Desiree
... 1999
... 1996
Kate Jacobs
... 1996
Dr. Marion Hale (Psychiatrist)
... 1995
Gladys Johnson
... 1994
Mayor Turner
... 1993
Janice Grant
... 1991
Aunt Polly
... 1990
Clair Huxtable
... 1990
Aunt Polly
... 1989
Lynne Jacobi
... 1989
Disneyland Cleaning Lady
... 1988
Clair Huxtable
... 1987
Eliza
... 1987
... 1981
... 1972
Self - Narrator (voice)