The Cosby Show
NBC (ended 1992)
Cast & Crew
EDIT
-
Bill Cosby
Dr. Heathcliff "Cliff" Huxtable
William H. Cosby Jr. was born on July 12th, 1937, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Bill Cosby is an American actor, comedian, television producer, and activist. For over thirty years, he has been one of the world's most respected and well-known entertainers and comedians. After tenth grade, Cosby joined the Navy and completed high school through a correspondence course. Later he took up an athletics scholarship at Temple University, supporting himself during his studies by tending bar, where his easy-going style and witty joking with the clientle prompted suggestions that he try stand-up comedy. This he did and was soon to be discovered by the legendary Carl Reiner.
In Bill's early twenties he appeared on many well-known variety programs including The Ed Sullivan Show. His big break came in 1965 when he appeared as Alexander Scott in I Spy, winning numerous Emmys for his performance. He later appeared in The Bill Cosby Show, playing a teacher, although originally the show only lasted for two years. He then created a filmation cartoon based on many of his high school buddies including Weird Harold, Dumb Donald, Mushmouth, and others: the show was, of course, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids. The theme was humorous but also focused on Cosby's more educational side.
He studied for many years during his career in the 1960s and 1970s, and he received a doctorate in Education from the University of Massachusetts. Cosby also starred in some highly successful movies such as Uptown Saturday Night, Let's Do It Again, A Piece of the Action, Mother, Jugs & Speed, and California Suite. During his early years he also made some comedy albums that sold very well; his most notable comedy song being "Little Old Man." He was one of the original cast members of The Electric Company, and he was featured in the series Pinwheel during the late 1970s and then appeared in the mediocre The Devil and Max Devlin.
In 1984, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids stopped production, and The Cosby Show commenced. The show was originally intended to follow a blue-collar family, but finally ended up portraying a white-collar family. It was originally rejected by ABC, accepted by a then-floundering NBC, and was an almost instant success. From 1985 to 1987 the show broke viewing records, with Cosby becoming perhaps the strongest driving force in television during the eighties. Despite this great success, he arguably created his own downfall. The Cosby Show led what was considered by many at that time to be the best night of television: the line-up included Night Court, Hill Street Blues, and Family Ties, which all followed The Cosby Show.
Cosby was dissatisfied with the way minorities were portrayed on television. He produced the TV series A Different World and insisted that this program should follow The Cosby Show, rather than Family Ties. A Different World was set in an historically Black college and concentrated on young people and education. Impact was felt on the show immediately; at its peak, The Cosby Show logged an estimated 70 million viewers. However, after the scheduling reshuffle, the show lost roughly 20% of its massive audience. However, Cosby was still riding high in the early nineties until massive competition from The Simpsons.
The Cosby Show finally ended in 1992, conceding to The Simpsons, with the final production considered to be one of the highest-rated shows of the season and featured a pleading Cosby asking for peace in riot-torn Los Angeles during the height of the Rodney King riots. Cosby never seemed able to top the success of The Cosby Show; his film Leonard Part 6 was considered to be one of the worst American films in history and may have contributed in part to his downfall as a film actor, along with his performance in Ghost Dad. He did attempt a minor comeback in 1996 starring in the Robin Williams film Jack, which was directed by Francis Ford Coppola; and in another show, Cosby, (starring Phylicia Rashad, who appeared as his wife in the previous Cosby Show). Since then he has produced films such as Men of Honor, and shows including Little Bill.
Bill Cosby will go down in entertainment history as one of the most successful and most respected entertainers in the world.moreless -
Phylicia Rashad
Clair Olivia Hanks Huxtable
Is an American activist and actress, known for her role as Clair Huxtable in the 1980s television series, The Cosby Show.
Rashad first became notable on the stage with a string of Broadway credits, including a role in the company of the Tony Award-winning musical Dreamgirls and in the film The Wiz (cameo as a munchkin as Phylicia Ayres Allen) as well as the original Broadway production (Dorothy). She credits her 1983 break on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live "to the presence of God within me."
moreless -
Sabrina Le Beauf
Sondra Huxtable Tibideaux (seasons 2 - 8, recurring previously)
-
Lisa Bonet
Denise Huxtable Kendall (seasons 1 - 3, 6 - 7, recurring seasons 4 - 5)
Lisa Bonet is an American actress who is a native of San Francisco, California. Of African-American and Jewish ancestry. Bonet actually began acting when she was 11, attending many auditions and participating in several television commercials before she became a star.moreless -
Malcolm-Jamal Warner
Theodore Aloysius "Theo" Huxtable
Malcom is 5'11. He was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was named after Malcom X and jazz pianist Ahamad Jamal. Dated Family Matters actress Michelle Thomas, he was by her side before she died of cancer. Dated actress Karen Malina White. He has released two CDs under the name "Malcolm Jamal Warner's Miles Long". He ranked #32 in VH1 list of 100 greatest kid stars.moreless -
Tempestt Bledsoe
Vanessa Huxtable
-
Keshia Knight Pulliam
Rudith Lillian "Rudy" Huxtable
She is most recognized and remembered for her role as Rudy Huxtable on the NBC sitcom, The Cosby Show. She became the youngest actress ever to be nominated for an Emmy at age six for best supporting actress. Even before that - at age 3 - she played Keshia on Sesame Street.moreless -
Geoffrey Owens
Elvin Tibideaux (seasons 4 - 8, recurring previously)
-
Raven-Symone
Olivia Kendall (seasons 6 - 8)
Raven was born in Duluth, Georgia in 1985 to her parents Christopher Pearman and Lydia Gaulden. She also has a brother called Blaize. She went to Webb Bridge Middle School and North Springs High School both in Atlanta. She graduated in 2003. She began her career as a child model in her native Atlanta, Ga. When the family moved to New York, the prestigious Ford Modeling Agency signed her when she was only two years old. In 1989, she auditioned for a part in the feature film Ghost Dad, starring Bill Cosby. Although she was too young for the role, her personality and ability for memorizing lines greatly impressed the casting directors, who brought her to Cosby's attention. After meetings with the writers and producers of The Cosby Show, as well as with Cosby, she landed the role of Olivia Kendall and made her television debut in 1989. She went on to star as 'Nicole' on the top-rated series Hangin' With Mr. Cooper. She made her feature film debut in Penelope Spheeris' The Little Rascals. Her recording career began at the age of five when she signed a contract with MCA Records. Here's To New Dreams is a mix of R&B, pop and rap and was released containing the single 'That's What Little Girls Are Made Of'. She also performed on Broadway at the age of 5, singing with the Boys Choir of Harlem as part of their 25th Anniversary celebration.moreless -
Joseph C. Phillips
Lt. Martin Kendall (seasons 6 - 7, recurring otherwise)
-
Erika Alexander
Pam Tucker (seasons 7 - 8)
-
Merlin Santana
Stanley
Originally from New York, NY, both his parents emigrated from the Dominican Republic to the U.S. for a better life. His mother wanted a career in show business to keep him out of trouble. He began as an advertising model at age 3 for a fast food chain. He then began real acting on "The Cosby Show" (1984). At 15, he co-starred in the show "Getting By" (1993). His best known role was in the "Steve Harvey Show" (1996), as Romeo Santana. He later was known as an aspiring rapper. On November 9, 2002 Merlin Santana was shot to death by two armed men - at the age of 26 - in Los Angeles, California while sitting in a car in the passenger's seat. The person who was with him was wounded but survived. Merlin was buried on November 18, 2002. He left behind a daughter. Merlin had been falsely accused of rape by Monique King where at that time she was a minor. This led to her two male friends - Brandon Douglas Bynes and Damien Andre Gates - to kill Merlin. Damien Andre Gates was convicted of the first-degree murder of Santana and the attempted murder of another man in the car and was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences plus 70 years in prison. Brandon Douglas Bynes received 23 years' imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and assault with a deadly weapon. Monique King was sentenced to eight years in juvenile prison for her role in the crime and convicted of second-degree murder and attempted murder.moreless -
Troy Winbush
Denny
-
Lisa Bonet
Denise Huxtable
Lisa Bonet is an American actress who is a native of San Francisco, California. Of African-American and Jewish ancestry. Bonet actually began acting when she was 11, attending many auditions and participating in several television commercials before she became a star.moreless -
Karen Malina White
Charmaine Brown
-
Earle Hyman
Russell Huxtable
-
Elizabeth Narvaez
Kara
-
William Thomas Jr.
Dabnis Brickey
-
Dondre T. Whitfield
Robert Foreman
-
Ethel Ayler
Carrie Hanks
-
Geoffrey Owens
Elvin Tibideaux
-
Naoka Nakagawa
Kim Ogawa
-
Clarice Taylor
Anna Huxtable
-
Deon Richmond
Kenny
Deon Richmond also known as Jordan from Sister,Sister , was born on April 02, 1978 in New York, New York. Deon Richmond began acting at an early age where he began acting on the Cosbys, and a film movie "Raw", not much is known about Deon Richmond, he's a very private person. Overall Deon Richmond has made a great impact on the hit television series, Sister, Sister.moreless -
Peter Costa
Peter Chiara
-
Reno Wilson
Howard
Reno Wilson got his start with a recurring role on Ther Cosby Show. He followed that with spots on Martin and Sliders. Appearances in the films Sgt. Bilko, The Great White Hype, and Mighty Joe Young followed.
In the drama series Blind Justice, he portrayed Det. Tom Selway.moreless -
Alex Ruiz
Lou Hernandez
-
Michelle Thomas
Justine Phillips
Michelle Thomas was born in Boston but raised in New York. She attended the Montclair School of Arts and the Broadway Dance Center. She is survived by her parents, Phynjuar Thomas, a stage actress, and Dennis Thomas, who was a member of the 1970s funk band Kool & the Gang, of Weekhawken, N.J. Miss Thomas appeared on the CBS soap opera "The Young & The Restless" as Callie; on "The Cosby Show" as Justine, who was the girlfriend of Theo, the character played by Malcolm Jamal Warner; and on "Family Matters" as Myra, who was the girlfriend of Steve Urkel, the character played by Jaleel White. She had guest appearances in a number of other TV shows, including "Roseanne," and also performed in music videos, Los Angeles theater productions and several movies, including "Hangin' with the Homeboys." Just prior to her death, Michelle Thomas had received an NAACP Image Award nomination for outstanding actress in a daytime drama series.Michelle Thomas' first love was music, so it's only natural that she would develop performing skills at a young age. She studied jazz, modern and hip-hop dance at the Broadway Dance Center in New York, and while attending an all-girls private school in New Jersey, she was crowned Miss Talented Teen New Jersey in Hal Jackson's Talented Teen Competition. She went on to compete in the international pageant in Jamaica and was crowned International Queen in 1985. Her other television credits include "The Cosby Show," "Roseanne," a pilot called "Conan the Librarian" and "Dream Date," a made-for-television movie. She also appeared in an episode of the ABC series, "A Man Called Hawk." She was born in Boston, Mass., on September 23, 1968. Unfortunately, the young and talented actress died of a rare form of stomach cancer on December 23, 1998. read more about hermoreless -
Carl Anthony Payne II
Walter "Cockroach" Bradley
-
Allen Payne
Lance Rodman
This talented, thoughtful actor turned down a chance for lucrative steady work in TV to pursue a career in feature films. Saved from the perils of the streets of NYC's Harlem by attending acting classes in his youth, Allen Payne received his first wide exposure playing a recurring role as Lance Rodman during the last seasons (1990-92) of the NBC sitcom "The Cosby Show". He was one of the wisecracking friends of Pam Tucker (Erika Alexander), Clair Huxtable's young cousin from the inner-city. Though he passed on a regular gig to reprise the role on "A Different World", Payne shared Mr. Cosby's concern about providing role models for black youth.Payne embodied a cautionary tale in Mario Van Peebles' "New Jack City" (1991) as Gee Money, lieutenant to Wesley Snipes' ascendant cocaine king Nino Brown. The young actor claimed to know his character from his old 'hood.
Similarly for "CB4" (1993), an unsuccessful spoof of the hip-hop scene, Payne was able to call upon his experiences in the suburbs--where his parents relocated to escape the ghetto--to play a middle-class Black man who adopts a tough "gangsta" persona to perform rap music.
He received better notices and more attention as a straight arrow romantic lead in "Jason's Lyric" (1994) as a young man anguished by his wayward younger brother (Bokeem Woodbine) and inspired by a dreamy young woman (Jada Pinkett).
Payne's next film, the well-meaning but underwhelming black-oriented Vietnam drama "The Walking Dead" (also 1994), hardly made a ripple, but the actor remained true to form playing a dedicated Dad who enlisted to provide base housing for his young family.
Payne received his most high profile film assignment in the critically lambasted Eddie Murphy horror vehicle "Vampire in Brooklyn" (1995). Here he was Justice, a homicide cop partnered with Angela Bassett with whom he develops an increasingly strong emotional bond.
That year, Payne also appeared amid an impressive ensemble of young Black Hollywood (including Laurence Fishburne, Cuba Gooding Jr, Malcolm Jamal Warner and Courtney B Vance) in the HBO made-for-cable movie "The Tuskegee Airmen".moreless
Related Shows
-
TrickMeNot EDITOR
User Score: 1440
-
boechsner
User Score: 186
-
LouLou1355
User Score: 111
-
coolbean70
User Score: 88
-
TVvuer69
User Score: 73
-
CircleCityEric
User Score: 68
-
Bookworm1617
User Score: 65
-
mylibby523
User Score: 56
-
kathiheck
User Score: 40
-
angelsxo
User Score: 39
More
Less
Categories
Comedy
Themes
Cultural Phenomenon, Feel Good Comedy, Fresh Faced Teens, Large Family, Laugh Track
